Crescentius the Elder
Encyclopedia
Crescentius the Elder was a 10th century politician and aristocrat in Rome
who played a part in the papal appointment
.
dynasty the papal government of Rome lost its most powerful protector, and the Romans took matters into their own hands.
Out of the local aristocracy there arose a powerful family, which assumed the practical charge of all governmental affairs in Rome, controlled the nominations to the papal throne, and held the power for many years.
At the beginning of the tenth century the family was represented by Theophylactus, vestararius or high dignitary of the papal palace and the pontifical government, by his wife Theodora, and their two daughters Marozia
and Theodora
.
Theophylactus had the titles of Consul
and Senator of the Romans.
Crescentius the Elder was a descendant of this family, being a son of Theodora, the daughter of Theophylactus.
At the death of Pope John XIII
(965-72), who was a brother of Crescentius, the Emperor Otto I (936-73) designated as his successor the Cardinal-Deacon Benedict, who took the name Benedict VI (972-74).
The Romans bore the constant interference of the emperor in the papal elections with ill-concealed indignation.
About a year after the death of Otto I, when his successor Otto II (973-83) was engaged in wars at home, they rebelled against the imperial regime under the headship of Crescentius.
The unfortunate Pope Benedict VI was dethroned, thrown into the Castle of Sant' Angelo, and strangled there in July, 974.
Franco, a Roman, son of Ferrucius, was chosen to succeed, and took the name of Boniface VII (974).
The protests of the imperial envoy Sicco were of no avail against this manifestation of national aspirations on the part of the Romans.
Soon, however, the imperial party gained the upper hand; Pope Boniface VII was forced to flee to Constantinople
; Benedict VII (974-83) was chosen in his place, and Crescentius disappeared for a time.
In all likelihood Crescentius took an active part in the restoration of Boniface VII in 984.
After the death of the Emperor Otto II (December, 983) the anti-imperial party believed that the time had come for reasserting itself.
In April, 984, Boniface VII returned from Constantinople and took possession of Rome.
Pope John XIV (983-84), who had been appointed by the Emperor Otto II, was imprisoned in the Castle of Sant' Angelo, where he perished about four months afterwards, and Boniface VII (984-85) ruled again as pope up to the time of his death in July, 985.
The epitaph on his tomb (Armellini, Le Chiese di Roma, 586) is still visible.
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
who played a part in the papal appointment
Papal appointment
Papal appointment is the oldest method for the selection of the pope. Papal selection before 1059 was often characterized by appointment by secular European rulers or by their predecessors...
.
Family
With the disappearance of the CarolingianCarolingian
The Carolingian dynasty was a Frankish noble family with origins in the Arnulfing and Pippinid clans of the 7th century AD. The name "Carolingian", Medieval Latin karolingi, an altered form of an unattested Old High German *karling, kerling The Carolingian dynasty (known variously as the...
dynasty the papal government of Rome lost its most powerful protector, and the Romans took matters into their own hands.
Out of the local aristocracy there arose a powerful family, which assumed the practical charge of all governmental affairs in Rome, controlled the nominations to the papal throne, and held the power for many years.
At the beginning of the tenth century the family was represented by Theophylactus, vestararius or high dignitary of the papal palace and the pontifical government, by his wife Theodora, and their two daughters Marozia
Marozia
Marozia, born Maria and also known as Mariuccia or Mariozza , was a Roman noblewoman who was the alleged mistress of Pope Sergius III and was given the unprecedented titles senatrix and patricia of Rome by Pope John X.Edward Gibbon wrote of her that the "influence of two sister prostitutes,...
and Theodora
Theodora
Theodora is a name of Greek origin, meaning "God's gift". It is the feminine form of the Greek name, Θεόδωρος meaning "God's gift" , neuter gender...
.
Theophylactus had the titles of Consul
Consul
Consul was the highest elected office of the Roman Republic and an appointive office under the Empire. The title was also used in other city states and also revived in modern states, notably in the First French Republic...
and Senator of the Romans.
Crescentius the Elder was a descendant of this family, being a son of Theodora, the daughter of Theophylactus.
Pope Benedict VI
According to the records, he took a hand in Roman affairs for the first time in 974.At the death of Pope John XIII
Pope John XIII
Pope John XIII of Crescenzi family served as Pope from October 1, 965, until his death.Born in Rome, he spent his career in the papal court...
(965-72), who was a brother of Crescentius, the Emperor Otto I (936-73) designated as his successor the Cardinal-Deacon Benedict, who took the name Benedict VI (972-74).
The Romans bore the constant interference of the emperor in the papal elections with ill-concealed indignation.
About a year after the death of Otto I, when his successor Otto II (973-83) was engaged in wars at home, they rebelled against the imperial regime under the headship of Crescentius.
The unfortunate Pope Benedict VI was dethroned, thrown into the Castle of Sant' Angelo, and strangled there in July, 974.
Pope Boniface VII
The deaconDeacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
Franco, a Roman, son of Ferrucius, was chosen to succeed, and took the name of Boniface VII (974).
The protests of the imperial envoy Sicco were of no avail against this manifestation of national aspirations on the part of the Romans.
Soon, however, the imperial party gained the upper hand; Pope Boniface VII was forced to flee to Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
; Benedict VII (974-83) was chosen in his place, and Crescentius disappeared for a time.
In all likelihood Crescentius took an active part in the restoration of Boniface VII in 984.
After the death of the Emperor Otto II (December, 983) the anti-imperial party believed that the time had come for reasserting itself.
In April, 984, Boniface VII returned from Constantinople and took possession of Rome.
Pope John XIV (983-84), who had been appointed by the Emperor Otto II, was imprisoned in the Castle of Sant' Angelo, where he perished about four months afterwards, and Boniface VII (984-85) ruled again as pope up to the time of his death in July, 985.
Later life
Towards the end of his life, whether before or after the restoration of Boniface VII is uncertain, Crescentius took the monastic habit in the monastery of St. Alexius on the Aventine, where he died, 7 July, 984, and was buried within the cloister.The epitaph on his tomb (Armellini, Le Chiese di Roma, 586) is still visible.