Stephen was originally a priest at the Church of Saints Sylvester and Martin, but in 939 he was elected as pope. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Educated in Germany, he became cardinal priest of the Roman Church of SS. Except that he was a Roman, the son of Teudemund, and sometime cardinal-priest of St. Anastasia, and that when pope he issued certain privileges for monasteries in France and Italy, and was buried in St. Peter’s, nothing more is known of him. Found guilty, his…, …became a supporter of Pope Stephen VI (VII), who exhumed Formosus’ corpse, subjected it to a posthumous trial (the “Cadaver Synod”), and nullified Formosus’ pontificate and acts. [4] This time they were informed that if the pope had not received their embassies by Christmas, notifying him of their intent to submit to the king, they would be excommunicated. Stephen VIII was born of a Roman family, and prior to becoming pope was attached to the church of Saints Silvester and Martin. Further, Otto's intervention in and influence over Italian affairs was still over a decade away, and during this period Otto was still trying to consolidate his hold on power in Germany, with major rebellions by the German dukes. [6] Stephen was, however, caught up in the ongoing conflict between Alberic and King Hugh of Italy, with Hugh besieging Rome in 940. [2] Stephen dispatched a papal legate to the Frankish nobles, instructing them to acknowledge Louis, and to cease their rebellious actions against him, under threat of excommunication. His pontificate occurred during the Saeculum obscurum, when the power of popes was diminished by the ambitious counts of Tusculum, and was marked by the conflict between his patron, Alberic II of Spoleto, and King Hugh of Italy. Whether induced by evil passion or perhaps, more probably, compelled by the Emperor Lambert and his mother Ageltruda, he caused the body of Formosus to be exhumed, and in January, 897, to be placed before an unwilling … On 17 August 942, Alberic summoned a council in Rome, where he demonstrated his control over the papacy by making use of various papal officials, such as the primicerius, the secundicerius of the notaries, and the vestararius. Le procès du Pape Formose et ses enjeux (896-904). "Pope Stephen (VI) VII." Finally, Stephen's intervention on behalf of the Frankish king Louis IV (who was in conflict with Otto) would not have occurred had Stephen been a relative of the German king, and had Stephen received the papal throne through Otto's intervention. Stephen VIII (or IX), (born, Rome—died October 942, Rome), pope from 939 to 942. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. He formally recognized Louis, threatening to excommunicate those who rebelled against him. Pope Stephen VIII (Latin: Stephanus VIII; died October 942) was the bishop of Rome and nominal ruler of the Papal States from 14 July 939 to his death. [5], The continuing domination of the counts of Tusculum was evident throughout Stephen's pontificate, and the period is thus known as Saeculum obscurum. In a few months an insurrection removed Stephen from office. His political efforts were directed toward supporting the last Carolingian, King Louis IV d’Outremer (from Overseas), Charles III the Simple’s son. He was elected pope on July 14, 939, to succeed Leo VII. Since Formosus had appointed Stephen bishop of Anagni, the annulment freed Stephen from charges of irregularity in his transferral from the see of Anagni to Rome. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Pope, (Latin papa, from Greek pappas, “father”), the title, since about the 9th century, of the bishop of Rome, the head of the Roman Catholic Church. [1], After becoming pope, Stephen gave his attention to the situation in West Francia. Because Duke Alberic II of Spoleto, virtual dictator of Rome, dominated his pontificate, Stephen had little opportunity for independent action. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Although the embassy did not achieve its stated objective, it did have the effect of removing the support of the Frankish bishops who had been backing Hugh and Herbert. It will enhance any encyclopedic page you visit with the magic of the WIKI 2 technology. Stephen is chiefly remembered in connection with his conduct towards the remains of Pope Formosus. He died soon after. Pontificate. [3], Emboldened, Stephen sought to break up the alliance against Louis by offering Herbert's son, Hugh of Vermandois, the office of archbishop of Reims. 11 likes. For the Moldavian ruler, see, In sources prior to the 1960s, this pope is called Stephen VII and. Stephen was originally a priest at the Church of Saints Sylvester and Martin, but in 939 he was elected as pope. "Stephen VIII" redirects here. He failed to assassinate Alberic, who retaliated by cracking down on his enemies. According to the late 13th century chronicler Martin of Opava, Stephen VIII was described as being a German, who was elected pope due to the power and influence of relative Otto I. Martin states that Otto ignored the will of the cardinals in imposing Stephen upon them, and because Stephen was hated for being a German, he was taken by supporters of Alberic II, who proceeded to maim and disfigure him to such an extent that Stephen was unable to appear in public again. The corpse was found guilty, stripped of its sacred vestments, deprived of three fingers of its right hand (the blessing fingers), clad in the garb of a layman, and quickly buried; it was then re-exhumed and thrown in the Tiber. He became pope either at the end of 928 or at the beginning of 929. The trial excited a tumult. