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. 149-150.
The Lives of the Popes,
BY
B. Platina
Volume I.
SEVERINUS I.
A.D. 640.
SEVERINUS, a Roman, son of Labienus, being chosen in the place of Honorius deceased, was confirmed therein by Isaac, Exarch of Italy, the election of the clergy and people being at this time reckoned null and void without the assent of the emperors or their exarchs. Now Isaac having made a journey to Rome upon the occasion of confirming this Pope, that he might not lose his labour, fairly sets himself to plunder the Lateran treasury, being assisted in that attempt by several citizens, though he were resisted for a time, but in vain, by the clergy of that church, the principal of which he afterwards banished. The ground of this action was Isaac’s resentment that the clergy alone should grow rich, without contributing to the charge of the wars, especially at a time when the soldiers were reduced to the greatest want and extremity. Part of the spoil he distributed among the soldiers, part he carried away with him to Ravenna, and of the rest he made a present to the emperor. Those of the Saracens who had been listed by Heraclius being discontented for want of pay, marched into Syria, and made themselves masters of Damascus, a city subject to the empire. Then joining with the other Arabians, and being furnished with provisions and 150 arms, and heated by Mahomet’s zeal, they overran Phœnicia and Egypt, and put to the sword all those who refused to subscribe to their government and Mahomet’s religion. Advancing thence against the Persians, and having slain Hormisda, the Persian king, they ceased not to commit all manner of outrages upon that people, till they had entirely reduced them to subjection. But Heraclius, having intelligence of what work these Saracens made, especially upon their taking of Antioch, and fearing that they might possess themselves of Jerusalem itself (which they not long after did), took care to have the cross of our Saviour conveyed to Constantinople, that it might not again come into the hands of the Agarens (for so the Greeks in contempt call the Arabians, as descending from Agar, Abraham’s servant). Mahomet dying at Mecca in 632, was succeed by rulers called Caliphs, i.e., successors. The first was Abu-bekr. The fourth, Ali, was disowned by some, and thus the Caliphate became divided. It is said also, that to complete the calamities of the Roman empire, Sisebert, king of the Goths, did at this time recover out of the hands of the Romans all the cities of Spain; and so a period was put to the Roman government in that country.
As for Severinus, who was a person of extraordinary piety and religion, a lover of the poor, kind to those in affliction, liberal to all, and in adorning of churches very munificent, having been in the chair two months, he died, and was buried in St Peter’s Church, August the 2nd. The see was then vacant four months, twenty days.
Previous Pope: 72. Honorius I. 73. Severinus I. Next Pope: 74. John IV.