Christopher, Primicerius

CRISTOFORO, primicerius. - A highly important figure in Roman history during the second half of the 8th century. Adviser to Stefano II and inspirer of the policy of Paolo I, he was forced to flee upon the latter’s death, following the reaction of the aristocracy, which, under the leadership of Totone, duke of Nepi, elected his brother Costantino pope. Having returned, however, with the assistance of the troops of the duke of Spoleto and entered the city, he had a pious but weak Sicilian, Stefano III (Aug. 768), elected by the people. C. favoured a policy of understanding with the Franks and, to this end, sent his son Sergio, who was secondicerius, there. But the Lombard king Desiderio succeeded in persuading the Pope to abandon C. Thus, when the king came to Rome in 771, there was a brief attempt at armed resistance; then C. and his followers tried to flee. His Paolo Afiarta (v.). Taken prisoner, C. was blinded and died of grief three days later.