The POPE Encyclopedia
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FORMOSUS
Pope from 891 to 896, who in death earned lasting fame for his participation in the gruesome Cadaver Synod. Born around 816, Formosus was probably a native of Rome, first receiving mention in history when he was appointed bishop of Porto in 864 by Pope Nicholas I. Winning the confidence of the pope, he was sent to Bulgaria as a legate. His association with the ruler of Bulgaria, King Boris I (r. 852-889) proved so amicable that the king petitioned Nicholas and then Adrian II to appoint Formosus the archbishop of Bulgaria. Neither pope was willing to acquiesce, and Formosus remained in Rome as a servant of tbe popes. Under Pope John VIII, he was ordered to offer the imperial crown to Charles II the Bald (r. 875-877), but this move was opposed by many servants in the court of the pope. Fearing possible reprisals, some officials in Rome fled from the city. For this act, and perhaps owing to some personal dislike, John excommunicated Formosus and deposed him as bishop in April 876. In 878, Formosus was pardoned, in return for his promise to remain in exile (he lived in Sens) and not to pursue his old see. This peculiar set of circumstances ended with the accession of Pope Marinus I (882-884) who recalled him to Rome and reappointed him as bishop of Porto. He remained in Rome and served both Marinus and Stephen V (VI) (885-891) without apparent incident. On October 6,891, he succeeded Stephen as pope. While advanced in years, he proved quite active in two main areas: dealing with the Eastern Church and attempting to destroy the ruthless Guido (or Guy) III of Spoleto. His efforts at healing the poor relations with the Byzantines came to nothing, his hopes for a peaceful end to the schism that had developed failing to find appeal with the Greeks. Far more troublesome was his relationship with Guido. This nobleman had forced Stephen to crown him emperor and in 892 compelled Formosus to crown his son Lambert co-emperor. The Spoletans, however, proved so violently unpredictable that Formosus appealed to the king of the East Franks, Arnulf, for help. After the death of Guido in 894, Arnulf invaded Italy, seizing Rome in 896 and receiving coronation by Formosus as emperor. His hopes of finishing off the Spoletans were wrecked by the sudden bout of paralysis that struck Arnulf. The emperor departed Italy, leaving the ailing Formosus to his own devices. The pontiff soon fell seriously ill, dying on April 4, 896. His immediate successor, Boniface VI, lasted only fifteen days. The next pope, Stephen VI (VII), was a supporter of Lambert of Spoleto. He executed the grotesque revenge of the Spoletans upon the deceased pontiff by convening the Cadaver Synod in January 897--arguably the lowest point in the history of the papacy--by exhuming Formosus's rotting body and placing it on trial. Condemned on various charges, Formosus's corpse was abused and thrown into the Tiber. A hermit gathered the remains out of the water and placed it back in its proper tomb in St. Peter's. Successor: Boniface VI. (See also Cadaver Synod.)
THE POPE ENCYCLOPEDIA - Matthew Bunson Published by Crown Trade Paperbacks 201 East 50th Street, New York New York 10022, USA ISBN 0-517-88256-6
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