John XII
Son of the Roman noble Alberic, who as pope called Otto I into Italy and crowned him emperor, then turned against him and was declared deposed by a synod under the emperor.
A chronicler close to Otto’s court calls him John, son of Alberic, and says that he promised never to desert the emperor, a promise with a very different outcome (Continuator of Regino, year 962). Liudprand of Cremona tells how he appealed to Otto against Berengar, anointed him emperor and then sought the help of Berengar’s son (Liudprand, Deeds of Otto 1–4).
Almost everything else known of him comes from his accusers. Liudprand reports the charges made at the Roman synod, from simony and perjury to hunting and drinking the devil’s health, and the sentence of deposition (Liudprand, Deeds of Otto 9–16). John returned to Rome when the emperor left and died soon after; Liudprand says that the devil struck him down (Liudprand, Deeds of Otto 19–20). See Otto I Is Crowned Emperor.
In the timeline
- February AD 962, firm dateOtto I Is Crowned Emperor
Called into Italy by Pope John XII, the German king Otto I is crowned emperor at Rome and confirms the papal territories, while requiring each new pope to make a promise before the emperor’s envoys. Within two years he has the pope deposed.