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. 250-251.
The Lives of the Popes,
BY
B. Platina
Volume I.
AGAPETUS II.
A.D. 946-955.
AGAPETUS the Second, a Roman, was created Pope at a time when Italy was full of warlike hurly-burly; for the Hungarians, having invaded Italy with a mighty force, had 251 overrun all the country beyond the river Po. Henry, Duke of Bavaria, takes up arms immediately, and getting an army together, marches against them, and in two fierce battles routs them, though not without great damage to the inhabitants thereabouts, and seizes all the country from Aquileia to Pavia; from whence yet he soon departed into Austria, when he heard that Berengarius was coming against him with a great army. Berengarius being therefore now master of Italy, takes to himself the name of Emperor, and calls his son Albertus, King of Italy, casting into prison Alunda, Lotharius’s brother’s daughter, lest she should lay claim to the city of Pavia, which was her dowry. Pope Agapetus and the great men of Italy (observing the arrogance of Berengarius, and that he made pretensions to everything without regard to right and justice), sent for Otho, King of Germany, into Italy, who, entering by the way of Friuli with fifty thousand men, quickly dethroned Berengarius and Albertus, and taking Alunda out of prison, married her, of whom he had a son, afterwards succeeding him by the name of Otho II. And now Otho, leaving Italy, showed a great deal of moderation by permitting to Berengarius and his son the government of a province, and making peace between him and the Pope. This Otho assisted Louis, King of France, with a great army against Hugh, Earl of Paris, though his brother-in-law, who with the help of some of the great men of that country had well-nigh ousted him of his kingdom. But Albertus, son of Berengarius, who then was Governor of Ravenna, aided with some forces and ships from Comachio, pirated upon the merchants of Venice, much against the mind of Pope Agapetus; at which the Venetians were so enraged, that they immediately rigged out a navy, and took Comachio and burnt it. While these things were doing, Pope Agapetus, a harmless man, and a great lover of the Church, died in the ninth year, seventh month, and tenth day of his pontificate; about the same time that Otho, abbot of Clugny, also slept in the Lord; whose disciple Domaielus is supposed to be, that wonderfully holy man and great restorer of monastic discipline.
Previous Pope: 132. Martin II. 133. Agapetus II. Next Pope: 134. John XII.