John X
(born, Tossignano, near Imola, Romagna [Italy]?died 929, Rome) was the
pope
from 914 to 928. He was
archbishop
of
Ravenna
(
c.
905?914) when chosen to succeed Pope
Lando
about March 914.
John approved the severe rule of the newly founded Benedictine order of Cluny. To drive the
Saracens
(Muslim enemies) from southern
Italy
, John allied with the
Byzantine
emperor
Constantine IV
and King
Berengar I
of Italy. In August 915, with the Roman senator
Theophylactus
and Duke Alberic I of
Spoleto
, John’s forces defeated the Saracens on the Garigliano River. In December 915 he crowned Berengar as
Holy Roman emperor
. When Berengar was assassinated in 924, John allied with King Hugh of Italy in order to distance himself from
Rome’s
noble families. This enraged Theophylactus’ daughter,
Marozia
, herself a powerful Roman senator; she ordered John imprisoned in
Castel Sant’Angelo
, Rome, where he was probably smothered to death.
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