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. 155-156.
The Lives of the Popes,
BY
B. Platina
Volume I.
EUGENIUS I.
A.D. 655-657.
EUGENIUS, a Roman, son of Ruffinianus, succeeded Martin about the time that in the place of Paul the heretic, Peter was made patriarch of Constantinople, who, though he were a little more orthodox than Paul, yet did not in all things agree in doctrine with the Roman Church. His letters sent to Rome, in which he denied two operations and wills in Christ, were so exploded, that the clergy took upon them to interdict the Pope’s celebrating mass in St Maria Maggiore, till he had first publicly declared his dislike of them.
In the meantime, Grimoaldus, duke of Beneventum, leaving his son to govern at home, and marching with a great army into Lombardy, forced Pertheris and Gundibert, the two sons of Aribertus, to quit Pavia and Milan. Of which Clodoveus, the French king, having intelligence, he, out of compassion to the young princes, immediately sends a considerable force into Italy, to recover their right for them. Beyond the Po battle is joined, and the dispute managed very briskly on both sides, the young princes being eager to retrieve their paternal possessions, and he endeavouring as much to keep what he had gained by war. At length fortune inclined to Grimoaldus’s side, and the French were routed, and driven out of Italy. We are told by some, that the French were out-witted by the enemy after this manner: the Lombards dissembled a flight, leaving their tents furnished with plenty of all manner of provisions, and especially of wine, but not far off they made a halt, watching their opportunity; the French, entering their tents, and thinking they had been really fled, fall to feasting. 156 and eat and drink to such excess, that the enemy coming upon them, and finding them dead asleep, and lying about like beasts, they made such a slaughter of them, that there was scarce one left alive to carry the news to Clodoveus. Grimoaldus, growing confident upon this victory, quickly makes himself master of the whole province. As for Pope Eugenius, who was a person of very great piety, religion, meekness, humanity, and munificence, having been in the chair two years, nine months, he died, and was buried in the church of St Peter, June the 2nd. The see was then vacant one month, twenty-eight days.
Previous Pope: 76. Martin I. 77. Eugenius I. Next Pope: 78. Vitalianus I.