brought from all parts to Rome, where he built a magnificent oratory for their reception and worship, appointing them an appropriate service, and monks who were maintained at the expence of his see to perform it. In the year 733 he resolved to make one more effort towards the conversion of the emperor; and with this view persuaded the people of Italy to address a memorial to him, representing the disturbances which his edict had occasioned in the West, and earnestly entreating him to relinquish an undertaking which they thought themselves bound in conscience to oppose. This memorial, together with letters from the pope to the emperor and to the patriarch, was confided to the care of some of the chief men of the Roman church, and the city of Rome, who set out on their voyage to Constantinople. But on their landing in Sicily, they were stopped by the commander of the imperial troops in that island, who took their papers from them, confined them for some months in prison, and then ordered them to be conveyed back to Italy, threatening to treat them as rebels and enemies to the emperor and empire, if they ever set foot again in that island.

In the mean time the emperor was preparing to reduce the pope and the Romans to obedience by force. For this purpose, in the year 734, he fitted out a formidable fleet, which, when it had just entered the Adriatic Gulph, was encountered by a violent storm, by which the greater part of it was entirely destroyed, and the design of the expedition quite defeated. Upon this event, the people of Rome, at the instigation of the pope, withdrew from all subjection to the emperor, and formed themselves into a kind of republic, in which they were governed by magistrates appointed by their own authority, under the pope, not as their prince, but only as their head. From this time to the year 740, the pope and people of Rome appear to have retained their independence, without any attempts being made on the part of the emperor to bring them again under his authority. But in the year just mentioned they were involved in hostilities with Luitprand king of the Lombards, owing to the unwarrantable conduct of Gregory in receiving some rebels against that prince into his protection, and refusing either to deliver them up, or to oblige them to withdraw from Rome. Incensed at the pontiff's behaviour, and perhaps secretly well pleased that it afforded him a plausible pretence for invading the Roman territories, Luitprand drew his forces together, and immediately began to make conquests on the Roman dukedom. In this and

the following year he overran and ravaged the whole country, and afterwards laid siege to the capital. In this extremity Gregory, after deliberating to what power he could apply for efficacious succour, without losing the influence which he had acquired at Rome, determined to have recourse to the celebrated Charles Martel, who at that time ruled France with an absolute sway, under the title of Mayor of the Palace. Accordingly, he sent a solemn legation by sea into France, with the keys of the tomb of St. Peter, at that time in great request, some small pieces or filings of the chain with which St. Peter was supposed to have been bound while prisoner at Rome, and other presents. Charles received the legates with great respect; but their solicitations for his interference were in vain, because Liutprand was his friend and ally, and because that Charles was satisfied that the Lombard had been sufficiently provoked to warrant his hostility against the pope. When Gregory was informed of the ill success of his legation, he wrote pathetic and moving letters to Charles, urging him, from every pious consideration, to undertake the relief of the church; but without being able to alter his determination of remaining neutral. At length, finding that pious motives had no effect upon Charles, the pope resolved to appeal to his ambition; and, accordingly, sent a second solemn legation into France, with proposals which he knew would be acceptable to Charles, and incline him, if any could, to afford him relief. The proposals were, that the pope and Roman people should solemnly renounce their allegiance to the emperor, as an avowed heretic, and persecutor of the church; that they should acknowledge Charles for their protector, and confer on him the consular dignity; and that, on the other hand, Charles should engage to protect and defend the pope, the Roman church, and the people of Rome, against the Lombards, and likewise against the emperor, should they by either be attacked or molested. To these proposals Charles readily assented, determined, no doubt, to improve the advantages which the title of protector and the consular dignity would give him at Rome. As soon as the treaty between Charles and the pope was concluded, and publicly notified, the Lombards found it prudent to raise the siege of Rome, and to retire within their own dominions. Gregory did not live to enjoy the fruits of his policy, which materially contributed to the separation of the Italian provinces from the Grecian empire, as he died in the latter end of 741, after a pontificate of between ten and eleven years. Seven" Let

ters" of this pope are extant in the fourth volume of the "Collect. Concil." Cave's Hist. Lit. vol. I. sub sæc. Eicon. Platina. Dupin. Mereri. Bower.-M.

