| Alberic II of Spoleto | |
|---|---|
| Princeps ofRome | |
| Reign | 932–954 |
| Born | Rome, Papal States |
| Died | 954 Rome, Papal States |
| Spouses | Alda |
| Issue | Pope John XII |
| Dynasty | Theophylact |
| Father | Alberic I of Spoleto |
| Mother | Marozia |
Alberic II (died 954) wasprinceps ofRome from 932 to 954. He controlled the papacy during his reign and the five popes afterPope John XI were appointed by him. A member of theHouse of Theophylact, Alberic was the father ofPope John XII and multiple other popes were descended from Alberic.
Born toMarozia andAlberic I of Spoleto, Alberic was held in a lower regard by his mother when compared to his brotherPope John XI. Alberic gained power in Rome after deposing his mother and his stepfatherHugh of Italy in 932. Alberic's title ofprinceps was recognised by EmperorConstantine VII of theByzantine Empire.
Rome was peaceful during Alberic's reign and he was noted for his reconstruction of monasteries. His control over the papacy was so strong thatPope Marinus II would not act without Alberic's command andPope Stephen VIII was imprisoned and tortured by Alberic. Alberic secured the appointment of his son as pope before dying in 954.
Alberic II of Spoleto was born on theAventine Hill[1] toMarozia andAlberic I of Spoleto.[2] He was a member of theHouse of Theophylact, which ruled over Rome for four generations.[3] Marozia was the daughter ofTheophylact I, Count of Tusculum and Alberic I was an ally of Theophylact. Alberic I died in the 920s and Marozia marriedGuy, Margrave of Tuscany. She assumed control of Rome after a power struggle withPope John X and his brotherPeter, who she murdered.[2] Marozia favoured Alberic's brotherPope John XI more than him.[4]
Guy died in 929, and Marozia marriedHugh of Italy in 932. Alberic, now a teenager, opposed this marriage.Liutprand of Cremona claims that Hugh and Alberic had a falling out due to a perceived insult[5] as while pouring water on Hugh's hands during a wedding banquet Alberic spilt some of the water[6] and that led to Hugh slapping Alberic in public. However,Benedict of Soracte claimed that Alberic discovered a plot by Hugh to have him blinded. Alberic raised a mob and was able to drive Hugh out of Rome. Alberic imprisoned Marozia, who died some time before 945.[5][6]
From 932 to 954, Alberic II ruled over Rome[2] and his residence was in theVia del Corso.[7] His reign was a period of relative peace for Rome and Benedict of Soracte wrote that he defended the city from Lombard and transalpine kings.[8] Liutprand of Cremona described Alberic as an usurper and tyrant that treated the popes like servants.[9]
Early during Alberic's rule he was referred to using the titlesvestararius, first senator, and duke of the Romans. He later started using the titlessenator omnium Romanorum (senator of all the Romans) andprinceps, which was included on his coinage. The titleprinceps was used byAugustus, founder of theRoman Empire. EmperorConstantine VII acknowledged Alberic's usage of the title prince on two occasions.[8]
The five popes after Pope John XI were all appointed by Alberic.[6][10] Prior popes minted coins in their own names, but Alberic's name appeared alongside the popes.[9] Benedict of Soracte wrote thatPope Marinus II would take no action unless at Alberic's command.[11][12]Pope Stephen VIII fell out of favour with Alberic and participated in a plot to overthrow Alberic; Stephen VIII was imprisoned and tortured before dying from his wounds.[13][14]Otto the Great was denied a coronation asHoly Roman Emperor by Alberic in 951.[15]
Monasteries which had been abandoned due to Muslim attacks in the prior decades were restored by Alberic.[1] Benedict of Soracte referred to Alberic asgloriosus princeps Albericus andcultor monasteriorum (cultivator of monasteries).[11]Santa Maria del Priorato Church is the only surviving church that was endowed or founded by Alberic;[16] Santa Maria del Priorato Church was constructed on the house he was born in.[17]Odo of Cluny was madearchimandrite for all of the monasteries in Rome by Alberic.[18]
Hugh unsuccessfully tried to retake Rome in 933 and 936.[15] Odo of Cluny served as an emissary between Alberic and Hugh between 936 and 942. An agreement was reached in which Alberic married Hugh's daughter Alda.[19] This union produced a son named Octavian, the birth name of Augustus.[11][20] Some time before his marriage to Alda, Alberic sent Benedict Campaninus to obtain a dynastic marriage for him from theByzantine Empire, but he was unsuccessful.[21]
Alberic died in Rome in 954, with the a death date of 31 August 954 being listed for Albericus consul Romanorum at one of his family's monastic foundations. Before his death, Alberic had the aristocracy of Rome promise to appoint his son as the next pope.Pope Agapetus II died in 955 and was succeeded by Octavian, who took the pontifical name ofPope John XII.[22] This agreement was in violation of a decree byPope Symmachus from 499 prohibiting agreements about a pope's successor while the current pope is still alive. Otto the Great, who was denied a coronation in 951, was crowned asHoly Roman Emperor by John XII in 962; this line of emperors continued until thedissolution of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806. John XII died in 964.[23]
PopesBenedict VII,Benedict VIII,John XIX,Benedict IX, and antipopesBenedict X andVictor IV were descended from or related to Alberic and Alda.[24] Alberic was either the father or grandfather ofGregory I, Count of Tusculum.[25][26] Alberic's titlesenator omnium Romanorum was later used byCrescentius the Younger in 988.[27]
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