The counts of Tusculum, also known as the Theophylacti, were a powerful noble family from Latium who dominated Rome between the 10th and 12th centuries. They produced several popes and antipopes during the 11th century and shaped the political formula of noble-papacy, where only Roman nobles could be elected pope. Their influence extended through both religious and secular roles, holding consulships and senate positions, and they were traditionally pro-Byzantine and anti-Germanic. The era of the Tusculan Papacy ended after 1049 with Pope Leo IX. Following the Gregorian reform and the 1059 decree of Pope Nicholas II, the noble-papacy was abolished, marking a major shift in church politics.
Counts and their titles
This list is partially incomplete in the tenth century and the chronology and dates of the various countships are often uncertain. They were only counts from about 1013, lords before.
- before 924 Theophylact I
- until 924 Alberic I, (Consul) son-in-law of Theophylact I
- 924–954 Alberic II, son of Alberic I
- before 1013 Gregory I, (Excellentissimus vir – Praefectus navalis) son of Alberic II
- until 1012 Theophylact II, son of Gregory I
- 1012–1024 Romanus, (Consul et dux, senator) brother of Theophylact II and son of Gregory I
- 1024–1032 Alberic III, (Imperialis palatii magister Consul et dux – Comes sacri palatii Lateranensis) brother of Theophylact II and Romanus
- 1032–1045 Theophylact III son of Alberic III
- 1044–1058 Gregory II, (Consul, nobilis vir, senator Comes Tusculanensis) son of Alberic III
- 1058 – c. 1108 Gregory III, (Comes Tusculanensis Consul, illustris) son of Gregory II
- c. 1108 – 1126 Ptolemy I (Tolomeo I), (Consul, comes Tusculanus) son Gregory III
- 1126–1153 Ptolemy II (Tolomeo II), (Illustrissimus, dominus Consul et dux) son of Ptolemy I
- 1153 – c. 1167 Jonathan, (Comes de Tusculano) co-ruler with Raino son of Ptolemy II
- 1153–1179 Raino, (Nobilis vir, dominus) brother of Jonathan, co-ruler with Jonathan
Tusculan popes
Main article: Tusculan Papacy
- John XI, son of Alberic I, pope 931–935
- John XII son of Alberic II, pope 955–964
- Benedict VII, nephew of Alberic II, pope 974–983
- Benedict VIII, son of Gregory I, pope 1012–1024 (also count)
- John XIX, son of Gregory I, pope 1024–1032 (also count)
- Benedict IX, son of Alberic III, pope 1032–1048 (also count)
- Benedict X, antipope 1058–1059
Successors
According to tradition, the successors of the Tusculum counts were the Colonna family, founded by Peter (1099–1151), son of Gregory III and called Peter "de Columna" from his fief of Colonna, east of Rome.
- Thietmar of Merseburg – Chronicle
- Ferdinand Gregorovius Geschichte der Stadt Rom im Mittelalter (1859–1872)
External links
- "Tusculum" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 27 (11th ed.). 1911.