Pope Formosus
Pope Formosus (c. 816 – 896) was Pope of the Roman Catholic Church from 6 October 891 to his death. His reign as pope was troubled, marked by power struggles over the Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Kingdom of West Francia, and the Holy Roman Empire.
| Pope Formosus | |
|---|---|
 Pope Formousus' dead body on trial | |
| Papacy began | 6 October 891 |
| Papacy ended | 4 April 896 |
| Predecessor | Stephen V |
| Successor | Boniface VI |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 816 Rome, Papal States |
| Died | 4 April 896 Rome, Papal States |
Papacy
During his papacy, Formosus also had to side with the Saracens, who were attacking Lazio.[1] On 4 April 896, Formosus died.[2] He was replaced by Boniface VI, whose papacy lasted 15 days.[2]
Trial
He sided with Arnulf of Carinthia against Lambert of Spoleto. He was accused of perjury and was put on trial. As a result, Formosus's remains were exhumed and put on trial in the Cadaver Synod.[3] He was found guilty and his body was buried many times at a nearby river.[4]
Pope Formosus Media
A 16th century depiction of Formosus' Papacy, from the Facial Chronicle
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References
- ↑ Wickham 2014, p. 22.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Kirsch 1909, p. 141.
- ↑ Bautz, Friedrich Wilhelm (1990). "Formosus, Papst". Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon 2. Hamm, Germany: Bautz.
- ↑ "The Cadaver Synod: When a Pope's Corpse Was Put on Trial". Atlas Obscura. 3 March 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2020.