Pope Benedict VIII (Latin:Benedictus VIII;c. 980[1] – 9 April 1024[2]) wasbishop of Rome and ruler of thePapal States from 18 May 1012 until 1024. He was bornTheophylact of Tusculum to the noble family of thecounts of Tusculum. Unusually for a medievalpope, he had strong authority both inRome and abroad.
Theophylact was born to CountGregory I of Tusculum.[3] The family had already produced threepopes:John XI (r. 931–935),John XII (r. 955–964), andBenedict VII (r. 973–974). Theophylact became pope on 18 May 1012 and took the name Benedict VIII.[2]
Benedict VIII was opposed by anantipope,Gregory VI, who compelled him to flee Rome.[4] He was restored by KingHenry II of Germany, whom hecrowned emperor on 14 February 1014. He remained on good terms with Henry for his entire pontificate.[5] In Benedict VIII's pontificate, theSaracens renewed their attacks on the southern coasts of Italy. They affected a settlement inSardinia and sackedPisa.[6] TheNormans also then began to settle in Italy. The Pope promoted peace in Italy by allying himself with the Normans, orchestrating thedefeat of the Saracens in Sardinia[7] and subjugating theCrescentii. In 1022, he held asynod atPavia with the Emperor to restrainsimony andincontinence of the clergy.[8] The reformation sponsored byCluny Abbey was supported by him, and he was a friend of its abbot,St. Odilo.
In 1020, Benedict VIII travelled to Germany to confer with Henry II about the renewedByzantine menace in theMezzogiorno. Arriving atBamberg at Eastertide, he consecrated the new cathedral there, obtained a charter from Henry II confirming the donations ofCharlemagne andOtto the Great, and visited themonastery of Fulda.[9] In 1022, Benedict received ArchbishopÆthelnoth of Canterbury, who had traveled to Rome to obtain thepallium.[10]
To further the interest of peace, Benedict VIII encouraged theTruce of God.[2] He convinced the Holy Roman emperor to lead an expedition into the south of Italy and subordinate his vassals who had defected to Byzantine authority. Horace Mann considered him "...one of the few popes of the Middle Ages who was at once powerful at home and great abroad." He was succeeded by his brother,John XIX.[2]
Benedict VIII was closely related to five other popes who reigned in the 10th and 11th centuries, as well as some of the most powerful rulers of Italy at the time.[11]
