Pope Sergius IV
Encyclopedia
Pope Sergius IV born Pietro Martino Buccaporci, was Pope
from July 31, 1009, until his death. The date of his birth is unknown. His birth name is believed to have been Pietro Martino (Peter Martin) Buccaporci. This name essentially translated to "Peter Pig
's Snout
." Pietro adopted the name Sergius IV upon accession to the pontificate.
Boccapecora was the son of a shoemaker (also named Pietro) who lived in the city of Rome
. Despite his family's poor background, he performed well after entering the Church, and rose quickly through the ranks. In 1004, he became Bishop
of Albano
. Upon the abdication
of Pope John XVIII
(1004–09) he was elected pope, and adopted the name of Sergius IV.
The power held by Sergius IV was often overshadowed by Crescentius III
, the ruler of the city of Rome at the time. Some historians have claimed that Sergius IV was essentially a puppet ruler
for Crescentius III. Others, however, claimed that the Pope resisted Crescentius III's power. There is some evidence that Sergius IV gave political backing to an anti-Crescentius faction in the city.
Acts sometimes attributed to Pope Sergius IV include measures to relieve famine in the city of Rome, the exemption of certain monasteries from episcopal rule, and a papal bull
calling for Islam
to be driven from the Holy Land
after the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
was destroyed in 1009 by the Fatimid
caliph
al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah
. Some historians have suggested that this bull was actually invented around the time of the First Crusade
, in order to help justify that expedition to Jerusalem. More recently though, historians have forcefully argued for the document's authenticity.
Sergius IV died on May 12, 1012, and was followed in the papacy by Pope Benedict VIII
(1012–24). There was some suspicion that the Pope was murdered, as he died within a week of Crescentius, considered by many to have been his patron. Sergius was buried in the Lateran
Basilica, and is sometimes venerated as a Saint
by the Benedictine
s.
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
from July 31, 1009, until his death. The date of his birth is unknown. His birth name is believed to have been Pietro Martino (Peter Martin) Buccaporci. This name essentially translated to "Peter Pig
Pig
A pig is any of the animals in the genus Sus, within the Suidae family of even-toed ungulates. Pigs include the domestic pig, its ancestor the wild boar, and several other wild relatives...
's Snout
Snout
The snout, or muzzle, is the protruding portion of an animal's face, consisting of its nose, mouth, and jaw.-Terminology:The term "muzzle", used as a noun, can be ambiguous...
." Pietro adopted the name Sergius IV upon accession to the pontificate.
Boccapecora was the son of a shoemaker (also named Pietro) who lived in the city of Rome
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...
. Despite his family's poor background, he performed well after entering the Church, and rose quickly through the ranks. In 1004, he became Bishop
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
of Albano
Albano Laziale
Albano Laziale is a comune in the province of Rome, on the Alban Hills, in Latium, central Italy. It is also a suburb of Rome, which is 25 km distant. It is bounded by other communes of Castel Gandolfo, Rocca di Papa, Ariccia and Ardea. Located in the Castelli Romani area of Lazio...
. Upon the abdication
Abdication
Abdication occurs when a monarch, such as a king or emperor, renounces his office.-Terminology:The word abdication comes derives from the Latin abdicatio. meaning to disown or renounce...
of Pope John XVIII
Pope John XVIII
Pope John XVIII was Pope in Pisa from 1004 to 1009. He was born Fasanius at Rapagnano, near Ascoli Piceno, the son of a Roman priest named Leo....
(1004–09) he was elected pope, and adopted the name of Sergius IV.
The power held by Sergius IV was often overshadowed by Crescentius III
John Crescentius
John Crescentius was the son of Crescentius the Younger. He succeeded to his father's title of consul and patrician of Rome in 1002 and held it to his death....
, the ruler of the city of Rome at the time. Some historians have claimed that Sergius IV was essentially a puppet ruler
Puppet ruler
A puppet ruler is a person who has a title indicating possession of political power, but who, in reality, is controlled by outside individuals or forces. Such outside power can be exercised by a foreign government, in which case the puppet ruler's domain is called a puppet state...
for Crescentius III. Others, however, claimed that the Pope resisted Crescentius III's power. There is some evidence that Sergius IV gave political backing to an anti-Crescentius faction in the city.
Acts sometimes attributed to Pope Sergius IV include measures to relieve famine in the city of Rome, the exemption of certain monasteries from episcopal rule, and a papal bull
Papal bull
A Papal bull is a particular type of letters patent or charter issued by a Pope of the Catholic Church. It is named after the bulla that was appended to the end in order to authenticate it....
calling for Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
to be driven from the Holy Land
Holy Land
The Holy Land is a term which in Judaism refers to the Kingdom of Israel as defined in the Tanakh. For Jews, the Land's identifiction of being Holy is defined in Judaism by its differentiation from other lands by virtue of the practice of Judaism often possible only in the Land of Israel...
after the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, also called the Church of the Resurrection by Eastern Christians, is a church within the walled Old City of Jerusalem. It is a few steps away from the Muristan....
was destroyed in 1009 by the Fatimid
Fatimid
The Fatimid Islamic Caliphate or al-Fāṭimiyyūn was a Berber Shia Muslim caliphate first centered in Tunisia and later in Egypt that ruled over varying areas of the Maghreb, Sudan, Sicily, the Levant, and Hijaz from 5 January 909 to 1171.The caliphate was ruled by the Fatimids, who established the...
caliph
Caliph
The Caliph is the head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the ruler of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Shari'ah. It is a transcribed version of the Arabic word which means "successor" or "representative"...
al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah
Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah
Abu ‘Ali Mansur Tāriqu l-Ḥākim, called Al-Hakim bi Amr al-Lāh , was the sixth Fatimid caliph and 16th Ismaili imam .- History :...
. Some historians have suggested that this bull was actually invented around the time of the First Crusade
First Crusade
The First Crusade was a military expedition by Western Christianity to regain the Holy Lands taken in the Muslim conquest of the Levant, ultimately resulting in the recapture of Jerusalem...
, in order to help justify that expedition to Jerusalem. More recently though, historians have forcefully argued for the document's authenticity.
Sergius IV died on May 12, 1012, and was followed in the papacy by Pope Benedict VIII
Pope Benedict VIII
Pope Benedict VIII , born Theophylactus, Pope from 1012 to 1024, of the noble family of the counts of Tusculum , descended from Theophylact, Count of Tusculum like his predecessor Pope Benedict VI .Benedict VIII was opposed by an antipope, Gregory...
(1012–24). There was some suspicion that the Pope was murdered, as he died within a week of Crescentius, considered by many to have been his patron. Sergius was buried in the Lateran
Lateran
Lateran and Laterano are the shared names of several architectural projects throughout Rome. The properties were once owned by the Lateranus family of the former Roman Empire...
Basilica, and is sometimes venerated as a Saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
by the Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
s.