Benoit IX

The first pontificate

He is the son of Albéric III, influence it count of Tusculum, and the nephew of the popes Benoît VIII and Jean XIX, which was brothers. With died of this last, Albéric makes elect his/her son pope. Laic, Théophylacte is also very young. Raoul Glaber ( Stories , IV, 5) affirms that it was 12 years old when it is assembled on the papal throne. Certain contemporary historians doubt the probability of this assertion, but celebrates it Mgr Duchesne, principal French of Rome, confirms the fact in its very scholar works “the first times of the pontifical State” (p. 305-324: “The house of Théophylacte”). At all events, it is certain that with its distance relative Jean XII, pope at 16 years, Benoît IX is one of the youngest popes of the history. He is crowned as of the shortly after his election.

Benoit continues the policy of appeasing outlined by his predecessor with respect to the nobility: his/her father withdraws himself partially of the political life, replaced little by little by his brother, Gregoire II. The contacts with the Emperor do not begin before the decision of Conrad II Salic the, in 1037, to deposit Aribert, archbishop of Milan. Contrary to the imperial hopes, Benoît does not approve this decision immediately, but waits the following year for to excommunicate Aribert, as requested. He also shows his independence by breaking in 1044 the decision imposed by Conrad II on Jean XIX about the patriarchate of Aquilée.

In the ecclesiastical field, Benoît IX supports the monastic orders against the ordinary ones. On the initiative of Pierre Damien, it deposits two bishops considered as simoniaques. He canonizes Siméon of Syracuse, died as a hermit with Trier.

The second pontificate

In September 1044, a riot against the Tusculanum clan, carried out by Stephani - a branch of powerful Crescentii, rivals of Tusculani - the force to flee Rome. Pushed by Stephani, the Romans elect Jean, bishop of Sabina in January 1045 at the end of a wild fight. He is established the 13 or January 20th 1045 under the name of Sylvestre III.

Benoît IX reacts by an immediate excommunication. Three months later, he manages to take Rome and finds the papal throne on March 10th. He then becomes a simple pawn in the Roman political chessboard, where the large family clans clash. May 1st 1045, it is dislocated in favor of his/her uncle, Jean Gratien, who is elected under the name of Gregoire VI. Broad sums are exchanged on this occasion, under the pretext of compensate the Tusculum clan. Benoît IX withdraws itself on his family grounds and does not appear any more in public.

The third pontificate

In 1046, the Germanic emperor Henri III, called to put an end to anarchy, goes to Italy. Gregoire VI convenes the council of Sutri. Sylvestre III is condemned but Gregoire VI cannot deny that it acquired his tiara by simony: he sees himself constrained to abdicate.

Under the pressure of Henri III, the council elects pope, in December 1046, Suidger, bishop of Bamberg, which takes the name of Clément II. This last dies less than one year later, the October 9th 1047. Tusculani benefit from the occasion to re-establish Benoît IX on the throne of Pierre.

It thus reaches third once the pontifical see, of November 8th 1047 at July 17th 1048. A Roman party protests near the Emperor, who decides against Benoît IX and makes elect at the end of 1047 Bavarian Poppo de Brixen, which takes the name of Damase II. This last will not be pope who 23 days: he dies in Palestrina of the Malaria.

However, Benoît IX escaped after Henri III sent to Rome the marquis Boniface de Canossa. This one then made elect Leon IX. With the assistance of the Emperor, the new pope fights Tusculani and devastates their strongholds. Refusing to answer the charges of simony weighing against him, Benoît IX is excommunicated, just as his close relations.

With died of Leon IX, in April 1054, Benoît IX tries once again to go up on the papal throne, in vain. After this ultimate failure, it is withdrawn in the monastery of Grottaferrata, which belongs to the sphere of influence of Tusculani. It there dies between on September 18th, 1055 and on January 9th, 1056, and is buried in the abbey church.

Posterior sources depict Benoît IX like a man of manners dissolues. However, according to Luc, fourth abbot of Grottaferrata, it would have made penitence on the end of his days and would have been made monk. This last assertion does not have any real base.

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