Theophylact I, Count of Tusculum
Theophylact I (before 864 – 924 or 925) was a medieval Count of Tusculum who served Louis III, Holy Roman Emperor as judex and then was elected to head Rome as consul by the city's nobility[1] in 915, an appointment that was confirmed by the Pope. He also was styled as senator, glorissimus dux, judex dativus, and magister militum[1][2]. Together with his wife Theodora, he controlled the city of Rome and the Papacy in the early 10th century.
Theophylact is mentioned for the first time in a document of 901 as palatine judex of the Emperor Louis III. Remaining in Rome at the command of a group of soldiers after the former's return to Provence, he became sacri palatii vestararius and magister militum of Pope Sergius III, effectively seizing control of the city. All subsequent popes of the period were elected at Theophylact's will.
His wife Theodora, who was styled senatrix and serenissima vestaratrix of Rome, prevailed upon him to support her lover as pope and he was installed as John X in 914. Theodora’s influence established her next two nominees on the papal throne: Anastasius III and Lando. The influence of Theodora and her descendants over the papacy is known as the Pornocracy.
The heirs of Theophylact, the Tusculani, were the rivals of the Crescentii in controlling Rome, and placed several popes on the Chair of St Peter. Their eventual heirs were the Colonna.
