EULALIUS, ANTIPOPE. — At the death of Zosimus, which occurred on 27 December 415, the Roman deacons seized the basilica of the Lateran, preventing the rest of the clergy from entering, and elected Eulalius as pope. The priests, however, gathered in another church and elected Boniface. Each was consecrated the following Sunday, 29 December. Each faction considered its candidate the legitimate pope, leading to conflicts and disturbances that troubled public tranquility.
Eulalius, supported by the Prefect Symmachus, initially enjoyed imperial favor as well. But when Boniface’s party succeeded in informing the Emperor of the true state of affairs, a council was convoked the following February in Ravenna, at which it was decided that both claimants should be removed from Rome. Boniface complied, but Eulalius, backed by his partisans, attempted during the Paschal festivities to seize the Lateran; he was forcibly expelled and placed under guard. This cost him imperial favor, as Honorius declared him deprived of the right to wear the pallium (414) and recognized Boniface as the legitimate pontiff, who was soon after welcomed to Rome with joyous acclamations. Eulalius was exiled to Campania, where he died in obscurity.