Introduction
Pope Benedict IV (Latin: Benedictus IV; died 30 July 903) was Pope from 1 February 900 to his death in 903.The tenth-century historian Flodoard, who nicknamed him "the Great", commended his noble birth and public generosity. He succeeded Pope John IX (898–900) and was followed by Pope Leo V (903).
Biography
Benedict was a native of Rome, the son of one Mammalus, and was ordained priest by Pope Formosus. In 900, he excommunicated Baldwin II of Flanders for murdering Fulk, Archbishop of Reims. In 901, Benedict crowned Louis of Provence, grandson of Louis II as Holy Roman Emperor. In 902, Berengar of Friuli defeated Louis III and forced him to leave Italy.
Benedict died in Rome during the summer of 903; it is possible that Berengar had some involvement. Benedict was buried in front of St Peter's Basilica, by the gate of Guido.
Literature
- Bertolini, Ottorino (1966). "Benedetto IV, papa". Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani, Volume 8: Bellucci–Beregan (in Italian). Rome: Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana. pp. 27–31.
- Ottorino Bertolini: Benedetto IV. In: Massimo Bray (ed.): Enciclopedia dei Papi, Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana, Vol. 2 (Niccolò I, santo, Sisto IV), Rome, 2000, OCLC 313581688, pp. 54–58
- Rudolf Schieffer (1980). "Benedikt IV". Lexikon des Mittelalters, I: Aachen bis Bettelordenskirchen (in German). Stuttgart and Weimar: J. B. Metzler. col. 1858. ISBN 3-7608-8901-8.