The pope had
tremendous power.
John XII
Before he took his “papal name” of John, he was known as “Octavianus.” His father, the powerful ruler
of Rome, Duke Alberic II, named him after the first Roman emperor, Octavian – also known as
Augustus, for Alberic wanted his son to follow him not only as the political leader of Rome, but as
pope. Alberic's family, the Tusculum clan, had ruled the area for decades. They were rich, powerful and
respected, and Alberic himself was well-loved. After his death in 954, the rich and powerful in Rome
made certain that Octavianus was elected pope, and the 18 year old became one of the most powerful
and richest men in the world as “John XII.”
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