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. 237.
The Lives of the Popes,
BY
B. Platina
Volume I.
BONIFACE VI.
A.D. 896.
BONIFACE the Sixth, a Tuscan, was created Pope in the room of the deceased Formosus, but how long he continued in the papacy is a great question, for some writers say longer, others say shorter. I am of opinion with the most, that he sat but twenty-six days, and that which makes me think so is, that historians make little or no mention at all of him; and how can it be, that (as some say) he should sit twelve years in the chair of St Peter, and yet his reign be past over unregarded? I have placed him therefore in the catalogue of Popes, not for anything done by him, for he did nothing (indeed what could be expected to be done in so short a time?), but because he was regularly and canonically elected Pope. He died, as I said before, in the twenty-sixth day of his pontificate, and was buried in St Peter’s Church.
Previous Pope: 114. Formosus. 115. Boniface VI. Next Pope: 116. Stephen VII.