John VIII (Pope)

John VIII was born in Rome around 814. Taking advantage of the weakness of secular rulers contemporary to him, John declared the widest claims to their rights, which, however, made his actual situation a little easier. At the cathedral in Ravenna ( 877 ), he proclaimed the jurisdiction of the lower clergy of secular jurisdiction and entrusted the imperial crown first to Charles II Lysy , then to Charles III Tolstoy .

The emperors were powerless to repulse the Arab raids on Italy , and the pope was forced to buy money from Arab rulers in money. Wanting to find help against the Arabs, as well as preserve Bulgaria under his authority, John tried to win Vasiliy I the Great , the patriarch Photius I , excommunicated by his predecessor, and sent his legates to the Fourth Council of Constantinople (879-880). . At this Council, among other things, the resolutions of the Council of Constantinople 869-870 were invalidated. (initiated by Pope Adrian II).

He fought with the future Pope Formos , then Bishop of Porto ^[1] .

After the death of Louis II, he proposed to recognize the Carolingian right from France to inherit Louis II.

At the council in 877, he wanted to proclaim the Boson of Vienna as king of Italy and emperor of the West .

The worst enemy of the Duke of Spoleto Lambert II .

John VIII was killed in Rome by his relatives on December 16, 882 ^[1] .

• Korelin M.S. John, popes // Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron : 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - SPb. , 1890-1907.