CRISTOFORO, PRIMICERIO

CRISTOFORO, primicerio. — A very important figure in the Roman history of the second half of the 8th century. Advisor to Stephen II and inspirer of the policy of Paul I, he was forced to flee upon the latter’s death, following the reaction of the aristocracy, which, under the leadership of Toto, Duke of Nepi, elected his brother Constantine as pope. However, he returned with the help of the troops of the Duke of Spoleto and, having entered the city, secured the election by the people of a pious but weak Sicilian, Stephen III (Aug. 768). C. favored a policy of understanding with the Franks and for this purpose sent his son Sergio, who was secundicerius. But the Lombard king Desiderius managed to persuade the Pope to abandon C. Thus, when the king came to Rome in 771, there was a brief attempt at armed resistance, after which C. tried to flee. His Afiarta (v.). Taken prisoner, C. was blinded and died three days later of grief.