From The Lives of the Popes from the Time of our Saviour Jesus Christ to the Accession of Gregory VII. Written Originally in Latin by B. Platina, Native of Cremona, and translated into English (from an anonymous translation, first printed in 1685 by Sir Paul Rycaut), Edited by William Benham, Volume I, London: Griffith, Farran, Okeden & Welsh, [1888, undated in text]; pp. 232-233.
The Lives of the Popes,
BY
B. Platina
Volume I.
JOHN VIII.
A.D. 872-882.
JOHN the Eighth, a Roman, son of Gundo, as soon as he was made Pope, declared Charles (surnamed the Bald, who came to Rome for that purpose) emperor, which so enraged the sons of his elder brother Louis, King of Germany (Charles, surnamed the Gross, and Carloman), that, levying an army, they invade Italy, resolving to deprive their uncle of his crown and life. Charles hereupon makes haste towards Verona with his forces, intending to cut off the passage of his nephews by Trent, but was taken ill at Mantua and there poisoned (as it was thought) by one Zedechias a Jew, whom he made use of for a physician. Upon this news Pope John used his utmost endeavour that Charles’s son Louis (surnamed the Stammerer), King of France, might be made emperor; but the great men of Rome opposed it, desiring rather that Charles III., King of Germany, might succeed, who, with his brother Carloman, had now overrun a great part of Italy. So great was the sedition, that though many favoured Louis, yet they took the Pope and clapped him in prison. But by the help of some friends he soon made his escape into France to Louis, where he stayed a year, anointed him king, and ended some controversies depending between the ecclesiastics. For Gibertus, Bishop of Nismes, had by force turned Leo, an abbot, out of his monastery. This monastery was dedicated to St Peter, and in it lay buried the body of St Giles; it is situated in a place called Flaviano, from a valley of that name given to St Giles by a certain king named Flavius, and he built there a monastery to the honour of Saints Peter and Paul. The Pope, in the presence of many bishops and judges, heard the cause, and adjudged the monastery to Leo. This was done at Arles, from whence John, departing with the approbation of Louis, held a Council at Troyes, where he made several decrees about religious affairs, and appointed a bishop for the Flemings, who, having left their woods and fastnesses, now betook themselves to an orderly way of living. But Italy all this while being harassed by the Saracens, who had taken and plundered the monastery of Monte Cassino, John was called home to Rome, and, with the help of some Christian princes, 233 drove the greatest part of them out of Italy and Sicily; and at last, that he might live the more quietly in the city, he placed the imperial crown on the head of Charles III., who quickly after, marching against the Normans, then infesting the borders of France and Loraine, defeated them, so that their king, Rothifredus, was forced to sue for peace, and to become a Christian, the Emperor himself being his godfather, and taking him into favour. This writes Anastasius, the Roman library-keeper, who was then highly in vogue, being so skilful in both tongues, that by the persuasion of the Emperor Charles he translated out of Greek into elegant Latin the seventh general council and Dionysius the Areopagite’s book, “De Hierarchiâ,” with the lives of several saints. Some say that this Charles built many monasteries and was liberal to the Church; but it is certain that it was his particular commendation that he put many learned men upon writing, for Milo, a monk of St Amand, wrote the life of that saint very exactly, and Johannes Scotus did very solidly and acutely handle many points of our religion; nor was our Pope John without desert in the same way, having, while he was deacon, excellently composed the life of Gregory I. in four books. When he had sat ten years and two days he died, and was buried in St Peter’s Church.
Previous Pope: 109. Hadrian II. 110. John VIII. Next Pope: 111. Martin II.