Pope Sergius III

Pope

Sergius III
Bishop of Rome
ChurchCatholic Church
Papacy began29 January 904
Papacy ended14 April 911
PredecessorLeo V
SuccessorAnastasius III
Personal details
Bornc. 860
Rome, Papal States
Died(0911-04-14)14 April 911
Rome, Papal States
Other popes named Sergius

Pope Sergius III (c. 860 − 14 April 911) was the bishop of Rome and nominal ruler of the Papal States from 29 January 904 to his death. He was pope during a period of violence and disorder in central Italy, when warring aristocratic factions sought to use the material and military resources of the papacy.[1] At the behest of Theophylact I of Tusculum, Sergius seized the papal throne from Antipope Christopher, who in turn had deposed Pope Leo V.[2][3] Sergius' reign was subsequently marked by Theophylact's influence. As pope, Sergius continued many ecclesiastical controversies of his predecessors, including conflict over Pope Formosus' legacy, annulling all ordinations made by the late pope,[4] and the filioque controversy with eastern patriarchs.[5] His pontificate was similarly marked by temporal conflicts, with Sergius' refusal to crown Berengar I of Italy as Holy Roman Emperor,[6] and his support of Byzantine Emperor Leo VI the Wise's fourth marriage.[7] Sergius also saw the restoration of the Lateran Palace.[8]

Sergius III today is largely seen as an unscrupulous character as contemporary records had included a number of accusations against him; Sergius III had reputedly ordered the murder of his two immediate predecessors, Leo V and Christopher, and allegedly fathered an illegitimate son who later became pope, John XI. His pontificate has been variously described as "dismal and disgraceful",[9] and "efficient and ruthless".[10]

  1. ^ Collins 2010, pp. 174–175
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Mann 113 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference De Cormenin 1857, p. 281 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Mann 122 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Mann 130 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Mann 127 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Treadgold was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Mann 1910, pp. 134–136
  9. ^ Wilkes. 31 October 2001. ""The Cadaver Synod: The Strangest Trial in History" Archived 10 May 2007 at the Wayback Machine Flagpole Magazine. p. 8.
  10. ^ Collins 2010, p. 175