1003 Death of Gregory, perhaps due also to poisoning by Stephania. The plans to rescue the papacy from the patricians and populace of Rome have thus failed. John XVII (Sicco) occupies the see six months. John XVIII (Fanasus).
1009 Sergius IV. Rome is again a republic, with the patrician John, son of Crescentius, at its head. The Tuscan party is in the ascendency.
1012 Benedict VIII elected by the Tusculan party, to which the house of Crescentius has yielded the power. An anti-pope, Gregory, is set up by the party of Crescentius. Benedict has to flee, but soon returns to Rome, protected by the emperor Henry II.
1014 Benedict administers a defeat to the Saracens near Pisa.
1021 Benedict assists Henry II in his war against the Byzantines in southern Italy.
1024 On Benedict’s death the Tusculan party elevates his brother, John XIX, a layman, to the papal chair.
1033 On John’s death the power of the Tusculan house secures the pontificate for his young nephew, Benedict IX.
1042 The “Truce of God” sanctioned.
1044 Benedict, after leading a vicious and depraved life, is driven from Rome by the people. They then elect Silvester III, but Benedict returns in triumph, and the anti-pope flees.
1045 Benedict sells the pontificate to Gregory VI (Johannes Gratianus) of the house of Tusculum, a man of learning and unimpeachable chastity, who endeavours to institute reforms.