People/CharactersAnastasius Bibliothecarius, Antipope
Works (1)
Titles | Order |
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Absolute Monarchs: A History of the Papacy by John Julius Norwich | Anastasius the Librarian, c. 810-c. 878 |
Titles | Order |
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Absolute Monarchs: A History of the Papacy by John Julius Norwich | Anastasius the Librarian, c. 810-c. 878 |
Description | Anastasius Bibliothecarius or Anastasius the Librarian (c. 810 – c. 878) was bibliothecarius (literally "librarian") and chief archivist of the Church of Rome and also briefly a claimant to the papacy. He was a nephew of Bishop Arsenius of Orte, who executed important commissions as Papal legate. Anastasius learned the Greek language from Eastern Roman monks and obtained an unusual education for his era, such that he appears to be the most learned ecclesiastic of Rome in the 9th century. He was employed by the Pope Nicholas I various matters. He was also active as an author, and translated Greek language works into Latin. He has been shown by Ernst Perels to be the 'ghost-writer' behind much papal official correspondence of these years According to Hincmar of Rheims, Anastasius is identical with the Roman presbyter Anastasius who in 874 became titular priest of St. Marcellus, but there is some doubt. After the death of Pope Leo IV in 855 this Anastasius was elected as Antipope by the imperial party, but the rightfully elected Pope Benedict III gained the supremacy, and acted kindly towards the usurper. |