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Marozia

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

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Marperger, Bernhard Walther

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a Roman lady of noble birth, but of infamous reputation in the scandalous chronicles of her age, slaughter of the equally notorious Theodora (q.v.), was born near the close of the 9th century. On the dissolution of all the moral ties of public and private life which the war of factions occasioned in Rome in the 10th century, Marozia, by her beauty and her intrigues, contrived to exercise great influence. She was married three times, and, according to Luitprand, had skill and address enough to procure the deposition and death of the pope, John X, and the elevation of her son, the fruit, it is alleged, of adulterous intercourse with pope Sergius III, to the pontificate, under the name of John XI. This testimony of Luitprand, who wrote some time after the period, is considered doubtful by Muratori and by Dr. Pertz. See, however, our articles JOHN X (See JOHN X) and JOHN XI (See JOHN XI) . In her latter years Marozia suffered the punishment of her early crimes. She was imprisoned by her own son Alberic, and died in prison at Rome in 938.