MAROZIA. - Born in 892 in Rome to Theophylact, vestararius pontificio and magister militum, and to Theodora, a woman of great authority. She was married to the Frank Alberic, marquis of Camerino and duke of Spoleto (915), by whom she had her son Alberic II. After Alberic's death, she entered a second marriage with Guy of Tuscany (926), thereby increasing in Rome her already great power.
This union aroused the fear and resentment of Pope John X, who came to an agreement with Guy's half-brother, Hugh of Provence. M. fought against the Pope and his supporters, succeeding in eliminating them (928). After the death of John X, who was assassinated in prison, M., who in the meantime had proclaimed herself senatrix and patricia of Rome, had her son John elected, who became Pontiff under the name John XI (931). Illicit relations with Pope Sergius III were wrongly attributed to M. Widowed for the second time, she offered her hand to her brother-in-law, the king of Italy, Hugh of Provence, uterine brother of Guy; but the new marriage was received as an offense to morality and religion; Hugh nevertheless came to Rome and married M. (932). During the wedding festivities Alberic II, having received a grave affront from the king, roused the people and the nobles and, while Hugh saved himself by fleeing, M. was taken prisoner and thrown into prison by her son, where she died in 937.
Bibliography3 works
Romualdo Paolucci