The Theophylact Family

In The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Edward Gibbon (1737 - 1794) wrote of two "sister prostitutues" whose beauty and wealth was such that they wielded great influence. Their names were Theodora and Marozia, the daughters of Count of Tusculum Theophylact I (pre-864 - 924/250 and his wife, Theodora. (The illustration is the emblem of the Counts of tusculum.)

We (as did Gibbon) are currently exploring a time and place (as so often) when records were scarce and the chroniclers (as so often) had their own agendæ. Much of what I am about to tell you comes from Liudprand of Cremona. Bishop Liudprand (c.920 - 972) was around for the actions of Theophylact and his descendants, but was certainly personally and politically opposed to them.

Theodora the mother (c. 870 – 916) was so influential that she was given the titles senatrix and patricia of Rome. Their daughters Marozia and Theodora II were also titled senatrix omnium Romanorum  ("senators of all Romans"). This was a time in Rome that is called the Saeculum obscurum ("the dark age/century"), also known as the Rule of the Harlots or the Pornocracy. Liudprand called Theodora a "shameless harlot" and claimed that Pope John X (914 - 928) was appointed pope because he was her lover.

Theophylact and Alberic I of Spoleto were instrumental in the overthrow of the antipope Christopher and putting Sergius III (possibly Theophylact's cousin) on the Chair of Peter. Alberic I married Theophylact's daughter Marozia and had five children (Alberic II among them). It is suggested by Liudprand that Marozia's eldest, who became Pope John XI, was actually the son of Marozia and Pope Sergius. Gibbon wrote that John's birth coming after Marozia's marriage to Alberic I indicates that Alberic was the father. Was Gibbon being naive or was Liudprand simply too ready to create a reason to condemn?

(Gibbon also points out that it may be the influence of Theodora and her daughters over Rome in the 9th century that led to the story—not created until the 11th century—that there was a female pope in the 9th century. This makes much more sense than believing that a woman rose to become pope within two years and was discovered when she gave birth during a procession.)

Tomorrow we'll take a closer look at the next generation, specifically Marozia, who retained the power in Rome after the death of her husband.

Alberic II of Spoleto

The House of Theophylact (the counts of Tusculum) ruled Rome for four generations. A grandson of the founding Theophylact I was Alberic II of Spoleto.

His parents were Alberic I and Marozia (Theophylact's daughter). Their eldest son, John, was Pope John XI as of 931. (According to Liudprand of Cremona, John was the son of Marozia and her lover, Pope Sergius III.)

Alberic I died when Alberic was young, and Marozia retained power in Rome, marrying a couple more times. According to one historian, Benedict of Soracte, Marozia's third husband (seen here between the young Alberic and Marozia) intended to have Alberic blinded (disqualifying him from being a ruler). When Alberic found out, he raised a mob that stormed the palace, drove the man out of Rome and imprisoned Marozia, allowing him to rule unencumbered.

His reign from 932 to 954 was peaceful. He styled himself princeps ("prince") of Rome, a title that was twice used in official documents by Byzantine Emperor Constantine VII. He controlled Rome firmly, and the popes. When his brother Pope John XI died, Alberic pressured Leo VII to become pope. Leo did not want the position, but Alberic wanted someone pliable. After Leo died (in 939), Pope Stephen VIII succeeded him.

After a number of bishops were involved in an assassination attempt against Alberic, he (it is reported) imprisoned and tortured Stephen. Stephen was succeeded by Pope Marinus II (sometimes called Martin III) on 30 October 942. Marinus supported many monasteries. Alberic was also in favor of restoring monasteries that had been devastated by Muslim attacks. The two got along, but it was said Marinus did nothing without Alberic's approval.

After Marinus came Pope Agapetus II. Alberic's hold on the papacy was so complete that in 951 he was able to prevent the coronation of Otto the Great as Holy Roman Emperor (which needed a pope as celebrant) until after Alberic died.

Before Alberic died in 954, he had made the nobles of Rome promise to make his son the next pope. Agapetus was succeeded in 955 by Alberic's son Octavian, who took the name John XII. Otto the Great was finally crowned Holy Roman Emperor by John in 964.

Several more popes were descended from or related to Alberic, which means they were descended from Marozia, and we really ought to find out more about her and her family before perhaps exploring her descendants. See you tomorrow.