Pope John X

John X rose from deacon at Bologna to archbishop of Ravenna before becoming pope, an unusual translation between sees. A capable and unusually active pontiff for his era, he is best remembered for organizing and personally helping lead the Christian coalition that crushed the Saracen stronghold on the Garigliano River in 915. He also worked to assert papal authority and crowned Berengar I emperor. His career was entangled with Roman factional politics; the chronicler Liutprand of Cremona, writing later and with bias, alleged he owed his elevation to Theodora. Marozia ultimately had him deposed and imprisoned, where he died.