Benedict IX sold the papacy in 1045: installed as a youth, three times pope, three popes at once

In 1032 Count Alberic of Tusculum installed his son as Pope Benedict IX, at twelve according to the Britannica, at about twenty according to the Catholic Encyclopedia. The Romans drove him out in 1044 because of his dissolute life. In 1045 he sold the papacy for a large sum to his godfather, who became Gregory VI. The Synod of Sutri deposed all three competing popes in 1046. Benedict returned in 1047; according to the Britannica, the death of his predecessor Clement II was probably a poisoning by Benedict.

Period

1032-1048 (16 years)

Country

Italy

Institutions

Pope Benedict IX
Pope Gregory VI
Counts of Tusculum
Synod of Sutri

Category

Financial misconduct

Level of evidence

B two independent scholarly sources · what does this mean?

Persons

Benedict IX (pope from 1032, sold the papacy in 1045)
Gregory VI (archpriest John Gratian, bought the papacy in 1045)
Alberic of Tusculum (count, installed his son as pope)

Background

Course of events

1. Benedict IX was a nephew of his two predecessors. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, his father Alberic, Count of Tusculum, regarded the papacy as a sort of heirloom and placed him on it as a youth in 1032. The sources contradict each other on his age: according to the Britannica he was twelve years old, according to the Catholic Encyclopedia rather about twenty. The Catholic Encyclopedia calls him a disgrace to the Chair of Peter.
   Evidence: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 2 (1907), Artikel Pope Benedict IX

   „He was a disgrace to the Chair of Peter. Regarding it as a sort of heirloom, his father Alberic placed him upon it when a mere youth“

   Evidence: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 2 (1907), Artikel Pope Benedict IX

   „but of about twenty (October, 1032)“

   Evidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Artikel Benedict, Abschnitt Benedict IX.

   „He was installed pope at the age of twelve through the influence of his father.“

2. Because of his dissolute life, a faction in Rome drove him out in 1044 amid the greatest disorder and elected Sylvester III. Benedict expelled Sylvester again the same year.
   Evidence: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 2 (1907), Artikel Pope Benedict IX

   „Taking advantage of the dissolute life he was leading, one of the factions in the city drove him from it (1044) amid the greatest disorder“

   Evidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Artikel Benedict, Abschnitt Benedict IX.

   „at length disgusted the Romans, who drove him out in 1044 and appointed Silvester III. his successor“

Who received the assets, who profited?

1. In May 1045 Benedict IX sold the papacy. He handed it over for a large sum to the archpriest John Gratian, according to the Britannica his godfather, who became pope as Gregory VI. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, as some say, he wanted to marry.
   Evidence: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 2 (1907), Artikel Pope Benedict IX

   „as some say, that he might marry, he resigned his office into the hands of the Archpriest John Gratian for a large sum. John was then elected pope and became Gregory VI (May, 1045).“

   Evidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Artikel Benedict, Abschnitt Benedict IX.

   „He sold his rights to his godfather, the priest Johannes Gratianus, who was installed under the name of Gregory VI. (1045).“

Response of the Church

1. The sources contradict each other on his end: according to the Britannica he appears to have died impenitent, according to the Catholic Encyclopedia, following the tradition of the Abbey of Grottaferrata, he finally resigned and died there in penitence. According to the Britannica, the emperors Conrad II and Henry III tolerated his conduct although they were morally responsible for the pontificate.
   Evidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Artikel Benedict, Abschnitt Benedict IX.

   „He lived several years after his expulsion and appears to have died impenitent.“

   Evidence: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 2 (1907), Artikel Pope Benedict IX

   „Benedict definitely resigned the pontificate and died in penitence at Grottaferrata .“

   Evidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Artikel Benedict, Abschnitt Benedict IX.

   „The disorders of his conduct, though tolerated by the emperors, Conrad II. and Henry III., who were then morally responsible for the pontificate“

See also

• 954-964 · 10 years

  Pope John XII (955 to 964): elected at 18 on his father's orders, deposed, bloody revenge on opponents

  • Italy
  • Torture
  • Violence
• 1018-1089 · 71 years

  Pavia 1018/1022 and Melfi 1089: children of clerics were declared unfree property of the Church, and priests' wives were to be enslaved

  • Italy
  • Slavery
  • Persecution
• Person 1 Jan 1431-18 Aug 1503 · 72 years old

  Pope Alexander VI (Rodrigo Borgia)

  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Vatican City
  • Expropriation
  • Financial misconduct

Scholarly literature and reference works

1. Reference work
   The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 2 (1907): Pope Benedict IX, 1 January 1907. Original · Archive copy (retrieved 23 Oct 2026)
2. Reference work
   Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911): Benedict, 1 January 1911. Original · Archive copy (retrieved 23 Oct 2026)

Last changed on 23 October 2026. Is something missing or wrong? Suggest an addition or correction.