Etienne II (in Latin Stephanus ), devoted Pope the March 25th 752, died the April 26th 757. It succeeds Zacharie and preceded Paul I {{er}}.

Biography

Member of a rich and aristocratic family of Rome, it is high with Patriarcho, pontifical residence contiguous to the Basilique Midsummer's Day of Lateran. Become adult, it is ordered Diacre and takes share with the administration of the old people's homes, which play a crucial role in the reception of the pilgrims. With died of the transitory pope Etienne, successor during three days of Zacharie, it is elected pope unanimously. He becomes the first Italian pope (Gregoire II except) after long series of Eastern pontiffs.

Its first acts are directed against the Lombards: become Masters of the Exarchat de Ravenne, those intend to make recognize their sovereignty on all Roman Italy. Refusing this supervision, Etienne II asks for the support of the Emperor, as powerful as remote. In answer, Constantin V sends to him a negotiator, the Silentiaire Jean. Etienne delegates his brother to accompany this one with Pavia. Waste of time and effort: Aistolf (or Aistulf ) king of Lombards, refuses to return Ravenne. After this failure, the emperor names the pope his direct negotiator.

Etienne II, extremely of this prerogative, puts himself then in search of a military guard. However Pip the Brief, king of the Frank , is indebted with the papacy which legitimated the inversion of the Mérovingiens. Etienne thus puts himself on the way to meet it. In the passing, it tries an ultimate negotiation with Astolf, which fails. In full winter 753 - 754, Etienne thus crosses the the Alps to meet Pépin in its palate of Ponthion. Accommodated very favorably by Pip, Etienne settles with Saint-Denis. Pip promises to intervene against Lombards and to restore with the pope the exarchat of Ravenne, theoretical possession of

N the other hand, the July 28th 754, Etienne II crowns Pépin again, like its sons Carloman and Charles, which legitimates future the Carolingian line. It returns to Italy accompanied by Pip and its troops. Pavia east taken in 755. By retaliatory measure, Astolf is combined with”. Thus are born the Papal States. Etienne names then two representatives charged to manage on his behalf the exarchat and the Pentapole. The archbishop in title of Ravenne, Serge, protests in front of what he judges being an intrusion. He is stopped.

With died of Aistulf, Etienne II finds himself in position of referee in the succession of Lombards. He supports Didier of Lombardy, which then promises to deliver the cities returned by Astolf - promise of which he will discharge that partially.