28. An Unforgivable Offense Against the New Pope’s Family
In 894, King Arnulf invaded and occupied northern Italy. The Spoletan Emperor Guy III died later that year, leaving his son Lambert in the care of his mother. Mother and child proved no match for Arnulf, who defeated their forces, and seized Rome in 895. Formosus promptly ditched the Spoletans, and crowned Arnulf Holy Roman Emperor in Saint Peter’s basilica. The new emperor then set out to mop up the Spoletans, only to suffer a stroke, which paralyzed him and forced him to end the campaign.
Formosus himself died a few months later, in 896. He was succeeded by Boniface VI, who lasted only 15 days as Pope, before dying of gout. He was followed by the Spoletan Stephen VI, who was hopping mad at Formosus for what he perceived as an unforgivable offense against, and betrayal of, his family.