Pope Sergius II
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Sergius II, was Pope from 844-847. A Roman of noble birth, elected by the clergy and people to succeed Gregory IV, he was forthwith consecrated without waiting for the sanction of the emperor Lothar, who accordingly sent his son Louis with an army to punish the breach of faith. A pacific arrangement was ultimately made, and Louis was crowned king of Lombardy by Sergius. In this pontificate Rome was ravaged, and the churches of St. Peter and St. Paul were robbed by Saracens, who also attacked Porto and Ostia (August 846). Sergius died while negotiating between two patriarchs and was succeeded by Pope Leo IV.
On the death of Gregory IV the archdeacon John was proclaimed pope by popular acclamation, while the nobility elected Sergius, and the opposition was suppressed, with Sergius intervening to save John's life. Sergius was then consecrated immediately, without seeking the ratification of the Frankish court. Lothair II disapproved of this abandoning of the Constitution of 824, sending an army under his son Louis, the recently appointed viceroy of Italy. An accommodation was, however, reached, with Louis being crowned king of Lombardy by Sergius. The Pope, however, did not accede to all the demands made upon him.
Sergius went in for much rebuilding of Rome, relying on somewhat dubious means of gaining money. Simony flourished in his reign.
From the 9th edition (1886) of an unnamed encyclopedia.
| Preceded by: Gregory IV | Pope 844–847 | Succeeded by: Saint Leo IV |