List of leaders during the Byzantine Papacy
Encyclopedia
The Byzantine emperor, Pope of Rome, and Patriarch of Constantinople often came into conflict during the Byzantine Papacy
(537–752). Rival claimants to either See
or the throne often buttressed their authority by the endorsement of or attempted to depose other incumbents.
Byzantine Papacy
The Byzantine Papacy was a period of Byzantine domination of the papacy from 537 to 752, when popes required the approval of the Byzantine Emperor for episcopal consecration, and many popes were chosen from the apocrisiarii or the inhabitants of Byzantine Greece, Byzantine Syria, or Byzantine Sicily...
(537–752). Rival claimants to either See
Episcopal See
An episcopal see is, in the original sense, the official seat of a bishop. This seat, which is also referred to as the bishop's cathedra, is placed in the bishop's principal church, which is therefore called the bishop's cathedral...
or the throne often buttressed their authority by the endorsement of or attempted to depose other incumbents.
| Period | Pope | Emperor | Patriarch |
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| 537–552 | Vigilius Pope Vigilius Pope Vigilius reigned as pope from 537 to 555, is considered the first pope of the Byzantine Papacy.-Early life:He belonged to a aristocratic Roman family; his father Johannes is identified as a consul in the Liber pontificalis, having received that title from the emperor... (537–555) |
Justinian I Justinian I Justinian I ; , ; 483– 13 or 14 November 565), commonly known as Justinian the Great, was Byzantine Emperor from 527 to 565. During his reign, Justinian sought to revive the Empire's greatness and reconquer the lost western half of the classical Roman Empire.One of the most important figures of... (527–565) |
Menas (536–552) |
| 552–555 | Eutychius Patriarch Eutychius of Constantinople Eutychius , considered a saint in the Catholic and Orthodox Christian traditions, was the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from 552 to 565, and from 577 to 582. His feast is kept by the Byzantine Church on 6 April, and he is mentioned in the Catholic Church's "Corpus Iuris"... (552–565) |
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| 555–561 | Pegalius I Pope Pelagius I Pope Pelagius I was Pope from 556 to March 4, 561. He was the second pope of the Byzantine Papacy, like his predecessor a former apocrisiarius to Constantinople.-Early life:He came from a Roman noble family... (556–561) |
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| 561–565 | John III Pope John III Pope John III was pope from 561 to July 13, 574. He was born in Rome, of a distinguished family. The Liber Pontificalis calls him a son of one Anastasius. His father bore the title of illustris, more than likely being a vir illustris... (561–574) |
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| 565–574 | Justin II Justin II Justin II was Byzantine Emperor from 565 to 578. He was the husband of Sophia, nephew of Justinian I and the late Empress Theodora, and was therefore a member of the Justinian Dynasty. His reign is marked by war with Persia and the loss of the greater part of Italy... (565–578) |
John Scholasticus John Scholasticus John Scholasticus was the 32nd patriarch of Constantinople from April 12, 565 until his death in 577. He is also regarded as a saint of the Eastern Orthodox Church.... (565–577) |
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| 574–577 | Benedict I Pope Benedict I Pope Benedict I was pope from June 2, 575 to July 30, 579.Benedict was the son of a man named Bonifacius, and was called Bonosus by the Greeks. The ravages of the Lombards rendered it very difficult to communicate with the Byzantine emperor at Constantinople, who claimed the privilege of confirming... (575–579) |
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| 577–578 | Eutychius Patriarch Eutychius of Constantinople Eutychius , considered a saint in the Catholic and Orthodox Christian traditions, was the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from 552 to 565, and from 577 to 582. His feast is kept by the Byzantine Church on 6 April, and he is mentioned in the Catholic Church's "Corpus Iuris"... (577–582), restored |
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| 578–579 | Tiberius II Constantine Tiberius II Constantine Tiberius II Constantine was Byzantine Emperor from 574 to 582.During his reign, Tiberius II Constantine gave away 7,200 pounds of gold each year for four years.... (578–582) |
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| 579–582 | Pelagius II Pope Pelagius II Pope Pelagius II was Pope from 579 to 590.He was a native of Rome, but probably of Ostrogothic descent, as his father's name was Winigild.Pelagius appealed for help from Emperor Maurice against the Lombards, but the Byzantines were of little help, forcing Pelagius to "buy" a truce and turn to the... (579–590) |
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| 582–590 | Maurice Maurice (emperor) Maurice was Byzantine Emperor from 582 to 602.A prominent general in his youth, Maurice fought with success against the Sassanid Persians... (582–602) |
John IV Nesteutes Patriarch John IV of Constantinople John IV , also known as John Nesteutes or John the Faster, was the 33rd bishop or Patriarch of Constantinople . He was the first to assume the title Ecumenical Patriarch... (582–595) |
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| 590–596 | Gregory I Pope Gregory I Pope Gregory I , better known in English as Gregory the Great, was pope from 3 September 590 until his death... (590–604) |
