Pope Martin I

Pope Saint Martin I
Bishop of Rome
Statue of Martin I in Santa Maria della Consolazione church, Todi, Italy
Church	Catholic Church
Papacy began	21 July 649
Papacy ended	16 September 655
Predecessor	Theodore I
Successor	Eugene I
Personal details
Born	590–600 Near Todi, Umbria, Eastern Roman Empire
Died	16 September 655 (aged 57) Cherson, Eastern Roman Empire
Other popes named Martin

Pope Martin I (Latin: Martinus I, Greek: Πάπας Μαρτῖνος; between 590 and 600 – 16 September 655), also known as Martin the Confessor, was the bishop of Rome from 21 July 649 to his death 16 September 655. He had served as Pope Theodore I's ambassador to Constantinople, and was elected to succeed him as pope. He was the only pope when Constantinople controlled the papacy whose election had not awaited imperial mandate. For his strong opposition to Monothelitism, Pope Martin I was arrested by Emperor Constans II, carried off to Constantinople, and ultimately banished to Cherson. He is considered a saint by both the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church, as well as the last pope recognised as a martyr.