Alberic II of Spoleto

"Alberic II" redirects here. For French Count, see Alberic II of Dammartin.

Alberic II (died 954) was princeps of Rome from 932 to 954. He controlled the papacy during his reign and the five popes after Pope John XI were appointed by him. A member of the House of Theophylact, Alberic was the father of Pope John XII and multiple other popes were descended from Alberic.

Alberic II of Spoleto
Princeps of Rome
Reign	932 – 954
Born	Rome, Papal States
Died	954 Rome, Papal States
Spouses	Alda
Issue	Pope John XII
Dynasty	Theophylact
Father	Alberic I of Spoleto
Mother	Marozia

Born to Marozia and Alberic I of Spoleto, Alberic was held in a lower regard by his mother when compared to his brother Pope John XI. Alberic gained power in Rome after deposing his mother and his stepfather Hugh of Italy in 932. Alberic's title of princeps was recognised by Emperor Constantine VII of the Byzantine Empire.

Rome was peaceful during his reign and Alberic was noted for his reconstruction of monasteries. His control over the papacy was so strong that Pope Marinus II would not act without Alberic's command and Pope Stephen VIII was imprisoned and tortured by Alberic. He secured the appointment of his son as pope before dying in 954.

Early life

Alberic II of Spoleto was born on the Aventine Hill^[1] to Marozia and Alberic I of Spoleto.^[2] He was a member of the House of Theophylact, which ruled over Rome for four generations.^[3] Marozia was the daughter of Theophylact I, Count of Tusculum and Alberic I was an ally of Theophylact. Alberic I died in the 920s and Marozia married Guy, Margrave of Tuscany. She assumed control of Rome after a power struggle with Pope John X and his brother Peter, who she murdered.^[2] Marozia favoured Alberic's brother Pope John XI more than him.^[4]

Guy died in 929, and Marozia married Hugh of Italy in 932. Alberic, now a teenager, opposed this marriage. Liutprand of Cremona claims that Hugh and Alberic had a falling out due to a perceived insult^[5] as while pouring water on Hugh's hands during a wedding banquet Alberic spilt some of the water^[6] and that led to Hugh slapping Alberic in public. However, Benedict of Soracte claimed that Alberic discovered a plot by Hugh to have him blinded. Alberic raised a mob and was able to drive Hugh out of Rome. Alberic imprisoned Marozia, who died some time before 945.^[5][6]

Reign

From 932 to 954, Alberic II ruled over Rome^[2] and his residence was in the Via del Corso.^[7] His reign was a period of relative peace for Rome and Benedict of Soracte wrote that he defended the city from Lombard and transalpine kings.^[8] Liutprand of Cremona described Alberic as an usurper and tyrant that treated the popes like servants.^[9]

Early during Alberic's rule he was referred to using the titles vestararius, first senator, and duke of the Romans. He later started using the titles senator omnium Romanorum (senator of all the Romans) and princeps, which was included on his coinage. The title princeps was used by Augustus, founder of the Roman Empire. Emperor Constantine VII acknowledged Alberic's usage of the title prince on two occasions.^[8]

The fives popes after Pope John XI were all appointed by Alberic.^[6][10] Prior popes minted coins in their own names, but Alberic's name appeared alongside the popes.^[9] Benedict of Soracte wrote that Pope Marinus II would take no action unless at Alberic's command.^{[11] [12]} Pope Stephen VIII fell out of favour with Alberic and participated in a plot to overthrow Alberic; Stephen VIII was imprisoned and tortured before dying from his wounds.^[13][14] Otto the Great was denied a coronation as Holy Roman Emperor by Alberic in 951.^[15]

Monasteries which were abandoned due to Muslim attacks in the prior decades were restored by Alberic.^[1] Benedict of Soracte referred to Alberic as gloriosus princeps Albericus and cultor monasteriorum (cultivator of monasteries).^[11] Santa Maria del Priorato Church is the only surviving church that was endowed or founded by Alberic;^[16] Santa Maria del Priorato Church was constructed on the house he was born in.^[17] Odo of Cluny was made archimandrite for all of the monasteries in Rome by Alberic.^[18]

Hugh unsuccessfully tried to retake Rome in 933 and 936.^[15] Odo of Cluny served as an emissary between Alberic and Hugh between 936 and 942. An agreement was reached in which Alberic married Hugh's daughter Alda.^[19] This union produced a son named Octavian, the birth name of Augustus.^[11][20] Some time before his marriage to Alda, Alberic sent Benedict Campaninus to obtain a dynastic marriage for him from the Byzantine Empire, but he was unsuccessful.^[21]

Death and legacy

Alberic died in Rome in 954, with the a death date of 31 August 954 being listed for Albericus consul Romanorum at one of his family's monastic foundations. Before his death Alberic had the aristocracy of Rome promise to appoint his son as the next pope. Pope Agapetus II died in 955, and was succeeded by Octavian, who took the pontifical name of Pope John XII.^[22] This agreement was in violation of a decree by Pope Symmachus from 499 prohibiting agreements about a pope's successor while the current pope is still alive. Otto the Great, who was denied a coronation in 951, was coronated as Holy Roman Emperor by John XII in 962; this line of emperors continued its the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806. John XII died in 964.^[23]

Popes Benedict VII, Benedict VIII, John XIX, Benedict IX, and antipopes Benedict X and Victor IV were descended or related to Alberico and Alda.^[24] Alberic was either the father or grandfather of Gregory I, Count of Tusculum.^[25][26] Alberic's title senator omnium Romanorum was later used by Crescentius the Younger in 988.^[27]