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| 596–602 | Cyriacus II (596–606) | ||
| 602–604 | Phocas Phocas Phocas was Byzantine Emperor from 602 to 610. He usurped the throne from the Emperor Maurice, and was himself overthrown by Heraclius after losing a civil war.-Origins:... (602–610) |
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| 604–607 | Sabinian Pope Sabinian Pope Sabinian was pope from 604 to 606. He was born at Blera near Viterbo. Pope during the Byzantine Papacy, he was fourth former apocrisiarius to Constantinople elected pope.-Apokrisiariat :... (604–606) |
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| 607–608 | Boniface III Pope Boniface III Pope Boniface III was Pope from February 19 to November 12, 607. Despite his relatively short time as Pope he made a significant contribution to the organization of the Catholic Church.-Early life:... (607) |
Thomas I Patriarch Thomas I of Constantinople Thomas I was the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from 607 to 610. He has been canonized a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church. His feast day is March 21 .-External links:* Orthodox icon and synaxarion... (607–610) |
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| 608–610 | Boniface IV Pope Boniface IV Pope Saint Boniface IV was pope from 608 to his death.Son of Johannes, a physician, a Marsian from the province and town of Valeria; he succeeded Boniface III after a vacancy of over nine months. He was consecrated on either 25 August or September 15 in 608... (608–615) |
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| 610–615 | Heraclius Heraclius Heraclius was Byzantine Emperor from 610 to 641.He was responsible for introducing Greek as the empire's official language. His rise to power began in 608, when he and his father, Heraclius the Elder, the exarch of Africa, successfully led a revolt against the unpopular usurper Phocas.Heraclius'... (610–641) |
Sergius I Patriarch Sergius I of Constantinople Sergius I was the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from 610 to 638.In 626 during the absence of Emperor Heraclius on campaign against Sassanid Persia, the Avars laid siege to Constantinople. Along with the magister militum Bonus, he had been named regent and was in charge of the city's defense... (610–638) |
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| 615–619 | Adeodatus I Pope Adeodatus I Pope Saint Adeodatus I or Deodatus I was Pope from November 13, 615 to his death.... (615–618) |
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| 619–625 | Boniface V Pope Boniface V Pope Boniface V was pope from 619 to 625.He was consecrated as pope on December 23, 619. He did much for the Christianising of England and enacted the decree by which churches became places of refuge for criminals.... (619–625) |
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| 625–638 | Honorius I Pope Honorius I Pope Honorius I was pope from 625 to 638.Honorius, according to the Liber Pontificalis, came from Campania and was the son of the consul Petronius. He became pope on October 27, 625, two days after the death of his predecessor, Boniface V... (625–638) |
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| 638–640 | Interregnum | Pyrrhus I Patriarch Pyrrhus I of Constantinople Pyrrhus was the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from 20 December 638 to 29 September 641, and again from 9 January to 1 June 654.He was a supporter of Monotheletism, a christological doctrine propounded by the Emperor Heraclius. In 638, with the support of Heraclius, he was elected to the... (638–641) |
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| 640 | Severinus Pope Severinus Pope Severinus was pope in the year 640 who became caught up in a power struggle with the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius over the ongoing Monothelite controversy.-Election and struggle with Constantinople:... (640) |
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| 640–641 | John IV Pope John IV Pope John IV was elected Pope of the Catholic Church, after a four-month sede vacante, December 24, 640.Pope John was a native of Dalmatia . He was the son of the scholasticus Venantius. At the time of his election he was archdeacon of the Roman Church, an important role in governing the see... (640–642) |
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| 641 | Constantine III (Feb.-May 641) Heraklonas Heraklonas Constantinus Heraclius , known in English as Heraklonas, Heraclonas, or Heracleonas , was the son of Heraclius and his niece Martina, and was Byzantine Emperor briefly between February and September 641.... (Feb.-Sept. 641) co-ruler Constans II (641) |
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| 641–642 | Constans II, as sole ruler (641–668) | Paul II Patriarch Paul II of Constantinople Paul II was the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from 641 to 653. He assumed regency for Byzantine emperor Constans II after a succession crisis in 641.... (641–653) |
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| 642–649 | Theodore I Pope Theodore I Pope Theodore I , who was pope from November 24, 642, to May 14, 649, is considered a Greek, but was born in Jerusalem. He was made a cardinal deacon, and a full cardinal by Pope John IV.... (642–649) |
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| 649–654 | Martin I Pope Martin I Pope Martin I, born near Todi, Umbria in the place now named after him , was pope from 649 to 653, succeeding Pope Theodore I in July 5, 649. The only pope during the Byzantine Papacy whose election was not approved by a iussio from Constantinople, Martin I was abducted by Constans II and died in... (649–653) |
