History Collection Posted: May 18, 2018
Sergius III Murdered Two Predecessors, and Fathered an Illegitimate Child Who Went on to Become a Pope
One of the Middle Ages’ more controversial Popes, Sergius III (circa 860 – 911) was Holy Father from 904 to 911, during a scandalous period of pontifical history. However, even by the standards of scandalous popes, Sergius III stands out for the dubious distinction of being the only pope to have ever had another pope killed. Or to be more accurate, popes, as in plural: Sergius III rose to the papacy by killing his two immediate predecessors, popes Leo V and his successor, Christopher.
Rome and Central Italy in the days of Sergius III were marked by feudal violence and near anarchy, as aristocratic factions warred with each other. The Papacy in particular was one of the most sought after prizes, and the rivals fought bitterly to seize the Holy See and make use of its spiritual, economic, and military resources in their quarrels.
Sergius was born into an aristocratic Roman family, and his connections secured him a rapid rise through the clerical ranks. In the 890s, Sergius was a member of an aristocratic faction that opposed Pope Formosus’ candidate for Holy Roman Emperor, and backed a rival instead. So to get him out of Rome, Formosus made Sergius a bishop and packed him off to oversee his see.
