STEFANO II (III), POPE. — Of Roman family. As soon as he was elected pope, between 16 and 25 March 752, he had to contend with the designs of the Lombard king Astolfo, who intended to seize the Duchy of Rome. He concluded an agreement with him in June of the same year; but the sovereign’s demand to impose the head tax on the Roman people threw the city into a state of unrest.
The idea of being subject to a barbarian was repugnant to S. II even more than to the Romans, and he wished to safeguard his freedom of action and his temporal authority. There was nothing to hope for from the emperor of Constantinople; therefore the Pope turned to the Franks, who nevertheless maintained good relations with the Lombards. S. II decided to go to Pipino il Breve and personally solicit his support. He departed on 15 Oct. 753; after treating unsuccessfully with Astolfo at Pavia, Stefano met Pipino at Ponthion (Marne) on 6 Jan. 754 and obtained from him a promise to intervene in favor of the “cause of blessed Peter and the Roman Republic.” A serious illness endangered the Pope’s life at the abbey of S. Dionigi; having recovered, he returned to Rome under the protection of the Franks (Oct. 745), who had defeated Astolfo. However, when the Frankish army had recrossed the Alps, Astolfo laid siege to Rome (1 Jan. 756); then Pipino hastened to the Romans’ aid, freed their blockaded walls, and brought the Lombard under his control. The vanquished ruler had to abandon a vast territory to the Holy See; thus, thanks to S. II’s tenacity, State (v.) was founded.