Pope Sergius IV

Sergius IV redirects here. It can also refer to Sergius IV of Naples, Duke of Naples in 1002–36.

Pope Sergius IV
Papacy began	31 July 1009
Papacy ended	12 May 1012
Predecessor	John XVIII
Successor	Benedict VIII
Orders
Consecration	1004
Created cardinal	1004 by John XVIII
Personal details
Born	Pietro Martino Buccaporci Rome, Papal States, Holy Roman Empire
Died	(1012-05-12)May 12, 1012 Rome, Papal States, Holy Roman Empire
Previous post(s)	Cardinal-Bishop of Albano (1004–1009)
Other popes named Sergius

Pope Sergius IV (970 – 12 May 1012) was Pope and the ruler of the Papal States from 31 July 1009 to his death in 1012.

He was born in Rome as Pietro Martino Buccaporci, which essentially translates as "Peter Martin Pig's Snout." The date of his birth is unknown but is believed to be around 970.

Early life

Buccaporci was born in Rome, the son of Peter the Shoemaker. In 1004, he became the Bishop of Albano. He was elected pope after the abdication of Pope John XVIII in 1009, and adopted the name Sergius IV.

Pontificate

The power held by Sergius IV was small and often overshadowed by the Patricius, John Crescentius III, the ruler of the city of Rome at the time. He checked the power of Crescentius, who by strengthening the party in favour of the Germans. Sergius IV acted to relieve famine in the city of Rome, and he exempted several monasteries from episcopal rule.

A papal bull calling for Muslims to be driven from the Holy Land after the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was destroyed in 1009 by the Fatimid caliph al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah has been attributed to him, although its authenticity has long been a matter of debate. Carl Erdmann considered it genuine, but it was rejected at length by Aleksander Gieysztor, who suggested that it was actually invented around the time of the First Crusade in order to help justify that expedition to Jerusalem. More recently, Hans Martin Schaller has forcefully argued for the document's authenticity.

Death and legacy

Sergius IV died on 12 May 1012 and was buried in the Basilica of St. John Lateran. Although not canonized, Sergius IV is sometimes venerated as a saint by the Benedictines of which he was a member. There was some suspicion that he was murdered, as he died within a week of Crescentius, considered by many to have been his patron. Sergius was followed in the papacy by Pope Benedict VIII.

See also

• List of popes

References

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Pope Sergius IV". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.