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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. 156-158.

The Lives of the Popes,
BY
B. Platina

Volume I.


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[156]

VITALIANUS  I.

A.D. 657-672.

VITALIANUS, born at Segna, a town of the Volsci, the son of Anastasius, entered upon the pontificate at the time when Cesarea, the Persian Queen, attended only with a few of her confidants, and without the knowledge of her husband, came to Constantinople in the year 663. She was very honourably received by the emperor, and not long after baptized, for the sake of which it was that she came thither. The Persian King, having intelligence hereof, forthwith sends ambassadors to Constantinople to demand his wife of the emperor. To them the emperor answered, that it was in the queen’s choice to stay or go, and therefore they should enquire of her pleasure. The queen being asked, made answer, that she would never return into her country, unless the king would become a Christian. Who being acquainted herewith, comes forthwith in a peaceable manner, with forty thousand men to Constantinople; where, being received by the emperor with all expression of kindness, he, together with his soldiers, were baptized, and then he returned with his queen into his own kingdom. After this Constantius, having associated to himself in the government his son Constantine, and prepared a great fleet, seeing sail from Constantinople, arrives at Tarentum, bringing with him in ships of burden a great force of land soldiers. From thence he advanced by land into Abruzzo, with design to besiege Beneventum. But understanding that that city was very strongly garrisoned, and plentifully furnished with 157 provisions by the care of Rhomoaldus, he marched to Lucera, which he took, and plundered, and then levelled with the ground. Passing from hence to Acherontia, and not being able to make himself master of so well-fortified a place, he again attempts the siege of Beneventum, but soon raises it, upon intelligence that Grimoaldus would suddenly be there with a great army to assist his son Rhomoaldus. Hereupon Constantius, moving first towards Naples, though very much incommoded in his passage, and having left Saburrus, a Roman citizen, with twenty thousand men at Formiæ to oppose the enemy, at length he comes to Rome, the Pope and clergy and people, in honour to him, going six miles out of the city to meet him. And being conducted through the city with great acclamations to the church of St Peter, he there made a very rich present. In the meantime Rhomoaldus, presuming upon the supplies he received from his father, joins battle with Saburrus, conquers him, and puts to the sword a great number of the Greeks. Constantius, being enraged and growing almost desperate upon this misfortune, on the fifth day after his entrance into the city, falls a-plundering, takes away all the statues of brass and marble set up in the principal parts of the city, and the rich ornaments of the churches, and lades his ships with them; and in seven days did more damage to Rome than the barbarous nations had done before in two hundred and fifty-eight years; so that ill men, ignorant of history, have no reason to say that the statues and monuments of antiquity were demolished by Pope Gregory’s order. On the twelfth day the vile and perfidious paltry Greek leaving Rome, with a vengeance to him, goes toward Naples, thence to Sicily, being so severe in his exaction of tribute wherever he came, as to take away children out of the embraces of their parents who could not pay him. But the covetous wretch, staying some time in Sicily, as he was bathing for pleasure at Syracuse, was slain; and Mecezius, who is thought to have been the contriver of his death, was by the soldiers made emperor in his stead. This Constantius was a person of a strange variety and inconstancy of mind. For at first, hearing that Vitalianus was chosen Pope, he sent his ambassadors to congratulate him, and to make a present of the Gospels written in letters of gold and set with jewels, to St Peter. Whereas afterwards his mind being changed, he cast off all regard to God and man, and turned all things both Divine and human topsy-turvy. 158 But Vitalianus, being intent upon sacred things, composed ecclesiastical canons, and regulated singing in the church, introducing organs to be used with the vocal music. He also sent, with ample power of binding and loosing, Theodorus, as Archbishop of Canterbury, and Adrian, an abbot, two very learned and pious men into England, that by their preaching and example, they might keep that people steadfast in the faith, which the good men did what they could to perform. This Theodorus also wrote a book, showing by what penance every sin may be washed off; though some ascribe that work to Pope Theodorus. Now Vitalianus, having governed the Church as well as lay in his power fourteen, years, six months, died, and was buried in St Peter’s, January the 27th. The see was then vacant four months, fifteen days.

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Previous Pope:  77. Eugenius I. 79. Vitalianus I. Next Pope: 79. Adeodatus I.

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