Pope Romanus (fl. 867–897) was thebishop of Rome and ruler of thePapal States from August to November 897. His short reign occurred during a period of partisan strife in theCatholic Church, amid the violence and disorder incentral Italy. His pontificate ended when he was deposed and confined to a monastery.
Little is known of Romanus's background. He was born inGallese, nearCivita Castellana. His father was called Constantine.[1] According to Anura Gurugé, Romanus was supposedly the nephew ofPope Marinus I, who had also come from Gallese. Romanus was installed as thecardinal priest ofSan Pietro in Vincoli, in Rome, in 867.[2]
Coin of Pope Romanus, bearing the name of Lambert on the obverse, and "Scs. Petrus" and hismonogram on the reverse[3]
In January 897,Pope Stephen VI held what is known as theCadaver Synod. He had the body ofPope Formosus, the rival of his ally,Lambert of Spoleto, exhumed and tried for "perjury, violating the canons prohibiting thetranslation of bishops, and coveting the papacy."[4] After finding him guilty, the synod annulled all of Formosus' acts and ordinations. Formosus' body was reburied in a common grave, and then thrown in the riverTiber. Supporters of Formosus rebelled, and seven months after the synod, Stephen VI was deposed, and died soon after in prison.[5]
Romanus was elected to succeed Stephen VI in August 897. He was generally considered to be pro-Formosan,[1] and annulled all the acts and decrees of his predecessor. This was criticised by the 15th-century historianBartolomeo Platina, who wrote that "these popelings studied nothing else but to extinguish the memory and honour of their predecessors".[6] During his short pontificate, he granted thepallium to AbbotVitalis of Farfa, appointed him as thepatriarch of Grado, and bestowed aprivilege upon theSee of Grado. Romanus also confirmed the possessions of the bishops ofGirona and Elna of their sees. His short rule was regarded as a virtuous one by contemporary historianFlodoard.[3]
Romanus' reign as pope ended in November 897, when it is said that "he was made a monk", a term used when a pope is deposed and often confined to a monastery.[1][3] It is unknown whether he was deposed by supporters of his predecessor, Stephen VI,[7] or by pro-Formosan supporters, who wanted to replace him with a pope who would more actively vindicate Formosus.[1] Romanus' date of death is unknown.[1]
The power struggle between supporters of Formosus and those of Stephen continued for over ten years; Romanus was succeeded byTheodore II, who was only pope for twenty days, during which time he had Formosus' body reburied, and held a synod annulling the Cadaver Synod. This was reaffirmed byJohn IX who held synods reaffirming that of Theodore II, and he further banned the trial of people after their death. In turn,Sergius III later annulled the synods of Theodore II and John IX, and reinstated the validity of the Cadaver Synod.[8]
