Pope Benedict IX

Theophylact of Tusculum was born around 1012 in Rome, nephew to the two popes before him. In October 1032 his father secured his election through bribery when Theophylact was roughly twenty years old, possibly the youngest pope in history. His dissolute behavior sparked a Roman revolt that drove him out and installed Sylvester III in his place. Months later Benedict and his supporters expelled Sylvester, but Benedict then chose to resign in favor of his godfather Gregory VI — on condition he be reimbursed for expenses. He changed his mind, returned, and tried to depose Gregory. Prominent clerg…