GREGORY IV. pope, was a native of Rome, and from the situation of a presbyter of that church, was raised to the tiara on the death of pope Valentine, in the year 827. He is commended for his extraordinary piety; of which some of the strongest testimonies recorded, are his repairing and adorning churches, monasteries, and the shrines of saints, and instituting the festival of All Souls day. When the quarrel took place between the emperor Lewis le debonnaire and his sons, Lotharius persuaded the pope to accompany him into France, in order to mediate a reconciliation between him and his father. That artful prince, however, gave out that his holiness was satisfied of the justice of his cause, and, under the pretended sanction of the papal approbation, perfected the plans which he had formed for driving his father from the throne, and seizing the empire. When the prelates who were steady in their loyalty to the emperor were informed that the pope was determined to excommunicate him and his friends, they sent him a letter, containing a strong remonstrance against his countenancing the proceedings of an unnatural rebel, and firmly declared, that if he came to excommunicate, he should himself return excommunicated. Whether the pope was privy to the designs of Lotharius, or was deceived by him, it is certain that his presence with that prince reduced the emperor to the necessity of delivering himself up into the hands of the rebels. When the pope had served this purpose, he was permitted to return to Rome, where the best action performed by him, that we read of, was his rebuilding and fortifying the city of Ostia, as a protection against the descents of the Saracens. His vanity led him to give it the name of Gregoriopolis; but it soon resumed its ancient appellation, by which it is known to this day. This pope died in 844, after presiding over the Roman church rather more than sixteen years. Three of his "Letters" are extant in the seventh volume of the "Collect. Concil." Cave's Hist. Lit. vol. II. sub sæc. Phot. Platina. Dupin. Moreri.

Bower.-M.

GREGORY V. pope, whose original name was Bruno, was a German by birth, and nephew or cousin to the emperor Otho III. That prince was encamped with his army at Ravenna, when pope John XV. died in 996, on which event the clergy and people of Rome

VOL. IV.

were induced, at his powerful recommendation to choose Bruno for their bishop. He had been educated an ecclesiastic, and is said to have been at that time only twenty-four years of age, but of an amiable disposition, exemplary life, well versed in the learning of the times, and universally esteemed for his eminent virtues. At his ordination he assumed the name of Gregory; and soon afterwards solemnly crowned Otho emperor, who had before been only styled king of Germany. According to some writers he held a council in the first year of his pontificate, at which the emperor was present, and the German electoral college first instituted; but the whole tenor of history serves to shew, that the origin of that college must be referred to a much later date. to a much later date. This is satisfactorily proved by Dr. Robertson, in the illustrations annexed to the first volume of his "History of Charles V." Upon the breaking up of this council, Otho returned with his army to Germany, having first made the Romans swear allegiance to him, and obedience to the pope. Scarcely had the Germans repassed the Alps, when Crescentius, a man of considerable wealth and power, who aimed at the sovereignty of Rome, by representing to the citizens, that it was unworthy of them to submit to a foreign yoke, or to accept of a pope forced upon them in opposition to their inclinations, persuaded them to revolt, renounce their allegiance to the emperor, and to choose himself for their head, under the titles of consul and prince of the republic. These events obliged Gregory to fly from Rome, in order to insure his personal safety; on which occasion Crescentius declared the see vacant, and caused one Philagathus to be raised to it, who took the name of John XVI. Gregory had taken up his residence at Pavia, where he held a council in the year 997, in which he excommunicated Crescentius, as well as the usurper of his see, and all their accomplices. This sentence was confirmed by all the bishops of Italy, France, and Germany, in the councils which they assembled for that purpose. In the course of the following year, Otho, prevailed upon by the intreaties of Gregory, returned to Italy with an army, and advanced, together with the pope, towards Rome. At their approach, John betook himself to flight; but falling into the hands of some of the pope's friends, was deprived of his sight, and otherwise cruelly mutilated. When the city, on account of a want of provision, was obliged to surrender, Crescentius with the garrison withdrew to the castle of St. Angelo, which was taken by assault, and that ambitious man and his accom 3 x