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| 654–657 | Eugene I Pope Eugene I Pope Saint Eugene I or Eugenius I, was pope from 10 August 654, to 1 June 657.He was a native of Rome, born to one Rufinianus. He was elected pope on 10 August 654, ascended in 655, and died on 1 June 657, of natural causes.-Early life:... (654–657) |
Peter (654–666) | |
| 657–667 | Vitalian Pope Vitalian Pope Saint Vitalianus was Pope of the Catholic Church from July 30, 657, until January 27, 672.He was born in Segni, Lazio, the son of Anastasius.-Reign:... (657–672) |
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| 667–668 | Thomas II (667–669) | ||
| 668–669 | Constantine IV Constantine IV Constantine IV , , sometimes incorrectly called Pogonatos, "the Bearded", by confusion with his father; was Byzantine emperor from 668 to 685... (668–685) Mezezius Mezezius Mezezius was an Armenian noble who served as a general of Byzantium, later usurping the Byzantine throne in Sicily from 668 to 669.According to a letter from Pope Gregory II to Emperor Leo III, he was Count of the Opsikion, the imperial retinue , and a later Syriac chronicle describes him as a... , usurper (668) co-ruler Justinian II Justinian II Justinian II , surnamed the Rhinotmetos or Rhinotmetus , was the last Byzantine Emperor of the Heraclian Dynasty, reigning from 685 to 695 and again from 705 to 711... (681–685) |
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| 669–672 | John V Patriarch John V of Constantinople John V was the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from 669 to 675.- References :... (669–675) |
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| 672–675 | Adeodatus II Pope Adeodatus II Pope Adeodatus II or Pope Deodatus II reigned as Pope from April 11, 672 to June 17, 676. Little is known about him. Most records which remain indicate that Adeodatus was known for his generosity, especially when it came to the poor and to pilgrims.... (672–676) |
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| 675–676 | Constantine I Patriarch Constantine I of Constantinople Constantine I was the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from 675 to 677..- References :... (675–677) |
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| 676–677 | Donus Pope Donus Pope Donus was Pope from November 2, 676 to April 11, 678.He was the son of a Roman named Mauricius. Not much is known of this pope.-Reign:... (676–678) |
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| 677–678 | Theodore I Theodore I of Constantinople Theodore I was the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from 677 to 679.... (677–679) |
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| 678–679 | Agatho Pope Agatho -Background and early life:Little is known of Agatho before his papacy. A letter written by St. Gregory the Great to the abbot of St. Hermes in Palermo mentions an Agatho, a Greek born in Sicily to wealthy parents. He wished to give away his inheritance and join a monastery, and in this letter... (678–681) |
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| 679–682 | George I Patriarch George I of Constantinople George I was the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from 679 to 686..- References :... (679–686) |
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| 682–684 | Leo II Pope Leo II -Background and early activity in the Church:He was a Sicilian by birth , and succeeded Agatho. Though elected pope a few days after the death of St. Agatho , he was not consecrated till after the lapse of a year and seven months... (682–683) |
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| 684–685 | Benedict II Pope Benedict II Pope Saint Benedict II was Pope from 684 to 685.Pope Benedict II died on May 8, 685. He succeeded Leo II. Although chosen in 683, he was not ordained until 684 because the leave of Emperor Constantine IV was not obtained until some months after the election... (684–685) |
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| 685–686 | John V Pope John V Pope John V was pope from July 685 to August 2, 686. John V was the first pope of the Byzantine Papacy allowed to be consecrated by the Byzantine emperor without prior consent, and the first in a line of ten consecutive popes of eastern origin... (685–686) |
Justinian II Justinian II Justinian II , surnamed the Rhinotmetos or Rhinotmetus , was the last Byzantine Emperor of the Heraclian Dynasty, reigning from 685 to 695 and again from 705 to 711... , as sole ruler (685–695) |
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| 686–687 | Conon Pope Conon Pope Conon was Pope from October 21, 686 until his death in Rome. Conon was buried in the Patriarchal Basilica of St... (686–687) |
Interregnum | |
| 687–693 | Sergius I Pope Sergius I Pope Saint Sergius I was pope from 687 to 701. Selected to end a schism between Antipope Paschal and Antipope Theodore, Sergius I ended the last disputed sede vacante of the Byzantine Papacy.... (687–701) Theodore Antipope Theodore Theodore was a rival with Paschal for Pope following the death of Pope Conon , and thus is considered an antipope of the Roman Catholic Church.Prior to the disputed election, Theodore was an archpriest... (687) Paschal Antipope Paschal Paschal was a rival with Theodore for Pope following the death of Pope Conon , and thus is considered an antipope of the Roman Catholic Church.Prior to the disputed election, Paschal was an archdeacon... (687) |