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). He had been consecrated Bishop of Anagni , possibly against his will, by Formosus , and became pope about May, 896. Although Stephen was subject to Alberic II of Spoleto and did not in reality rule the Papal States, Stephen himself was not a member of that family, nor had he any relationship with Alberic's mother, Marozia, who had dominated Roman and papal politics during the preceding decades. Pope Stephen VIII (Latin: Stephanus VIII; died October 942) was the bishop of Rome and nominal ruler of the Papal States from 14 July 939 to his death. For the Moldavian ruler, see, In sources prior to the 1960s, this pope is called Stephen IX and, ✪ The Trial Of The Corpse Of Pope Formosus, ✪ Newman Nights: Popes, Princes, & Pastors: Community & Authority in the Medieval Church, ✪ Vatican System: List of Murdered Popes, 75 Popes Approved Torture, Murder, Burning at the Stake, ✪ The Crusade of Las Navas de Tolosa - Episode 4: Pope Innocent's Vision, 1211-1212. [9] Stephen died during October 942, and was succeeded by Marinus II. Stephen was a partisan of Lambert, who induced him to conduct one of the grisliest events in papal history—the “Cadaver Synod” (or Synodus Horrenda). Except that he was a Roman, the son of Teudemund, and sometime cardinal-priest of St. Anastasia, and that when pope he issued certain privileges for monasteries in France and Italy, and was buried in St. Peter's , nothing more is known of him. Pope Stephen (VIII) IX. [3], Emboldened, Stephen sought to break up the alliance against Louis by offering Herbert's son, Hugh of Vermandois, the office of archbishop of Reims. Cummings, Joseph: "History's Great Untold Stories", page 14. [1] His father was a priest named John. (929-31) Date of birth unknown; died in February or March, 931. I use WIKI 2 every day and almost forgot how the original Wikipedia looks like. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Stephen-VI-or-VII. Pope Stephen VIII (880-1 October 942) was Pope from 939 to 942, succeeding Pope Leo VII and preceding Pope Marinus II. Omissions? After Boniface’s two-week pontificate, Stephen, then bishop of Anagni, was elected pope, and the Spoletan party gained control of Rome. Pope Stephen VIII (880-1 October 942) was Pope from 939 to 942, succeeding Pope Leo VII and preceding Pope Marinus II. Pope Stephen VI (Latin: Stephanus VI; died August 897) was the bishop of Rome and ruler of the Papal States from 22 May 896 to his death. Stephen was born in Rome. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Although the embassy did not achieve its stated objective, it did have the effect of removing the support of the Frankish bishops who had been backing Hugh and Herbert. He became pope either at the end of 928 or at the beginning of 929. Updates? Inevitably, Stephen’s party sought the destruction of the Formosan faction. He also supported the important Cluniac reform of monasticism in Europe under the influence of Abbot St. Odo of Cluny, whom Stephen requested to visit Rome in 942 to negotiate peace between the feuding Alberic and Hugh of Provence, king of Italy. Pope Stephen VIII. We have created a browser extension. In early 940, Stephen intervened on behalf of Louis IV of France, who had been trying to bring to heel his rebellious vassals, Hugh the Great and Herbert II of Vermandois, both of whom had appealed for support from King Otto I of Germany. [6] Stephen was, however, caught up in the ongoing conflict between Alberic and King Hugh of Italy, with Hugh besieging Rome in 940. Stephen was maimed, and died in 942. [5], "Stephen VI" redirects here. …“Cadaver Synod”) conducted by Pope Stephen VI (VII), Formosus’s political enemies had his nine-month-old corpse exhumed, propped up on a throne, and subjected to a mock trial—during which a deacon answered for the corpse. He then proceeded to annul Formosus’ pontificate and to declare his acts (including the holy orders he had conferred) void. The era in which he was elected as the successor to Pope Boniface VI was torn by factions led by Roman aristocrats and by rulers of Naples, Benevento, Tuscany, and Spoleto (of whose ruling family Stephen was a member). [1] The maiming of Stephen may have occurred, however, in the aftermath of the conspiracy against Alberic in the middle of 942. His pontificate occurred during the Saeculum obscurum, when the power of popes was diminished by the ambitious counts of Tusculum, and was marked by the conflict between his patron, Alberic II of Spoleto, and King Hugh of Italy. [1], After becoming pope, Stephen gave his attention to the situation in West Francia. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Stephen-VIII-or-IX. His first action was to mediate between the rebellious Count Herbert II of Vermandois and Hugh the Great and King Louis IV of France, who was trying to bring them to heel. Pope Stephen VIII (Latin: Stephanus VIII; died October 942) was the bishop of Rome and nominal ruler of the Papal States from 14 July 939 to his death. Guy, duke of Spoleto, had been reluctantly crowned (891) Holy Roman emperor by Pope Stephen V (VI), and Guy’s son Lambert had been crowned co-emperor by Pope Formosus. Stephen VIII was born of a Roman family, and prior to becoming pope was attached to the church of Saints Silvester and Martin. The circumstances of his election as pope are unclear, but he was sponsored by one of the powerful Roman families, the dukes of Spoleto, that contested the papacy at the time. To install click the Add extension button. Silvester and Martin. All ordinations performed by Formosus were annulled. It was formerly given, especially from the 3rd to the 5th century, to any bishop and sometimes to simple priests as an ecclesiastical title…, Christianity, major religion stemming from the life, teachings, and death of Jesus of Nazareth (the Christ, or the Anointed One of God) in the 1st century ce.

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