He was made cardinal-deacon on 20 February 1193, then cardinal priest of Santa Prisca in May 1193 and finally cardinal bishop of Sabina at the end of 1204 (subscribed as bishop for the first time on 9 January 1205). He is often referred to as a member of the powerful Roman Colonna family, but modern scholars have established that this is based on a lie from the beginning of 16th century.
On February 20, 1193, he was made cardinal-deacon; in May 1193, he became cardinal priest of Santa Prisca; and by the end of 1204, he was appointed cardinal bishop of Sabina (his first time as a bishop being on January 9, 1205). He is commonly associated with the powerful Roman Colonna family, though modern scholars have shown this to be an untrue claim from the early 16th century.