Everything about Pope Benedict Ix totally explained
Pope Victor III in his third book of Dialogues, referred to "his rapes, murders and other unspeakable acts. His life as a Pope so vile, so foul, so execrable, that I shudder to think of it."
He was briefly forced out of Rome in 1036 and needed the support of Emperor
Conrad II (1024–1039) to return. In September 1044 he was forced from the city again and replaced by
Pope Sylvester III (1045), who is sometimes considered an
antipope, though generally Benedict's abdication for a financial reward is recognized as valid. Benedict IX's forces returned in April 1045 and expelled his rival. There is debate as to whether Sylvester validly acquiesced to his deposition, and thus as to who was true pope from this point until the reign of Pope Clement II when Sylvester had definitely accepted abdication. However, Benedict's second term as Pope is often recognized as valid. Benedict IX then resigned in May 1045, possibly to
marry,
selling his office to
priest John Gratian, his
godfather (possibly for over 650 kg /1450 lb of
gold). Gratian apparently became
Pope Gregory VI (1045–46) in May, 1045, though if Sylvester never validly resigned, neither Benedict nor Gregory were true Pope during this period. Benedict IX apparently soon regretted the sale and returned to try to depose Gregory VI. Sylvester III also re-emerged to make a claim.
Benedict IX retook Rome and remained on the throne until July 1046, although Gregory VI continued to be recognized as the true Pope. Emperor
Henry III (1039–1056) intervened, and at the
Council of Sutri in December 1046 Benedict IX and Sylvester III were deprived of their offices and Gregory VI was encouraged to resign, which he did. Sylvester accepted this, but Benedict IX didn't actually attend. The German Bishop Suidger was crowned
Pope Clement II (1046–1047), which Benedict IX rejected, though his abdication to Gregory VI was incontrovertible. After Clement II died in October 1047, Pope Benedict IX seized the
Lateran Palace in November 1047, but was driven away in July 1048. During this period he's generally recognized to have had his third term as true Pope. Poppo of Brixen finally drove him out for good and was elected as
Pope Damasus II (1048). Benedict IX refused to appear on charges of
simony in 1049 and was
excommunicated. Benedict is universally regarded to have validly acquiesced to his third deposition, and Damasus II is universally recognized as Pope.
Benedict IX's eventual fate is obscure. He may have given up and
resigned the pontificate, dying around 1065 in the Abbey of
Grottaferrata. Other sources say he died in 1085.
Pope Leo IX (1049–1054) may have lifted the ban on him. Another report is that he continued to seek support for a return but died in January 1055 or 1056.
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