Volume 1

Universal pronouncing dictionary of biography and mythology / by Joseph Thomas.

  • Joseph Thomas
Date:
1911, ©1908
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Universal pronouncing dictionary of biography and mythology / by Joseph Thomas. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    1407/1486 (page 1389)
    John, [Ger. Johann, yo'hJn,] surnamed the Con¬ stant, a son of the Elector Ernest, was born in 1467, and became Elector of Saxony in 1525. lie was a zealous defender of the Protestant faith, and in 1530 caused the Confession of Augsburg to be proclaimed in the Diet assembled at that city. Died in 1532. See Ersch und Gruber, “Allgemeine Encyklopaedie.” John [Lat. Johan'nes; Fr. Jean, zhftN; It. Gio¬ vanni, jo-v&n'neej I., a native of Tuscany, was raised to the Roman see upon the death of Hormisdas, in 523. He was sent on an embassy to Constantinople by King Theodoric to obtain toleration for the Arians; and on his return, having displeased that monarch, he was thrown into prison, where he died in 526. John II., surnamed Mercurius, was a native of Rome, and succeeded Boniface II. in 532 or 533. Died 535- John III., a native of Rome, succeeded Pelagius I. in 560. Died about 573, and was succeeded by Bene¬ dict I. John IV., a Dalmatian, succeeded Severinus in 640. He condemned the doctrines of the Monothelites and the edict of the emperor Heraclius, called “ The Exposition of Faith,” which was issued in their defence. Died in 642, and was succeeded by Theodorus. John V., a native of Antioch, in Syria, was chosen pope on the death of Benedict II., in 685, and died in 687. Conon succeeded him. John VI., a Greek, succeeded Sergius I. in 701. During his pontificate Wilfred, Archbishop of York, was tried and acquitted of the charges preferred by the English clergy. Died in 705. John VII., a native of Greece, was elected successor to the preceding. Died in 707. Sisinnius succeeded him. John VIII., (called John IX. by those who admit the truth of Pope Joan’s history,) was a native of Rome, and succeeded Adrian II. in 872. He crowned the emperor Charles the Bald, and afterwards Charles le Gros. He confirmed Phocius Patriarch of Constantinople. In 878 the Saracens invaded Italy and compelled him to pay tribute. Died in 882. He was succeeded by Martin II. See Artaud de Montor, “ Histoire des souverains Pontifes.” John IX., an Italian, became pope in 898, after the death of Theodore II. Died about 900. J ohn X. was elected in 915, through the influence of his mistress Theodora, as successor to Lando. He crowned Berengarius as emperor. Subsequently, with the assist¬ ance of this sovereign, he marched against the Saracens, who had invaded Italy, defeated them, and drove them from the country. At this time Guido, Duke of Tus¬ cany, with his wife, the infamous Marozia, possessed great power in Rome. John, having offended them, was seized in his palace by their soldiers and put in prison, where he is said to have been killed in 928. John XI., elected pope in 931, was the son of Maro¬ zia, as some suppose, by Pope Sergius III. Alberico, another son of Marozia, raised a revolt against his mother, whom he imprisoned with John in the castle of Sant’ Angelo. The latter died about 936, and was succeeded by Leo VII. John XII., son of Alberico, was elected successor to Agapetus II. in 956, when he was but eighteen years old. He changed his name from Octavianus. Four years later he crowned Otho I. Emperor of Germany and King of Italy. Subsequently he became so notorious for his oppression and licentiousness that Otho returned to Rome in 963 and caused John to be deposed and Leo VIII. to be chosen in his place. But, as soon as Otho left Italy, John entered Rome at the head of a powerful party, drove out Leo, and committed great atrocities. He died in 964. One of his mistresses, named Joan, exercised much influence at Rome during his pontificate ; and it has been suggested that this may have given rise to the story of “ Pope Joan.” SeeBARONius, “Annales.” John XIU., Bishop of Narni, was raised to the papal see in 965 by the influence of the emperor Otho I. The Romans, however, being opposed to this election, im¬ prisoned John. Otho marched to