History Trivia

January 29, 904 Pope Sergius III came out of retirement to take over the papacy from the deposed antipope Christopher. The late ninth century was a highly unstable time for the papacy, plagued by serious controversy and intrigue, and Sergius was in the midst of it. Elected pope in 898 at the same time as Pope John IX (whom he considered an antipope), Sergius seized the papacy with military support after an earlier failed attempt and the election of several other popes. It is possible (but not proven) that Sergius had an illicit affair with Marozia, the daughter of the powerful count Theophylactus, and fathered Marozia's son, who later became Pope John XI. 1119: Pope Gelasius II died. The brief reign of Gelasius II was plagued by the lingering investiture controversy and the aggressive actions of Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor. Henry took possession of Rome and twice drove the pope from the city, installing in his place the antipope Gregory VIII.