Pope Marinus I

Marinus I served as papal legate to Constantinople before ascending to the papacy in 882, unusual because canon law at the time discouraged bishops from transferring sees. His election stirred controversy precisely because he arrived at the throne already a bishop. The name confusion began early: scribes and records conflated Marinus with Martinus, embedding the error so deeply into Church tradition that when the real Martin II became pope centuries later, he had to number himself Martin IV to preserve continuity with the mistake. Marinus ruled the Papal States for two years, dying on 15 May 8…