plices ignominiously executed. Gregory being thus restored to his see, convened a council to meet at Rome, in the same year, in which the marriage of Robert king of France, with Berta, widow of Odo count of Champagne, in conformity to a canon of the council of Trullo, was declared incestuous and null, because that Robert had been godfather to one of Berta's children! Other decrees passed by it, intended to check the ambition and avarice of the dignified clergy, are honourable testimonies to the vigilance and fidelity with which Gregory was disposed to discharge the duties of his high office. He did not long survive the meeting of this council, as he died in the beginning of 999, after a short pontificate of two years and five months. Four of his "Letters" are extant in the ninth volume of the "Collec. Concil." A fifth, concerning the privileges of the abbots of Mons Major, may be found in the fourth volume of Baluze's "Miscellanea." Cave's Hist. Lit. vol. II. sub sæc. Obs. Platina. Dupin. Moreri.

Bower.-M.

GREGORY VI. pope, whose name before he assumed the papacy was John Gratian, was a native of Rome, and descended from one of the most opulent and powerful families in that city. He was arch-priest of the Roman church, when pope Benedict IX., who had rendered himself the object of universal contempt and abhorrence by his wickedness and debaucheries, found it necessary to resign the papal dignity, in the year 1045. This he did to John Gratian, for a large sum of money, which the latter advanced, who, without any previous election, took possession of the chair which he had purchased, under the name of Gregory VI. Some time before Benedict's resignation, his infamous conduct had provoked the Romans to insurrection, when he was driven out of the city, and John bishop of Sabina was placed in the papal chair in his stead, under the name of Silvester III. But Benedict's party prevailing again, Silvester was driven out, in his turn, after he had worn the tiara for three months, and Benedict was restored. Upon Gregory's accession, therefore, there were no fewer than three persons, who were pretenders to the honour of being successors of St. Peter. In this scandalous state of things, Henry III., king of Germany, resolved to go into Italy himself, and to enquire on the spot into the conduct of the popes, and the state of the church. He accordingly set out from Germany, and arriving at Sutri in 1046, assembled a council at that city, in which were present almost all the bishops of Italy. The -king sent an invitation to Gregory to preside at

this council; with which he readily complied, flattering himself that the king by that invitation tacitly acknowledged him for lawful pope. But when he made his appearance there, acharge was preferred against him of having purchased with a sum of money the pontifical dignity. As the fact was too notorious to be denied, he confessed the charge to be well founded, and quitting his chair, divested himself of his pontifical ornaments before the council, and begging forgiveness, renounced all claim to the throne of St. Peter. When Henry returned to Germany, he carried Gregory with him as a prisoner, and in that country he ended his days. Platina. Dupin. Moreri. Bower.-M.

GREGORY VII. pope, who by his abilities and intrepidity raised the Roman see to the highest pitch of power, according to the representations of most historians, was the son of a carpenter, and born at the small town of Soano, in Tuscany. His original name was Hildebrand, by which he is frequently known in history. He received his education at Rome, where he was much esteemed by Benedict IX. and Gregory VI., on the latter of whom he attended, when after his deposition he was sent prisoner into Germany. After the death of Gregory, Hildebrand embraced the monastic life in the monastery of Cluny, where his talents raised him to the post of prior. He continued in that situation till Leo IX. raised from the bishopric of Toul to the apostolic see, finding him well acquainted with the affairs of the Roman church, as he visited the monastery in his way to Italy, took him thence with him to Rome. By that pope he was created sub-deacon, and by Nicholas II. archdeacon of the Roman church, and was by them, as well as by Victor II. and Alexander II., employed with success in several negociations. Under the pontificate of the latter he was made chancellor of the holy see, and had the absolute administration of all affairs, both ecclesiastical and civil, as well as the entire disposal of the revenues of the church of Rome. The influence which he consequently acquired over the clergy and people of Rome, will readily be conceived to have been extensive and unrivalled. Upon the death of pope Alexander, in 1073, Hildebrand appointed a fast to be kept, and prayers to be offered up for three days together, before they should proceed to the election of a new pope. while they were performing the obsequies of Alexander in the Lateran church, on the day after his death, the assembled populace tumul stuously cried out with one voice," Hildebrand

