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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. 276-277.

The Lives of the Popes,
BY
B. Platina

Volume I.


[276]

STEPHEN  IX.

A.D. 1057-1058.

STEPHEN the Ninth, before named Frederick, a Lorrainer, abbot of Monte Cassino, was no sooner made Pope but he took care that the Church of Milan, which for almost two 277 hundred years had withdrawn its subjection to that of Rome, was now at length reduced to obedience thereto, as to the mother and nurse of all churches, which obedience she has since persevered in, as becomes true daughters to do to a pious mother. Near about this time Henry IV. succeeded his father, deceased, and Alexius succeeded Nicephorus,1 Emperor of Constantinople; Robert Guiscard also in a mighty battle overthrew the Greeks and drove them out of Calabria, leaving none but Greek priests, who even to our times kept their own language and customs. Indeed, the Constantinopolitan Empire was now so broken by the Saracens that they had much ado to preserve Thrace, Galatia, Pontus, Thessaly, Macedon, and Achaia, and even out of these either the Turks or Saracens every day cantled out one place or another. But Stephen, when he had been Pope seven months and eight days, died at Florence, where he was honourably buried, as Martinus writes. Some say that Pope Stephen accused the Emperor Henry of heresy for endeavouring to diminish the papal authority, without regard to religion and the immortal God.

FOOTNOTE

 1  [Alexius did not succeed Nicephorus till 1081.]

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Previous Pope: 158. Victor II. 159. Stephen IX. Next Pope: 160. Benedict X.

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