Sergius II. Pope, 844–847

Rome was soon stirred to excitement by a divided election. Clergy and nobles (the Princes of the Quirites, as the Liber Pontificalis with Roman decorum begins to express itself) elected Sergius, Cardinal of S. Martin and Sylvester; while John, an ambitious deacon, was forcibly conducted to the Lateran by a body of armed retainers. The nobles quelled the disturbance, and Sergius the Second was ordained. Belonging himself to an illustrious Roman family, he was favoured by the nobility. His consecration, however, took place without the Emperor's ratification, and was apparently performed in haste owing to the tumult in the city. Lothar, indignant at the violation of his Imperial rights, commanded the King of Italy to advance with an army to Rome. Lewis set forth accompanied by Drogo, Bishop of Metz, by a son of Charles the Great, and by several prelates and counts. Outrages committed on his march through the ecclesiastical State announced his indignation from afar. An imposing escort, sent by Sergius, met him a short distance from the city. At the ninth milestone he was received by the judices, a mile outside the gates by all the schools of the militia and the clergy. It was the Sunday after Whitsuntide.