But

firmed, and the buying or selling of ecclesiastical benefices prohibited in the severest manner. It was also decreed in the same council, that the sacerdotal orders should abstain from marriage; and that such of them as had already wives or concubines, should immediately dismiss them, or quit the priestly office. The former of these decrees, however called for by equity and good policy, had to encounter much opposition from the laity; and the latter was every-where strenuously opposed by the clergy. When the law enjoining celibacy on the priests was published, they complained loudly of its cruelty and severity. They did not scruple even to call the pope a heretic, for insisting on a practice inconsistent with the doctrine of our Saviour and his apostles. Many of the ecclesiastics, and, especially of the Milanese priests, chose rather to quit their benefices than their wives. And the proceedings of Gregory appeared, to the wiser part of those who approved of the celibacy of the clergy, " unjust and criminal in two respects," says Mosheim; "first, in that his severity fell indiscriminately and with equal fury upon the virtuous husband and the licentious rake; that he dissolved, and that with a merciless hand, the chastest bonds of wedlock, and thus involved husbands and wives, with their tender offspring, in disgrace, perplexity, anguish, and want. The second thing criminal in the measures taken by this pontiff was, that instead of chastening the married parties with wisdom, moderation, and according to the laws of ecclesiastical discipline, whose nature is wholly spiritual, he gave them over to the civil magistrate to be punished as disobedient and unworthy subjects, with the loss of their substance, and with the most shocking marks of undeserved infamy and disgrace." As, however, none of the European kings and princes concerned themselves so much about the marriages of the clergy as to maintain their cause, they were forced to submit, and thus became formed into a body with interests entirely distinct from those of society at large, and devoted to the aggrandisement of their head, the pontiff. The decree which was levelled against the extirpation of simony, how ever, had to struggle with more formidable obstacles. Besides sending circular letters to all the European bishops, enjoining the strictest obedience to that and the former decree on the subject of celibacy, under the severest penalties, Gregory determined to send legates to Henry IV., king of Germany, to engage that prince to summon a council in that country, for the trial and punishment of such eccle

siastics as had been guilty of simoniacal practices. Accordingly four prelates were dispatched into Germany with powers to hold such a council, and were received by the king with all the respect that was due to their character; but neither he nor the German bishops would permit them to assemble a council, though they applauded his holiness's zeal for the extirpation of simony, and promised to concur with him in preventing that evil for the future. The pontiff was highly exasperated at this restraint on the execution of his designs, but had the art to dissemble for the present, and wrote an obliging letter to the king, thanking him for the kindness and respect with which he had received his legates. At the same time he acquainted him with his design of assembling a numerous council at Rome in the following year, and begged that he would oblige the German bishops to repair to it. At the time appointed that council assembled, when Gregory proceeded in the execution of his grand projects with greater impetuosity and vehemence than ever. ever. For besides confirming the law of celibacy under still severer penalties, he not only excommunicated several German and Italian prelates and five of the king's ministers for simony, but proceeded to a more daring measure, and procured a decree to be passed, which pronounced an anathema against all who should receive the investure of a bishopric, abbacy, or any other ecclesiastical dignity from the hands of a layman, and also against those by whom the investiture should be performed. decree was a declaration of war against all christian princes. The custom of investiture had belonged to them by immemorial prescription, and they claimed it as their undoubted right. It was one of the most valuable jewels in their crown, and what no pope had ever disputed. But Gregory, though he could not imagine that they would tamely part with this right, thought it a point well worth contending for; well worth all the confusion, civil wars, and bloodshed, which such a decree might occasion; since he should, by carrying it into execution, engross to himself the disposal of the whole wealth of the church, and thus make the clergy every-where independent of their princes, and dependent upon himself alone. Gregory took care immediately to acquaint the king with this decree, reproaching him at the same time with still employing those ministers whom he had excommunicated, and with suffering the bishops whom he had deposed to continue in their sees. At the close of his letter on this occasion, in insolent language, he forbad

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