the tomb of hadrian, stronghold of crescentii family, besieged otto iii in 998. otto iii s soldiers breached stronghold , executed rebellious crescentius ii.
when otto iii left italy germany, situation in rome remained uncertain. in september 996, few months after receiving pardon otto iii, crescentius ii met archbishop of piacenza, john philagathos, former adviser late empress theophanu, devise plan depose newly installed pope gregory v. in 997, active support of byzantine emperor basil ii, crescentius ii led revolt against gregory v, deposed him, , installed john philagathos pope john xvi, antipope, in april 997. gregory fled pavia in northern italy, held synod, , excommunicated john.
putting down slavic forces in eastern saxony, otto iii began second expedition italy in december 997. accompanied sister sophia italy, otto iii named aunt matilda, abbess of quedlinburg, regent in germany, becoming first non-duke or bishop serve in capacity. otto iii peacefully retook rome in february 998 when roman aristocracy agreed peace settlement. otto iii in control of city, gregory v reinstated pope. john xvi fled, emperor s troops pursued , captured him, cut off nose , ears, cut out tongue, broke fingers, blinded him, , brought him before otto iii , gregory v judgement. @ intercession of saint nilus younger, 1 of countrymen, otto iii spared john xvi s life , sent him monastery in germany, die in 1001.
crescentius ii retreated again tomb of hadrian, traditional stronghold of crescentii, , besieged otto iii s imperial army. towards end of april, stronghold breached, , crescentius ii taken prisoner , executed decapitation. body put on public display @ monte mario.
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