Rome 823: two high papal officials were blinded and killed in the Lateran by servants of Pope Paschal I, and the pope shielded the murderers
Shortly after Lothair's imperial coronation in 823, the primicerius Theodore and his son-in-law Leo, leaders of the pro-Frankish party in the papal palace, were seized in the Lateran, blinded and killed, according to the Catholic Encyclopedia by the pope's servants. Paschal I cleared himself of suspicion by an oath. The imperial envoys could not punish the perpetrators because the pope declared the murdered men guilty of treason. According to the Britannica he shielded the murderers; the Roman people refused him burial in St. Peter's.
Deaths
2(counted, primicerius Theodore and nomenculator Leo, blinded and killed)Evidence: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 11 (1911)
„both these officials were blinded and killed by the pope's servants“
Paschal I (pope 817 to 824, according to the Britannica shielded the murderers) Theodore (primicerius in the papal palace, blinded and killed in 823) Leo (nomenculator, Theodore's son-in-law, blinded and killed in 823)
What happened to the people
Who was affected? Victims and numbers
High officials in the papal palace, especially the primicerius Theodore and his son-in-law, the nomenculator Leo, led the party which supported the Franks and the supremacy of the emperor; the pope himself opposed this sovereignty over Rome. Shortly after King Lothair's departure in 823, both were blinded and killed by the pope's servants. According to the Britannica they were seized at the Lateran, blinded and afterwards beheaded.
Evidence: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 11 (1911), Artikel Pope Paschal I
„Although the pope himself opposed the sovereignty of the Frankish emperors over Rome and Roman territory, high officials in the papal palace, especially Primicerius Theodore and his son-in-law Leo Nomenculator, were at the head of the party which supported the Franks , and advocated the supremacy of the emperor.“
Pope Paschal I, Artikel Pope Paschal I.
Original · Archive copyEvidence: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 11 (1911), Artikel Pope Paschal I
„Shortly after the departure of King Lothair in 823, both these officials were blinded and killed by the pope's servants.“
Pope Paschal I, Artikel Pope Paschal I.
Original · Archive copyEvidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Artikel Paschal (popes), Abschnitt Paschal I.
„two important Roman personages had been seized at the Lateran, blinded and afterwards beheaded“
Paschal was accused of having instigated the deed, but cleared himself of suspicion by an oath. The envoys of Emperor Louis who investigated the affair in Rome could not punish the perpetrators, because the pope declared the murdered officials guilty of treason. According to the Britannica, Paschal shielded the murderers but denied all personal complicity.
Evidence: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 11 (1911), Artikel Pope Paschal I
„Paschal himself was accused of being the originator of this deed, but he cleared himself of suspicion by an oath . The ambassadors sent to Rome by Emperor Louis to investigate the affair could not punish the perpetrators, as the pope declared the murdered officials guilty of treason.“
Pope Paschal I, Artikel Pope Paschal I.
Original · Archive copyEvidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Artikel Paschal (popes), Abschnitt Paschal I.
„Paschal had shielded the murderers but denied all personal complicity in their crime“
Paschal died in 824 while the imperial commissioners were still investigating. The Roman people refused him the honour of burial in St. Peter's. Today he holds a place in the Roman calendar (16 May).
Evidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Artikel Paschal (popes), Abschnitt Paschal I.
„He died in Rome while the imperial commissioners were investigating the circumstances“
Kirchenakte