Pope Paschal I

Paschal came from Roman aristocracy and ran St. Stephen's monastery, a waystation for pilgrims, before his election as bishop of Rome in January 817. He spent his papacy rebuilding churches — three basilicas among them — and in 823 placed the imperial crown on Lothair I. But his reign ended in scandal: two papal officials were found dead, blinded and beheaded, and fingers pointed at Paschal himself. He died in 824 with the accusations unresolved.