Arsenius

ARSENIO. — Bishop of Orte, who lived in Rome in the 9th century and died at Benevento. Before entering the clergy, he married and had two sons, who were Anastasio Bibliotecario and Eleuterio. He strongly supported the imperialist party, thereby indulging the vainglorious projects of his son Anastasio, who wished to become pope, and he also stood by him when the latter attempted to seize the Vatican by force upon the death of Benedetto III. Under Niccolò I he became apocrisarius, and in that capacity seems to have been in France. He was appointed imperial vicar in Rome. His power, already very great under Niccolò I, increased under Adriano II; but following a new intrigue, this time on behalf of his son Eleuterio, he was forced to flee to Benevento.