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Pope Boniface VI (Latin: Bonifatius VI; died 26 April 896), a native of Rome, served very briefly as the bishop of Rome and ruler of the Papal States in April of 896. He was elected as a result of riots soon after the death of Pope Formosus on April 4. Prior to his reign, he had twice incurred a sentence of deprivation of orders as a subdeacon and as a priest. After a pontificate of fifteen days, he is said by some to have died of the gout, and by others to have been forcibly ejected to make way for Stephen VI, the candidate of the Spoletan party.

The Papal historian Caesar Baronius describes him as a 'disgusting monster' guilty of adultery and homicide.

At a synod in Rome held by John IX in 898, his election was pronounced null and void.

Early life

Little is written about the life of Boniface VI. It is believed by historians that his father was a man called Adrian, who was also a bishop. He then likely served as a sub-deacon or priest before his election to the papacy.

See also

• List of shortest-reigning popes

References

1. The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Boniface VI". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
2. Platina, Bartolomeo (1479), The Lives of the Popes From The Time Of Our Saviour Jesus Christ to the Accession of Gregory VII, vol. I, London: Griffith Farran & Co., p. 237, retrieved 2013-04-25
3. ^ McBrien, Richard P. (2000). Lives of the Popes: The Pontiffs from St. Peter to Benedict XVI. HarperCollins. p. 146. ISBN 0-06-087807-X.
4.  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Pope Boniface VI". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
5. Baronius, Caesar (1868). Annales Ecclesiastici. in Monumenta Germaniae Historica.
6. ^ "Pope Boniface VI - PopeHistory.com". popehistory.com. 2017-01-27. Retrieved 2023-05-18.

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