Pope/Antipope Benedict X (reigned 1058–1059; died ca. 1073 or 1080), was born John Minicus, and later became Cardinal Bishop of Velletri. He was elected in 1058, his election having been arranged by the Count of Tusculum. However, a number of Cardinals alleged that the election was irregular, and that votes had been bought; these cardinals were forced to flee Rome. Hildebrand, later Pope Gregory VII (1073–85), had been sent by the late Pope Stephen IX (1057–58) to the court of Empress Agnes (mother and regent for Emperor Henry IV, then a minor), who had questioned the validity of Stephen IX's election. When, on his return to Rome, he heard of Benedict X's election, he decided to oppose it, and obtained the support of the Duke of Lorraine-Tuscany and Empress Agnes for the election of Gerhard of Burgundy, Bishop of Florence, as Pope instead. Those cardinals who had opposed Benedict X's election met at Siena in December 1058, and elected Hildebrand's candidate as Pope, who then took the name Nicholas II (1059–61). Events March 17 - King Lulach I of Scotland is killed in battle against his cousin and rival Malcolm Canmore, who later becomes King of Scotland as Malcolm III of Scotland. ... Events Anselm of Canterbury settles at the Benedictine monastery of Le Bec in Normandy. ... Events Cardinal Hildebrand elevated to papacy as Pope Gregory VII, succeeding Pope Alexander II Emperor Shirakawa ascends the throne of Japan Rabbi Yitchaki Alfassi finishes writing the Rif, an important work of Jewish law. ... Events William I of England, in a letter, reminds the Bishop of Rome that the King of England owes him no allegiance. ... Velletri is a comune in the province of Rome, on the Alban Hills, in Lazio (Latium) - Italy. ... Tusculum, an ancient city of Latium, situated in a commanding position on the north edge of the outer crater ring of the Alban volcano, 18 km (11 miles) north-east of the modern Frascati. ... Nickname: The Eternal City Motto: SPQR: Senatus PopulusQue Romanus Location of the city of Rome (yellow) within the Province of Rome (red) and region of Lazio (grey) Coordinates: Region Lazio Province Province of Rome Founded 21 April 753 BC  - Mayor Walter Veltroni Area    - City 1285 km²  (580 sq mi)  - Urban... Pope Gregory VII (c. ... Pope Stephen IX, orignally Archdeacon Frederick of Leige was a native of Germany, was pope from about July 14, 939 until his death towards the end of October, 942. ... Agnes of Poitou or Empress Agnes (c. ... HEINRIC·IMP[ERATOR], Emperor Henry Henry IV (November 11, 1050 – August 7, 1106) was King of Germany (Holy Roman Empire) from 1056 and Emperor from 1084, until his abdication in 1105. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Lorraine (province). ... Tuscany (Italian: ) is one of the 20 Regions of Italy. ... Florence (Italian: ) is the capital city of the region of Tuscany, Italy. ... Siena is a city in Tuscany, Italy. ... Nicholas II, born Gérard de Bourgogne (died July 19 or July 27, 1061), Pope from 1059 to July 1061, was at the time of his election Bishop of Florence. ...

Nicholas II proceeded towards Rome, along the way holding a synod at Sutri, where he pronounced Benedict X deposed and excommunicated. The supporters of Nicholas II then gained control of Rome, and forced Benedict X to flee to the castle of Gerard of Galeria. Having arrived in Rome, Nicholas II then proceeded to wage war against Benedict X and his supporters, with Norman assistance. An initial battle was fought in Campagna in early 1059, which was not wholly successful for Nicholas II; but later that same year, his forces conquered Praeneste, Tusculum and Numentanum, and then attacked Galeria, forcing Benedict X to surrender and renounce the Papacy. Sutri (ancient Sutrium) is a town in the province of Viterbo, about 50 km from Rome. ... Norman conquests in red. ... Campania is a region of Southern Italy, bordering on Lazio to the north-west, Molise to the north, Puglia to the north-east, Basilicata to the east, and the Tyrrhenian Sea to the west. ... Events Anselm of Canterbury settles at the Benedictine monastery of Le Bec in Normandy. ... This article deals with the ancient town, for the composer see: Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina Palestrina (ancient Praeneste) was and is a very ancient city of Latium (modern Lazio) 23 miles (37 km) east of Rome, and was reached by the Via Praenestina (see below). ...

Benedict X was then allowed to go free, and he retired to one of his family estates; but Hildebrand then had him imprisoned in 1060 in the hospice of St. Agnese, where he died, still a prisoner, sometime around 1073 or 1080. Events May - The Norman leader Robert Guiscard conquers Taranto. ...

The most important consequence of the affair of Benedict X was the adoption of new laws on papal elections, at a synod hosted by Nicholas II in the Lateran Palace at Easter 1059. The Lateran Palace, sometimes more formally known as the Palace of the Lateran, is an ancient palace of the Roman Empire and later a Palace of the Popes. ... Easter, also known as Pascha (Greek Πάσχα: Passover), the Feast of the Resurrection, the Sunday of the Resurrection, or Resurrection Day, is the most important religious feast of the Christian liturgical year, observed between late March and late April (early April to early May in Eastern Christianity). ... Events Anselm of Canterbury settles at the Benedictine monastery of Le Bec in Normandy. ...

References

• The Catholic Encyclopedia, "Nicholas II", http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11055a.htm

v • d • e

Antipopes of the Roman Catholic Church

Novatian • Felix II • Ursicinus • Eulalius • Laurentius • Dioscorus • Theodore • Paschal • Constantine II • Philip • John VIII • Anastasius • Christopher • Boniface VII • John XVI • Gregory VI • Silvester III • Benedict X • Honorius II • Clement III • Theodoric • Adalbert • Sylvester IV • Gregory VIII • Celestine II • Anacletus II • Victor IV (1138) • Victor IV (1159–1164) • Paschal III • Callixtus III • Innocent III • Nicholas V • Clement VII • Benedict XIII • Alexander V • John XXIII • Clement VIII • Benedict XIV • Felix V