Pornocracy

Félicien Rops : Pornokratès , 1896

Butterfly thaler undated (1709) from the time of Countess Cosel , mistress of Augustus the Strong

Pornocracy or mistress rule (from Greek porne ' whore ' and kratos 'power', 'rule', 'power', 'strength') is a term for the influence of mistresses on the rulers .

Historical reference

Historically, this term refers to a period of papacy in the early 10th century, which began with Pope Sergius III. began in 904 and in 963 with the death of Pope John XII. ended. The Roman church historian and cardinal Cesare Baronio coined the term Saeculum obscurum for this period in the 16th century .

During this period, the popes were under the direct influence of a few women who had come to this position of power as the mistresses of some popes and some rulers of Rome (e.g. Alberich I , Alberich II , Guido of Tuscia , Hugo of Italy ). Theodora I and her daughters Marozia and Theodora II were of particular importance . In general, the popes of this time had a low profile of their own and were subservient to the Roman nobility and their mistresses.

Popes associated with pornocracy

• Sergius III. (904–911), lover of Marozia , father of John XI.
• Anastasius III. (911-913)
• Lando (913-914)
• John X. (914–928), imprisoned and murdered at the instigation of Marozia
• Leo VI (928-928)
• Stephen VII (928-931)
• John XI. (931–935), son of Sergius III. and Marozia
• Leo VII (936-939)
• Stephen VIII (939-942)
• Marinus II (942-946)
• Agapitus II (946-955)
• John XII. (955–963), grandson of Marozia , elected Pope at the age of 16 or 18

Lore

A large part of the tradition comes from Bishop Liutprand of Cremona , who was a strong critic of the conditions in Rome. However, verification of the traditions is usually not possible and some research has also called them into question.

It is generally believed, however, that Marozia was the mistress of Pope Sergius III. and mother of the son he conceived, later Pope John XI. , was. She was also charged with murdering Pope John X, who was brought into office by her mother Theodora I , to kill her favorite, Leo VI. to bring to power.

Apparently Theodora I and Marozia were the actual political rulers in Rome at this time , even if the accusations made against them can no longer be proven today.

literature

• Caesar Baronius: Annales ecclesiastici. (1538-1607)
• Bruno W. Häuptli:  Marozia. In: Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon (BBKL). Volume 22, Bautz, Nordhausen 2003, ISBN 3-88309-133-2 , Sp. 808-811.
• VE Löscher: History of the Roman whore regiment of the Theodorae and Maroziae. Leipzig 1705

Web links

Wiktionary: Pornocracy  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations

• Middle Ages: Sergius becomes Pope - the beginning of "pornocracy" in the Vatican Deutschlandfunk Nova , one hour history , July 19, 2019, moderator: Markus Dichmann, conversation partner: Matthias von Hellfeld, Deutschlandfunk Nova history expert

Individual proof

1. ^ Theodor Schieffer : The occidental church of the post-Carolingian age. In: Theodor Schieder (Hrsg.): Handbook of European History , Volume 1, Europe in Change from Antiquity to the Middle Ages . Stuttgart 1976 ISBN 3-12-907530-5 , pp. 1034-1067, here p. 1042.