"Stephen VI" redirects here. For the Moldavian ruler, see Ştefan VI Rareş.
In sources prior to the 1960s, this pope is called Stephen VII and Pope Stephen V is called Stephen VI; see Pope-elect Stephen for a detailed explanation.
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. He is best known for instigating the Cadaver Synod, which ultimately led to his downfall and death.
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.
Stephen is chiefly remembered in connection with his conduct towards the remains of Pope Formosus. The rotting corpse of Formosus was exhumed and put on trial, before an unwilling synod of the Roman clergy, in the so-called Cadaver Synod in January 897. Pressure from the Spoleto contingent and Stephen's fury with Formosus probably precipitated this extraordinary event.[4] With the corpse propped up on a throne, a deacon was appointed to answer for the deceased pontiff. During the trial, Formosus's corpse was condemned for performing the functions of a bishop when he had been deposed and for accepting the papacy while he was the bishop of Porto, among other revived charges that had been levelled against him in the strife during the pontificate of John VIII. 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. All ordinations performed by Formosus were annulled.
The trial excited a tumult. Though the instigators of the deed may actually have been Formosus' Spoletan enemies, notably Guy IV of Spoleto, who had recovered their authority in Rome at the beginning of 897 by renouncing their broader claims in central Italy, the scandal ended in Stephen's imprisonment and his death by strangulation that summer.[5]
^The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Stephen VI (or VII)". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
^Platina, Bartolomeo (1479), The Lives of the Popes From The Time Of Our Saviour Jesus Christ to the Accession of Gregory VII, vol. I, London: Griffith Farran & Co., pp. 237–238, retrieved 25 April 2013
^Mann, Horace. "Pope Stephen (VI) VII." The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 14. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. Retrieved: 21 September 2017.
^Cummings, Joseph: "History's Great Untold Stories", page 14. National Geographic, 2006.
^O'Malley, John W., A History of the Popes, New York, Sheed & Ward, 2010. [page needed]
Sourcesedit
Dümmler, Ernst (1866). Auxilius und Vulgarius: Quellen und Forschungen zu Geschichte des Papsttums im Anfange des zehnten Jahrhunderts (in German and Latin). S. Hirzel. pp. 9–12, 71–72, 95.
Jégou, Laurent (2015). "Compétition autour d'un cadavre. Le procès du Pape Formose et ses enjeux (896-904)." (in French)Revue Historique vol. 317, no. 3 (675), 2015, pp. 499–523. Accessed 11 April 2020.
Leyser, Conrad (2010). "Episcopal Office in the Italy of Liudprand of Cremona, C.890-c.970." The English Historical Review 125, no. 515 (2010), pp. 795–817, at pp. 800–802; 811–813. Accessed 11 April 2020.
Llewellyn, Peter (1971). Rome in the Dark Ages. New York: Praeger. pp. 292–296.
Mann, Horace Kinder (1910). The Lives of the Popes in the Early Middle Ages. Vol. IV, 891–999. London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner. pp. 68–85.
Di Vito Loré, Marina C. Sarramia (2019). "Stefano VI, papa." Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani(in Italian) Volume 94 (Treccani: 2019).
pope, stephen, stephen, redirects, here, moldavian, ruler, ştefan, rareş, sources, prior, 1960s, this, pope, called, stephen, pope, stephen, called, stephen, pope, elect, stephen, detailed, explanation, latin, stephanus, died, august, bishop, rome, ruler, papa. Stephen VI redirects here For the Moldavian ruler see Stefan VI Rares In sources prior to the 1960s this pope is called Stephen VII and Pope Stephen V is called Stephen VI see Pope elect Stephen for a detailed explanation 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 He is best known for instigating the Cadaver Synod which ultimately led to his downfall and death PopeStephen VIBishop of RomeChurchCatholic ChurchPapacy began22 May 896Papacy endedAugust 897PredecessorBoniface VISuccessorRomanusPersonal detailsBornRome Papal StatesDiedAugust 897Rome Papal StatesOther popes named Stephen Jean Paul Laurens Le Pape Formose et Etienne VI 1870 Stephen at left accuses the corpse of his predecessor Formosus seated right Contents 1 Family and career 2 Pontificate 3 See also 4 References 5 SourcesFamily and career editStephen was born in Rome 1 His father was a priest named John Stephen was made bishop of Anagni by Pope Formosus 2 possibly against his will 3 Pontificate editThe 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 Stephen is chiefly remembered in connection with his conduct towards the remains of Pope Formosus The rotting corpse of Formosus was exhumed and put on trial before an unwilling synod of the Roman clergy in the so called Cadaver Synod in January 897 Pressure from the Spoleto contingent and Stephen s fury with Formosus probably precipitated this extraordinary event 4 With the corpse propped up on a throne a deacon was appointed to answer for the deceased pontiff During the trial Formosus s corpse was condemned for performing the functions of a bishop when he had been deposed and for accepting the papacy while he was the bishop of Porto among other revived charges that had been levelled against him in the strife during the pontificate of John VIII 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 All ordinations performed by Formosus were annulled The trial excited a tumult Though the instigators of the deed may actually have been Formosus Spoletan enemies notably Guy IV of Spoleto who had recovered their authority in Rome at the beginning of 897 by renouncing their broader claims in central Italy the scandal ended in Stephen s imprisonment and his death by strangulation that summer 5 See also edit nbsp Biography portal nbsp Christianity portal nbsp History portal List of popes who died violentlyReferences edit The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Stephen VI or VII Encyclopaedia Britannica Retrieved 30 August 2016 Platina Bartolomeo 1479 The Lives of the Popes From The Time Of Our Saviour Jesus Christ to the Accession of Gregory VII vol I London Griffith Farran amp Co pp 237 238 retrieved 25 April 2013 Mann Horace Pope Stephen VI VII The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol 14 New York Robert Appleton Company 1912 Retrieved 21 September 2017 Cummings Joseph History s Great Untold Stories page 14 National Geographic 2006 O Malley John W A History of the Popes New York Sheed amp Ward 2010 page needed Sources editDummler Ernst 1866 Auxilius und Vulgarius Quellen und Forschungen zu Geschichte des Papsttums im Anfange des zehnten Jahrhunderts in German and Latin S Hirzel pp 9 12 71 72 95 Jegou Laurent 2015 Competition autour d un cadavre Le proces du Pape Formose et ses enjeux 896 904 in French Revue Historique vol 317 no 3 675 2015 pp 499 523 Accessed 11 April 2020 Leyser Conrad 2010 Episcopal Office in the Italy of Liudprand of Cremona C 890 c 970 The English Historical Review 125 no 515 2010 pp 795 817 at pp 800 802 811 813 Accessed 11 April 2020 Llewellyn Peter 1971 Rome in the Dark Ages New York Praeger pp 292 296 Mann Horace Kinder 1910 The Lives of the Popes in the Early Middle Ages Vol IV 891 999 London Kegan Paul Trench Trubner pp 68 85 Di Vito Lore Marina C Sarramia 2019 Stefano VI papa Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani in Italian Volume 94 Treccani 2019 Catholic Church titles Preceded byBoniface VI Pope896 897 Succeeded byRomanus Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pope Stephen VI amp oldid 1208928318, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
