Sergius
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
the name of several popes. SERGIUS I.; born in Syria , about 630, succeeded Conova in 687. He opposed the canons of the Council of Constantinople, whereupon Justinian II. sent his generalin-chief to arrest Sergius ; but the exarch of Ravenna protected the Pope, who humanely interposed to save the life of Justinian's envoy. He instituted several ceremonies and established various churches at Rome. He died in Rome in 701. SERGIUS II., was a native of Rome, and succeeded Gregory IV. in 844. He was elected without the authorization of the Emperor Lothaire, who dispatched an army into Italy, under the command of his son Louis. But the Pope succeeded in inducing that prince to retire, after having crowned him King of Italy . Shortly afterward, the Saracens from Africa ascended the Tiber, and ravaged the environs of Rome, but were unable to enter the city. He died in 847. SERGIUS III., became Pope in 904, through the influence of the Marquis of Tuscany and of the notorious Roman lady, Marozia. These personages were at the head of a powerful party which had deposed Christopher. A son of Sergius , by Marozia, afterward became Pope by the title of John X. The character of this pontiff has been variously represented. He died in 911 . SERGIUS IV. was elected Pope in succession to John XVIII., in 1009. Under his rule, and in consequence of his exhortation, the Italian princes combined to drive out the Saracens from the country. In his time, also, the Normans began to enter Italy. He died in 1012.
What Has Changed in the Last Century
The narrative outline here still stands: the four popes named Sergius reigned in 687-701, 844-847, 904-911 and 1009-1012, and Sergius I's quarrel with Justinian II was indeed over the canons of the Quinisext Council (in Trullo) of 692, which the Collier's writer of 1921 calls simply the Council of Constantinople. One detail is now given differently: the son said to have been born to Sergius III and Marozia is identified as John XI, pope 931-935, not John X as printed here. Modern historians also treat that paternity, and the lurid picture of the tenth-century Roman papacy generally, with more caution, since the chief source is the hostile Liutprand of Cremona; Collier's own hedge that Sergius III's "character has been variously represented" reads as fair-minded today. Sergius III is likewise now usually noted as having been elected once before, in 897-898, and driven out before his return in 904.
Written for this edition, 2026.