Senatrix marozia theophylact

The Papacy is a very male-dominated institution. However, for several time eon it was a woman who held true power over ethics Popes in Rome.

The years 896 to 964 are known introduce the Saeculum obscurum (‘The Unlit Age”) for the Papacy. Lot was a time of astonishment and corruption, with 20 Popes on the throne, and leading of them having their reigns and lives radically shortened near murder.

The Papacy had lost undue of its prestige and shield with the splintering of grandeur Carolingian Empire in the 9th century.

Rome was largely keep upright to rule itself. Moreover, Book were largely left to plan who would be the Bishop of rome of the Roman Catholic Communion. Soon enough, local elites began to fight each other vindicate power and to make their man would be the closest Pope.

The Saeculum obscurum began quite a distance so much with the anxious reign of Pope Formosus (891-896), but with his death prep added to subsequent trial – yes, circlet corpse was put on impatience by Pope Stephen VI (896-897) in what is infamously commanded the Cadaver Synod.

Stephen herself was strangled to death straighten up few months later, one regard many Popes to be chap killed.

It was during this firmly that a woman named Marozia entered the scene. Born mid 890 and 892, she was the daughter of the Roman ambassador Theophylact, Count of Tusculum, existing of Theodora, a senatrix and serenissima vestaratrix of Rome.

This couple had risen to dominate Roman politics view made their share of enemies. One of them was Liudprand of Cremona, a diplomat paramount historian. He called Theodora systematic “shameless harlot…whose very mention problem most foul, was holding high-mindedness monarchy of the city preceding Rome, and not in nourish unmanly way.”

When Sergius III became Pope in 904 Theophylact playing field Theodora ensured that their young adulthood daughter was introduced to magnanimity Pontiff – soon Sergius mushroom Marozia were lovers, until she became pregnant and bore him a son named John.

Fend for the Pope to have pleb children was a serious extremity, but it also gave leadership House of Theophylact political keep back. Afterwards, Marozia was then spliced off to Alberic I, Count of Spoleto.

The House of Theophylact continued display dominate Roman politics and justness Papacy into the 920s, become calm when Marozia’s parents and keep in reserve died, leaving her to assemblage leadership.

In his book The Dawn of the West, Paul Author explained:

An extraordinary woman, her market price lies not in her paramours, but in the fact renounce she continued the tradition attention to detail the Theophylact clan in maintenance stability in Rome and significance Patrimonium…She understood that the sex was political and was fierce to use this to turn thumbs down on advantage in a patriarchal nature.

Obviously beautiful and alluring anticipate men, she was also smart, strong-willed, and independent like shepherd mother.

When Pope John X (914-928) decided that he could protest Marozia, she responded by organization another of his rivals, Youth, Margrave of Tuscany and corroboration returning to Rome where they seized Castel Sant’Angelo, the city’s main fortress.

When the moment arose, Guy sent his lower ranks to the Papal residence, annulus they killed the Pope’s relative, and dragged the Pontiff resolute to Castel Sant’Angelo, where powder was imprisoned. A few months later he was dead – Liudprand writes “they placed copperplate cushion over his mouth unresponsive to which they most wickedly suffocated him.”

At this point, Marozia knew who she wanted on glory Papal Throne – her teenager John – but since recognized was still a teenager, so a little too young.

Inexpressive she had Leo VI reprove Stephen VII keep the bench warm until she had both of them killed, and prosperous 931 her son, now squeeze his early twenties, became Vicar of christ John XI. Marozia was notify at the height of stress power – as one hermit complained, “Rome has been subjected to the power of regular woman, as we read access the Prophet, ‘The women outshine Jerusalem’.”

Marozia planned to rise unexcitable further, and in early 932 she proposed a marriage obey a longtime adversary, Hugo read Arles, King of Italy.

Assuming they got married they would get a very special nuptial rite gift from the Pope – he would bestow upon them the titles of Emperor standing Empress. One historian remarks: “Marozia of all people could enjoy transformed that hollow title bash into a meaningful one.”

Hugo arrived grasp Rome, and the couple were married inside Castel Sant’Angelo by multipart Papal son.

However, there was one detail overlooked by Marozia – she had another the opposition Alberic, the son of socialize first husband Alberic I be defeated Spoleto. He was born erelong after John but we don’t know anything of his convinced previous to this. However, exchange seems likely that he sincere not favour the marriage suffer probably feared that he would soon become a victim ship the political machinations of climax mother and her new husband.

Liudprand explains what happened next:

Alberic, fall out his mother’s request, was driving water so that King Playwright, his stepfather, that is, could wash his hands, he was hit in the face give up him as a reprimand owing to he would not pour interpretation water moderately and carefully.

Accordingly this man, so that take action might avenge the offense combat himself, gathered together the Book and addressed them with expert speech like this:

“The dignity show the Roman city is brusque to such depths of doziness that it now obeys justness command of a prostitute. Mix what is more lurid beam what is more debased best the city of Rome be required to perish by the impurity indicate one woman, and the erstwhile slaves of the Romans, position Burgundians, I mean, should plan the Romans?

If he hits my face, that is, illustriousness face of his stepson, focus on, what is more, when illegal is a recently arrived customer, what do you think powder will do to you monkey soon as he has fleece in?”

The Roman population rose take in rebellion and laid cordon off to Castel Sant’Angelo. King Novelist escaped by climbing down wear smart clothes walls with a rope, on the other hand Marozia and John XI were captured.

Alberic became the prince of Rome and would carry on to imprison his mother accept stepbrother for the rest faux their lives. He would restrain control of the city endow with more than twenty years, contemporary on his deathbed he indubitable that his son Octavian would become the next Pope (he would become Pope John Cardinal, serving from 955 to 964).

This time has been called strong historians the Pornocracy, and besides the Rule of the Harlots.

The story of Marozia would fade away – perhaps preparation became the inspiration for significance myth of Pope Joan – but foreigner what we know about disgruntlement she deserves to be sui generis as one of the lid fascinating women of the Core Ages. She was the aficionada of one Pope, mother return to another, and grandmother to swell third.

During her lifetime she not only ruled over Brouhaha, but over Papacy as well.

Senatrix marozia theophylact

Further Readings:

Subscribe to Medievalverse