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. 175-178.
The Lives of the Popes,
BY
B. Platina
Volume I.
CONSTANTINE I.
A.D. 708-716.
CONSTANTINE, another Syrian, his father’s name likewise John, was created Pope at the time when there happened to be a famine at Rome, which lasted three years; in which exigence he was so charitable to all, but especially the poorer sort, that men thought him to have been sent down from heaven for their relief. In the meantime Justinian, out of the hatred he bore to the name of Pontus, sends Mauritius, one of the patrician order, and Helias, one of his guards, with a fleet to the Chersonese, where he had been in exile, with commission to put all above the age of fourteen to the sword; which, to glut the emperor’s rage, they accordingly put in execution. And that we many not think that cruelty was his only vice, he became guilty of so great ingratitude as in an 176 hostile manner to surprise King Trebellius, by the aid of whose forces he had been restored to the Empire, at a time when he was engaged in a war with the Thracians; but Trebellius not only bore the check, but also forced him to retreat with loss. There was no alteration from his former course of life, wrought in him by the calamities he had undergone, in anything save in this, that he now venerated and defended the apostolic see contrary to what he had formerly used to do. For when Felix, having been consecrated Archbishop of Ravenna by the Pope, was required, according to custom to send in writing his acknowledgment of the papal authority and money to Rome, which he stiffly refused to do, Justinian, upon knowledge of the matter, presently sends order to Theodorus, a patrician, his admiral, with the first opportunity to leave Sicily and go against the Ravennates. He obeying the emperor’s order, and having in battle gained a victory over them, exercises the greatest cruelty towards them, and sends Felix bound in chains to Constantinople; whom Justinian afterwards banished into Pontus, having first deprived him of his sight, after this manner, he caused him to fix his eyes long upon a red-hot concave vessel of brass, out of which there issued a fiery pyramid, which easily overcame his eyes and blinded him. Yet Constantine did by no means approve of this cruelty, being more desirous of his reformation than his punishment.
While the Pope and emperor were thus employed, Ansprandus, endeavouring, with the aid of the Bavarians, to recover the kingdom of his ancestors, comes into Italy, and engaging in a pitched battle with Arithpertus, vanquishes him, and gains the kingdom of the Lombards, Arithpertus himself by a too fearful and hasty flight being drowned in a swift river. But Ansprandus, not long after dying, did with general approbation leave his son Luithprandus successor to his kingdom.
Justinian being now very desirous to see Pope Constantine, having sent ships to convey him safely, makes it his request that he would come to him. Constantine, yielding thereunto, and approaching now near to Constantinople, Tiberius, Justinian’s son, with a princely retinue, and Cyrus, the patriarch, with all the clergy, in honour to him go out eight miles to meet him; and being dressed in his pontificalibus, they conduct him with solemn pomp into the city, and lead him into the palace. Going from thence to Nicomedia, whither also the 177 emperor was to come from Nice, he was received there after the same manner as at Constantinople. Justinian entering the city soon after, not only embraced the Pope, but also kissed his feet in sign of honour. Having on the days following discoursed of several affairs between themselves, and Justinian having confirmed the Pope’s decrees, Constantine, at his taking leave, advises him not to proceed too severely against Philippicus, then an exile in Pontus, apprehending some mischief might arise thereupon, because he understood that Philippicus was a person of great fortitude and prudence. But Justinian not following the Pope’s good counsel, sends a fleet to Pontus with design to despatch Philippicus, who, upon a revolt of the soldiers to him, with the same fleet makes towards Constantinople, and at twelve miles distance from the city engaging with Justinian and Tiberius, got the victory and slew them, and with universal acclamation was declared emperor. This Philippicus afterwards banishing Cyrus, the patriarch, into Pontus, for his consenting in belief with the Pope, puts one John, a monk and an arch-heretic into his place; whose opinions he forthwith sent in writing to Rome, requiring all to subscribe their assent to them. But Constantine, holding a synod, not only condemned the opinions of Philippicus and John the monk, but also appointed the images of those holy fathers, who had been present at the councils universally approved of, to be painted in the Portico of St Peter’s, upon intelligence that in a way of contempt they had been rubbed off from the walls of St Sophia by Philippicus’ order. Moreover, the same Pope ordained that the name of no heretical emperor should be inserted in any public or private writings, or impressed upon brass or silver or lead. But Anastasius, surnamed Arthemius, by force of arms deposes Philippicus, in the first year and sixth month of his Empire, and seizing him puts out his eyes. This Anastasius sends letters to Pope Constantine, in which he promises to be a zealous defender of the Catholic faith and the sixth synod. But he also, within three years, being slighted by the soldiers, was deposed, and compelled by Theodosius, who succeeded him, to take holy orders, that so he might never afterwards pretend or aspire to the Empire. Theodosius, a Catholic Emperor, forthwith gave order for the restoring of the images of the Holy Fathers, which, as we have said, had been destroyed by Philippicus. And Felix, who had been banished into Pontus, quitting his former obstinacy, returned home and 178 was restored to his see, of which he had been deprived. At this time also it was declared that the Bishop of Pavia was subject only to the see of Rome, and not to the Archbishop of Milan; concerning which matter there had been a great and long controversy between the two prelates. Some write that two kings of the Saxons, under the obligations of a religious vow, came now to Rome, and that they there died, as I think, of the pestilence. Not long after them died Constantine, having been in the chair seven years, twenty days, and was buried in St Peter’s, February the 11th. The see was then vacant one month, eleven days.
Previous Pope: 89. Sisinnius. 90. Constantine I. Next Pope: 8. Gregory II.