Rome, liberated him, tmd hanged several of his opponents. John crowned Otho II., son of Otho I., as emperor. Died in 972, and was succeeded by Benedict VI. John XIV., Bishop of Pavia, was raised to the papal see, as successor to Benedict VII., about 984. After a pontificate of nine months, he was deposed by Boniface VII. and put in prison, where he is supposed to have been poisoned in 985. John XV., elected successor to John XIV., died a few days after. By some he is left out of the order of popes. John XVI., a native of Rome, became pope about 986. During his pontificate, a patrician, named Cres- centius, caused great disturbances and drove the pope from Rome. He was, however, reinstated in his au¬ thority by the emperor Otho. Died in 996, and was succeeded by Gregory V. John XVlI., whose previous name was Philaga- THius, a native of Calabria, and Bishop of Piacenza, was chosen pope in 997 by the faction of Crescentius, in op¬ position to Gregory V. Otho III., espousing the cause of the latter, executed Crescentius with his adherents, and imprisoned John after having horribly mutilated him. John XVIII. was elected successor to Sylvester II. in 1003, and died four months afterwards. John XIX., elected pope in 1004. He sent Saint Bruno to preach Christianity to the Russians, and healed the schism between the Churches of Rome and Constan¬ tinople. Died in 1009, and was succeeded by Sergius IV. John XX., previously named Romanus, was the son of Count Gregory of Tuscany, and brother of Benedict VIII. , whom he succeeded in 1024. In 1027 he crowned Conrad as emperor. He died in 1033 or 1034, and was succeeded by Benedict IX. John XXI., born in Lisbon, was elected successor to Adrian V. about 1276. He died after a pontificate of a few months. Nicholas III. succeeded him. John XXII., a native of Cahors, in France, and pre¬ viously known as Jacques d’Euse, or James of Ossa, was chosen to succeed Clement V. in 1316. He was consecrated at Lyons, and made his residence at Avignon. At this period there was a competition for the throne of Germany between Louis of Bavaria and Frederick of Austria. John, who declared that he had the right to appoint the emperor, excommunicated Louis in 1324 or 1327, and advanced the claims of Robert, King of Naples. This led to a long war in Italy between the Guelphs, who were allies of Robert, and the Ghibelines, who were assisted by the troops of Louis. At first the Guelphs had the advantage ; but their opponents soon gained ground, and in 1327 Louis visited Italy and received the iron crown of Milan. At Rome the Bishops of Venice and Aleria crowned him emperor, after which he deposed John and appointed Peter de Corvara in his place, with the name of Nicholas V. After the return of Louis to Germany the Guelphs began to obtain the ascendency. John died at Avignon in 1334. He possessed extraor¬ dinary abilities, was devoted to study, and wrote some medical treatises. His avarice, however, was the most prominent trait in his character; and to him is attributed the introduction of the Annates, or First-Fruits. He left, besides his jewels, eighteen millions of golden florins in his coffers. See Artaud de Montor, “Histoire des souverains Pontifes;* Platina, “ Historia de Vitis Pontificum Romanorum “ Nouvelle Biographie Gdn^rale.” John XXIII., (or XXIL, according to some authori¬ ties,) (Cardinal Cossa,) a Neapolitan, was elected as suc¬ cessor to Alexander V. in 1410, during a schism of the Church. His title was disputed by two rivals, Benedict XIII. and Gregory XII. He was a man of depraved morals and of insatiable cupidity. A quarrel between John and Ladislaus of Naples resulted in the expulsion of the former from Rome. John applied for support to the emperor Sigismund, who convoked at Constance in 1414 a general council. This council (at which John was present) required him to abdicate the popedom. He pretended to comply, but left Constance disguised, and fled towards Rome with the intention to resist the decree of the council. He was quickly arrested and brought back to Constance, where he was convicted of many heinous offences, and formally deposed, in 1415. He was confined in prison about three years. He died at Florence in 1419.