Paul III Patriarch Paul III of Constantinople Paul III was the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from 687 to 693..... (687–693) |
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| 693–695 | Callinicus I Patriarch Callinicus I of Constantinople Kallinikos I was the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from 693 to 705.Callinicus helped to depose Emperor Justinian II and place Leontios on the Byzantine throne.... (693–705) |
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| 695–698 | Leontios Leontios Leontios was Byzantine emperor from 695 to 698. He came to power by overthrowing the Emperor Justinian II, but was overthrown in his turn by Tiberios III. His actual and official name was Leo , but he is known by the name used for him in Byzantine chronicles.- Early life :Leontios was born in... (695–698) |
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| 698–701 | Tiberios III Tiberios III Tiberios III was Byzantine emperor from 698 to 21 August 705. Although his rule was considered generally successful, especially in containing the Arab threat to the east, he was overthrown by the former emperor Justinian II and subsequently executed.-Rise to power:Tiberius was a Germanic naval... (698–705) |
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| 701–705 | John VI Pope John VI Pope John VI was a Greek pope from Ephesus who reigned during the Byzantine Papacy from October 30, 701 to January 11, 705. His papacy was noted for military and political breakthroughs on the Italian peninsula. He succeeded to the papal chair two months after the death of Pope Sergius I, and his... (701–705) |
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| 705–708 | John VII Pope John VII Pope John VII was pope from 705 to 707. The successor of John VI, he was of Greek ancestry. He is one of the popes of the Byzantine captivity.-Biography:... (705–707) |
Justinian II Justinian II Justinian II , surnamed the Rhinotmetos or Rhinotmetus , was the last Byzantine Emperor of the Heraclian Dynasty, reigning from 685 to 695 and again from 705 to 711... , restored (705–711) |
Cyrus (705–711) |
| 708 | Sisinnius Pope Sisinnius Pope Sisinnius was Pope for about three weeks in 708.A Syrian by birth, Sisinnius's father's name was John. The paucity of donations to the papacy during his reign indicate that he was probably not from the aristocracy.Sisinnius was selected as... (708) |
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| 708–711 | Constantine Pope Constantine Pope Constantine was pope from 708 to 715. With the exception of Antipope Constantine, he was the only pope to take such a "quintessentially" Eastern name of an emperor... (708–715) |
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| 711–712 | Philippikos (711–713) | Interregnum | |
| 712–713 | John VI Patriarch John VI of Constantinople John VI , Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from 712 to 715.John VI was placed on the patriarchal throne in 712 by Emperor Philippikos, as a replacement for the deposed Patriarch Kyros. John was favored by Philippikos, because he shared his Monothelite sympathies... (712–715) |
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| 713–715 | Anastasios II Anastasios II (emperor) Artemius Anastasius , known in English as Anastasios II or Anastasius II, , was Byzantine emperor from 713 to 715.... (713–715) |
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| 715–717 | Gregory II Pope Gregory II Pope Saint Gregory II was pope from May 19, 715 to his death on February 11, 731, succeeding Pope Constantine. Having, it is said, bought off the Lombards for thirty pounds of gold, Charles Martel having refused his call for aid, he used the tranquillity thus obtained for vigorous missionary... (715–731) |
Theodosios III Theodosios III Theodosios III or Theodosius III , was Byzantine Emperor from 715 to March 25, 717.Theodosius was a financial officer and tax collector in the southern portion of the theme of Opsikion. According to one theory he was the son of the former Emperor Tiberius III. When the thematic troops rebelled... (715–717) |
Germanus I (715–730) |
| 717–730 | Leo III the Isaurian Leo III the Isaurian Leo III the Isaurian or the Syrian , was Byzantine emperor from 717 until his death in 741... (717–741) co-ruler Constantine V Constantine V Constantine V was Byzantine emperor from 741 to 775; ); .-Early life:... (720–741) |
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| 730–731 | Anastasius Patriarch Anastasius of Constantinople Anastasios was the patriarch of Constantinople from 730 to 754. The patriarchate of Constantinople is a high position in the eastern branch of Christianity. He succeeded Germanos I . Anastasios was heavily involved in the controversy over icons . His opinion of icons changed twice... (730–754) |
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| 731–741 | Gregory III Pope Gregory III Pope Saint Gregory III was pope from 731 to 741. A Syrian by birth, he succeeded Gregory II in March 731. His pontificate, like that of his predecessor, was disturbed by the iconoclastic controversy in the Byzantine Empire, in which he vainly invoked the intervention of Charles Martel.Elected by... (731–741) |
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| 741–752 | Zachary Pope Zachary Pope Saint Zachary was Pope of the Catholic Church from 741 to 752. A Greek from Calabria, he was the last pope of the Byzantine Papacy... (741–752) |
Constantine V Constantine V Constantine V was Byzantine emperor from 741 to 775; ); .-Early life:... , as sole ruler (741–775) |