Benedict IV
Pope Benedict IV (Benedictus IV; c. 840 – 30 July 903) was the bishop of Rome and ruler of the Papal States from 1 February 900 to his death in July 903. The tenth-century historian Flodoard, who nicknamed him "the Great", commended his noble birth and public generosity.
Also recorded as Pope Benedict IV
Benedict IV
Artaud de Montor (1772–1849) · Public domain
- Name
- Benedict IV
- Born
- c. 840
- Birthplace
- Rome, Papal States
- Died
- 30 July 903
- Occupation
- catholic priest · writer · catholic bishop
- Languages
- Latin
Reference Check
Propose documentary evidence for Benedict IV. A contribution is never written directly as fact: identity, source, rights and evidence gates still decide.
Sign in to contribute
Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q182463 · wikipedia · Pope Benedict IV
In this article
Biography
Biography
Benedict was a native of Rome, the son of one Mammalus, and was ordained priest by Pope Formosus. He succeeded Pope John IX. In 900, he excommunicated Count Baldwin II of Flanders for murdering Archbishop Fulk of Reims. In 901, Benedict crowned Louis the Blind as emperor. In 902, Berengar of Friuli defeated Louis III and forced him to leave Italy. Benedict was buried in front of St Peter's Basilica, by the gate of Guido. He was followed by Pope Leo V.
Calcografia in Giovanni Battista Cavalieri, Pontificum Romanorum effigies, Roma, Basa Domenico\Zanetti Francesco, 1580.
Giovanni Battista de'Cavalieri · This file was uploaded by Biblioteca comunale di Trento.
Cromolitografia in L. Tripepi, Ritratti e biografie dei romani pontefici: da S. Pietro a Leone 13, Roma, Vaglimigli Davide, 1879.
Oleografia Panigati e Meneghini Milano · This file was uploaded by Biblioteca comunale di Trento.
Key facts
Key facts
• Type — Pope • Honorific Prefix — Pope • Name — Benedict IV • Title — Bishop of Rome • Church — Catholic Church • Term Start — 1 February 900 • Term End — July 903 • Predecessor — John IX • Successor — Leo V • Born — c. 840 • Birthplace — Rome, Papal States • Died — 30 July 903 • Place of death — Rome, Papal States • Other — Benedict
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
900
Benedict IV born.
903
Benedict IV died.
Primary material
Documents and archives
scholarly publication
- Benedict IV, Pocket Dictionary of Popes, 2006
Scholarly · Crossref registry · 2006
- Chapter IV Benedict XVI and the liturgy, The Liturgical Vision of Pope Benedict XVI
Scholarly · Crossref registry
reference work
- “Pope Benedict IV”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q182463: Benedict IV
Reputable secondary · Wikidata
Literature
Literature
* * *
Literature
Literature
Literature
Chapter IV Benedict XVI and the liturgy, The Liturgical Vision of Pope Benedict XVI. Benedict IV, Pocket Dictionary of Popes, 2006
Text attribution
Licensing
Text attribution
Part of the biographical narrative on this page reuses licensed material. Its origin, revision and licence are recorded here.
The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article Pope Benedict IV, revision 1372032367 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record. Sources and licences.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
scholarly publication
Benedict IV, Pocket Dictionary of Popes, 2006Crossref registry
Institutional witnessscholarly publication
Chapter IV Benedict XVI and the liturgy, The Liturgical Vision of Pope Benedict XVICrossref registry
Institutional witnessreference work
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Books
39,529 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- Benedetto VarchiAuthor
- Benedict AndersonAuthor
- Benedict FriedlaenderAuthor
- Benedict IIAuthor
- Benedict IXAuthor
- Benedict VIAuthor
- Benedict Wallet VilakaziAuthor
- Benedict WellsAuthor
Best supported in this field
For owners
Own a work by Benedict IV?
A specialist will read what you send and tell you what the house can establish, what it cannot, and whether the object is suited to sale. There is no charge and no obligation. The object stays with you throughout; nothing is shipped to us unless it is arranged in writing beforehand.