Pope John XII

 Pope John XII’s was the son of Alberic II of Spoleto his mother’s identity is not known for sure. John was pope from 955 to 964, his disastrous reign was fraught with scandal. During his tenure, the papal residence was described as a brothel. John had dozens of lovers, and was even rumoured to have had an affair with his own niece. He took bribes in return for exchange for bishoprics and even had a deacon who angered him castrated.

John was forced to appoint King Otto I of Germany as Holy Roman Emperor to protect his throne against the Italian nobility. Otto defended John, but did not like him and warned him to give up his sordid lifestyle. Having taken offence and worried about Otto’s political might, John conspired against him with the Italians and Byzantines, to depose him. This prompted war between Otto, Holy Roman Emperor, and the Pope.

As Otto’s army besieged Rome, John took the papal treasury and left on a “hunting trip” in Campania, where he was killed by one of his many lovers’ husbands.

Picture: Pope John XII depicted in a 16th-century engraving contained in the Pontificum Romanorum effigies by Giovanni Battista de'Cavalieri