The Apostolic Fathers · AD 70–130
Alexander of Rome
d. c. 116 · Bishop of Rome · Rome
The Apostolic Fathers
Who Alexander of Rome was
Sixth bishop of Rome after Peter, following Evaristus. Eusebius assigns him about ten years, into the reign of Hadrian; the later legends that make him a martyr and liturgical reformer belong to the sixth-century book of popes, not to the early record. In the archive he stands as the succession preserves him — a name, an office, and a decade.
Also listed in the bishops of Rome.
Common questions
When did Alexander die?
Alexander of Rome is dated d. c. 116 in the archive, which places Alexander in the Apostolic Fathers (AD 70–130). The dating is traditional and approximate; the archive marks it as uncertain rather than fixing a year the sources do not give.
Which early sources mention Alexander?
Alexander of Rome is named in 3 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Irenaeus of Lyon, Eusebius of Caesarea and The chronographer of 354. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Alexander from?
The archive associates Alexander of Rome with Rome.
Who were Alexander’s contemporaries?
The archive links Alexander of Rome to 2 other figures, including Evaristus of Rome and Xystus I (Sixtus I) of Rome. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.
Primary-source mentions (3)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Against Heresies III.3.3
c. AD 180Alexander followed Evaristus.Irenaeus of Lyon · Against Heresies III.3.3 · source text
Ecclesiastical History IV.1
c. AD 325About the twelfth year of the reign of Trajan… Evarestus dying in the eighth year of his oversight, Alexander received the episcopate.Eusebius of Caesarea · IV.1 · source text
Liberian Catalogue (Chronography of 354)
c. AD 354Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 49 · The Council of Jerusalem, AD 49
- AD 57 · Paul writes Romans, AD 57
- AD 62 · James the Just stoned, AD 62
- AD 64 · The Great Fire and Nero’s persecution, AD 64
- AD 70 · The fall of Jerusalem, AD 70
- AD 95 · Domitian’s reprisals, AD 95
- AD 96 · Rome writes to Corinth: 1 Clement, AD 96
- AD 112 · Pliny writes Trajan, AD 112
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Alexander.
- 1Rome