What is Pope Formosus?
{{Infobox Christian leader | type = Pope | honorific-prefix=Pope | name=Formosus | image = Jean Paul Laurens Le Pape Formose et Etienne VI 1870.jpg | caption = Pope Formousus' dead body on trial | birth_name= | term_start=6 October 891 | term_end=4 April 896 | predecessor=[[Pope Stephen V|Stephen V]] | successor=[[Boniface VI]] | birth_date={{circa|816}} | birth_place=[[Rome]], [[Papal States]] | death_date={{death date|896|4|4|df=y}} | death_place=Rome, Papal States }} '''Pope Formosus''' ({{circa|816}}{{snd}}896) was [[Pope]] of the [[Roman Catholic Church]] from 6 October 891 to his death. His reign as [[pope]] was troubled, marked by power struggles over the [[Patriarchate of Constantinople]], the [[Kingdom of West Francia]], and the [[Holy Roman Empire]]. ==Papacy== During his papacy, Formosus also had to side with the [[Saracens]], who were attacking [[Lazio]].{{sfn|Wickham|2014|p=22}} On 4 April 896, Formosus died.{{sfn|Kirsch|1909|p=141}} He was replaced by [[Boniface VI]], whose papacy lasted 15 days.{{sfn|Kirsch|1909|p=141}} ==Trial== He sided with [[Arnulf of Carinthia]] against [[Lambert of Spoleto]]. He was accused of [[perjury]] and was put on trial. As a result, Formosus's remains were [[Exhumation|exhumed]] and put on trial in the [[Cadaver Synod]].<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |last=Bautz |first=Friedrich Wilhelm |year=1990 |title=Formosus, Papst |url=http://www.bbkl.de/f/formosus_p.shtml |editor-last=Bautz |editor-first=Friedrich Wilhelm |encyclopedia=Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon |language=de |volume=2 |location=Hamm, Germany |publisher=Bautz |at=cols.&nbsp;70–71 |isbn=978-3-88309-032-0 }}</ref> He was found guilty and his body was buried many times at a nearby [[river]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/morbid-monday-cadaver-synod|title=The Cadaver Synod: When a Pope's Corpse Was Put on Trial|date=3 March 2014|publisher=Atlas Obscura|accessdate=1 July 2020}}</ref> ==References== {{reflist}} {{Popes}} [[Category:Italian popes|Alexander]] [[Category:816