Pope Stephen V

Reign: 885 – 891
Life: d. 891

Early life His father Hadrian, who belonged to the Roman aristocracy , entrusted his education to his relative, Bishop Zachary, librarian of the Holy See . Stephen was created cardinal-priest of Santi Quattro Coronati by Marinus I . Stephen was called upon to face a famine caused by a drought and by locusts, and as the papal treasury was empty he had to fall back on his father's wealth to relieve the poor, to redeem captives, and to repair churches. The Photian schism: history and legend .

During Pope Stephen V's reign, Alfred the Great ruled England, Guy III of Spoleto ruled Holy Roman Empire, and Leo VI the Wise ruled Rome.

Want to learn more? Further reading

Absolute Monarchs: A History of the Papacy by John Julius Norwich

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The World During Their Reign

The most notable rulers who held power elsewhere at the same time, from European courts to Ottoman, Mughal, and Chinese thrones.

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From the library

Go deeper on Pope Stephen V

Hand-picked histories and biographies for readers who want more than the timeline: the same era, told in full.

Absolute Monarchs: A History of the Papacy

John Julius Norwich

Norwich's narrative history of the popes, from Saint Peter's successors to the modern Vatican.

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Saints and Sinners: A History of the Popes
Eamon Duffy
A respected Yale survey of papal power, reform, and scandal across two millennia.
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