Counts of Tusculum

The counts of Tusculum, also known as the Theophylacti, were a family of secular noblemen from

, the period of influence by powerful female courtesans of the family, also influenced papal history.

The counts of Tusculum remained arbiters of Roman politics and religion for more than a century. In addition to the papal influence, they held lay power through consulships and senatorial membership. Traditionally they were pro-Byzantine and anti-Germanic in their political affiliation^{[citation needed]}.

After 1049, the

established new rules for the papal election, therefore putting an end to the noble-papacy formula.

Counts and their titles

This list is partially incomplete in the tenth century and the chronology and dates of the various countships are often uncertain. They were only counts from about 1013, lords before.

• before 924 Theophylact I
• until 924 Alberic I, (Consul) son-in-law of Theophylact I
• 924–954 Alberic II, son of Alberic I
• before 1013 Gregory I, (Excellentissimus vir – Praefectus navalis) son of Alberic II
• until 1012 Theophylact II, son of Gregory I
• 1012–1024 Romanus, (Consul et dux, senator) brother of Theophylact II and son of Gregory I
• 1024–1032 Alberic III, (Imperialis palatii magister Consul et dux – Comes sacri palatii Lateranensis) brother of Theophylact II and Romanus
• 1032–1045 Theophylact III son of Alberic III
• 1044–1058 Gregory II, (Consul, nobilis vir, senator Comes Tusculanensis) son of Alberic III
• 1058 – c. 1108 Gregory III, (Comes Tusculanensis Consul, illustris) son of Gregory II
• c. 1108 – 1126
  Ptolemy I
  (Tolomeo I), (Consul, comes Tusculanus) son Gregory III
• 1126–1153
  Ptolemy II
  (Tolomeo II), (Illustrissimus, dominus Consul et dux) son of Ptolemy I
• 1153 – c. 1167
  Jonathan
  , (Comes de Tusculano) co-ruler with Raino son of Ptolemy II
• 1153–1179
  Raino
  , (Nobilis vir, dominus) brother of Jonathan, co-ruler with Jonathan

Tusculan popes

• John XI, son of Alberic I, pope 931–935
• John XII son of Alberic II, pope 955–964
• Benedict VII, nephew of Alberic II, pope 974–983
• Benedict VIII, son of Gregory I, pope 1012–1024 (also count)
• John XIX, son of Gregory I, pope 1024–1032 (also count)
• Benedict IX, son of Alberic III, pope 1032–1048 (also count)
• Benedict X, antipope 1058–1059

Successors

According to tradition, the successors of the Tusculum counts were the

, east of Rome.

References

• Thietmar of Merseburg – Chronicle
• Ferdinand Gregorovius Geschichte der Stadt Rom im Mittelalter (1859–1872)

External links

• "Tusculum" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 27 (11th ed.). 1911.