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. 267-269.
The Lives of the Popes,
BY
B. Platina
Volume I.
BENEDICT VIII.
A.D. 1012-1024.
BENEDICT the Eighth, born at Frascato, his father’s name was Gregory, became Pope, in the reign of Henry II., Duke of Bavaria, who had been made Emperor in the room of Otho III. Some say that Otho died at Rome, and that his body was carried into Germany; 268 others say it was buried in St Peter’s Church. However that may be, it is certain that Henry, Duke of Bavaria, who was an excellent and a most holy person, was now created Emperor, and that he had an Empress equally praiseworthy for charity, devotion, and affability. In his time the Pope defeated a powerful armament of Saracens, who had taken possession of the territory round Pisa, and drove the same race out of Sardinia. Henry, having settled the state of Germany, coming to Rome, received the imperial crown, and then marching to Capua, drove the Saracens out of it, and carried on the war against Bubagano, a general of the Greeks, who favoured the Moors with so much vigor that he dispossessed them of Troia, a city he had built in the confines of Apulia, in a place where Hannibal was said heretofore to have encamped. The Emperor Henry and his wife Cunigunda are reported to have led such chaste and holy lives that they grew famous for working miracles, omitting no action which might contribute to the glory of God. He founded the Bishopric of Bamberg, and married his daughter to the King of Hungary, by whose means that king and all his subjects received the Christian faith; but Henry died in the eighth year of his empire, to the great loss of his subjects. He being dead, of whom in all exigencies Benedict made use as his protector, he was expelled by a faction, and another Pope chosen in his room, though he soon after agreed the matter with his adversaries, who turned out again the pseudo-pope, and restored Benedict with honour. He died in the eleventh year, first month, and thirteenth day of his Popedom, and was buried in St Peter’s Church. It is said that a certain bishop walking in a solitary place, Benedict appeared to him sitting upon a black horse, whereupon the bishop asked him the reason of his appearance in that manner; he answered that his business was to desire him to take some money which he had hid in a certain place to which he directed him, and to give it to the poor as from him, for that the money had been of no profit to him, it consisting of what had been given of alms or gotten by rapine. The bishop executed his request, and immediately surrendered his bishopric and led a monastic life. Vincentius writes that Gerard, Bishop of Canobia, was in great account about this time for his learning, and exemplary life; as also was Gutherus, Bishop of Prague, who for his great abilities and holiness suffered martyrdom from 269 the enemies of the Christian religion. At this time also so great a pestilence raged n the world, that it was thought fewer survived it than died of it, which calamity was foreshowed by a well of wholesome water in Lorraine being turned into blood.
Previous Pope: 149. Sergius IV. 150. Benedict VIII. Next Pope: 151. John XIX.