Paul IV (pope)
1476 – 1559 Italian Pope (1555-1559)
Hardline pope who created the Index of Forbidden Books and the Roman ghetto.
- Religion
- Catholic; Bishop of Rome
- Affiliations
- The papacy
Paul IV was a stern, rigid reformer who ruled by fear. He created the Index of Forbidden Books to censor writing across Catholic Europe, and he forced the Jews of Rome into a walled ghetto with harsh restrictions in 1555. His fierce hatred of Spain and his heavy hand made him deeply unpopular, and Romans rioted at the news of his death.
In the timeline
- 1555 – 1870 Cum nimis absurdum creates the Roman Ghetto mentioned
- 1559 – 1966 Index of Forbidden Books mentioned