Crescentius the Younger
Crescenzio Nomentano | |
|---|---|
 Coat of Arms of Crescenzi family. | |
| Born | ? |
| Died | 998 Rome, Papal States |
| Cause of death | Decapitation |
| Resting place | San Pancrazio, Rome |
| Known for | De facto ruler of Rome |
| Parent | Crescentius the Elder (father) |
| Relatives | John Crescentius (brother) |
| Family | Crescentii |
Crescentius the Younger (or Crescentius II; died 29 April 998), son of Crescentius the Elder, was a leader of the aristocracy of medieval Rome. During the minority of Holy Roman Emperor Otto III, he declared himself Consul (or Senator) of Rome (Patricius Romanorum)[1] and made himself de facto ruler of Rome. After being deposed, he led a rebellion, seized control of Rome, and appointed an antipope, but the rebellion failed and Crescentius was eventually executed.[2]
Control of Rome
The aspirations of the Roman aristocracy did not vanish with the death of the older Crescentius. The latter left a son, also called Crescentius, who after the death of
Fall from power
Meanwhile, the young Emperor Otto III assumed the reins of government, and in 996 made his first journey to Italy, induced by various considerations, especially by the appeals of Pope John XV. However, death overtook the pope at the beginning of April, 996, before Otto reached Rome. The Romans and their leader, Crescentius, did not care at this time to nominate a successor to the deceased pope. They sent a delegation to the emperor with the request that he provide a suitable candidate for the Holy See. Otto III was at Ravenna when the delegates from Rome arrived. After a consultation with his counsellors he chose his own cousin, Bruno, a young ecclesiastic, only twenty-three years of age, who seemed to have the necessary qualifications. Early in May he was consecrated at Rome as Gregory V, being the first pope of German nationality. A few weeks afterwards Otto III himself was crowned in Rome by the new pope (21 May) in St. Peter's Basilica.
On 25 May the pope and the emperor held in St. Peter's a synod, which was at the same time a high court of justice. The rebellious Romans, including Crescentius, who had embittered the last years of the pontificate of Pope John XV, were summoned to give an account of their doings. The result was that a certain number, among them Crescentius, were sentenced to banishment. Pope Gregory V, who wished to inaugurate his pontificate with acts of mercy, pleaded for the guilty, and the emperor withdrew his sentence of exile. Crescentius was deprived of his title of Patricius, but was permitted to live in retirement at Rome.[2]
Rebellion
The clemency shown to Crescentius by the pope was repaid with deeds of violence. Only a few months after the departure of the emperor for Germany a revolt broke out in Rome under the leadership of Crescentius. The foreign pope and the many foreign officers installed throughout the
In February 998, Otto III returned to Rome with Pope Gregory V and took possession of the city without much difficulty. The antipope sought safety in flight, while Crescentius shut himself up in
References
- ^ Douglas Brooke Wheelton Sladen. How to See the Vatican
- ^ a b c "CRESCENZIO Nomentano - Treccani". Treccani (in Italian). Retrieved 2024-01-11.
- ^ a b "998 d.C. – Crescenzio il Nomentano – Le Famiglie Brunacci" (in Italian). Retrieved 2024-01-11.
External links
Execution of Crescentius. A poem by Letitia Elizabeth Landon in the Literary Gazette, 1823.
The Widow of Crescentius. A poem by Felicia Hemans, in Tales and Historic Scenes, 1819.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Crescentius". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.