things you'd never thought would have happened

While watching Eurosport's excellent coverage of the Giro d'Italia the other day, I learned something new and quite fascinating.

During their coverage, they often show aerial shots of landmarks the race is passing through, and they dwelt on a mediaeval castle built in around 1000.

are you sure you're not him...

Apparently, it was the place where Pope Gregory II hid from King Edward IV who was presumably inviting him to a beheading party.  And it got me wondering "WHY"?

Why in 1077 would someone in Italy need to hide from someone in the kingdom of England?

I mean, it's not as if he'd even really have known what he looked like is it, let alone his whereabouts.  It's not as if we had GPS systems, Facebook or Find my iPhone or Air Tags either.  

Had some of the King's men actually turned up to seize him, he could have just said "not me chaps - my name's, erm, G….areth - that's it, Gareth.  Definitely NOT Gregory; and certainly not the second.

"My robes?  These old things - got them from a charity shop in Naples."

In the 11th century, Italy might as well have been the Moon, such is the length of time it would have taken to get there.

So why?  Just why?

And if he really hadn't wanted to be discovered, he could have just disguised himself as my glasses.  

They can never be found.