Atto (Episcopus Vercellensis, d. 960): De presauris ecclesiasticis; Epistolae, and other books, in
Migne, Tom. CXXXV.
Jaffé: Regesta, pp. 307–325.
Other sources relating more to the political history of the tenth century are indicated by Giesebrecht,
I. 817, 820, 836.
Literature.
Baronius: Annales ad ann. 900–963.
V. E. Löscher.: Historie des röm. Hurenregiments. Leipzig, 1707. (2nd ed. with another title, 1725.)
Constantin Höfler (R.C.): Die deutschen Päpste. Regensburg, 1839, 2 vols.
E. Dummler: Auxilius und Vulgarius. Quellen und Forschungenzur Geschichte des Papstthums im
Anfang des zehnten Jahrhunderts. Leipz. 1866. The writings of Auxilius and Vulgarius are in
Migne’s Patrol., Tom. CXXIX.
C. Jos. Von Hefele (Bishop of Rottenburg): Die Päpste und Kaiser in den trubsten Zeiten der Kirche,
in his "Beiträge zur Kirchengesch," etc., vol. I. 27–278. Also his Conciliengeschichte, IV.
571–660 (2d ed.).
Milman: Lat. Chr. bk. 5, chs. 11–14. Giesebrecht: Gesch. der deutschen Kaiserzeit., I. 343 sqq.
Gfrörer: III. 3, 1133–1275. Baxmann: II. 58–125. Gregorovius, Vol. III. Von Reumont, Vol.
II.
The tenth century is the darkest of the dark ages, a century of ignorance and superstition, anarchy
and crime in church and state. The first half of the eleventh century was little better. The dissolution
of the world seemed to be nigh at hand. Serious men looked forward to the terrible day of judgment
at the close of the first millennium of the Christian era, neglected their secular business, and inscribed
donations of estates and other gifts to the church with the significant phrase "appropinquante mundi
termino."
The demoralization began in the state, reached the church, and culminated in the papacy.
The reorganization of society took the same course. No church or sect in Christendom ever sank
so low as the Latin church in the tenth century. The papacy, like the old Roman god Janus, has two
faces, one Christian, one antichristian, one friendly and benevolent, one fiendish and malignant.
In this period, it shows almost exclusively the antichristian face. It is an unpleasant task for the
historian to expose these shocking corruptions; but it is necessary for the understanding of the
reformation that followed. The truth must be told, with its wholesome lessons of humiliation and
encouragement. No system of doctrine or government can save the church from decline and decay.
Human nature is capable of satanic wickedness. Antichrist steals into the very temple of God, and
often wears the priestly robes. But God is never absent from history, and His overruling wisdom
always at last brings good out of evil. Even in this midnight darkness the stars were shining in the
firmament; and even then, as in the days of Elijah the prophet, there were thousands who had not
bowed their knees to Baal. Some convents resisted the tide of corruption, and were quiet retreats
for nobles and kings disgusted with the vanities of the world, and anxious to prepare themselves
for the day of account. Nilus, Romuald, and the monks of Cluny raised their mighty voice against
wickedness in high places. Synods likewise deplored the immorality of the clergy and laity, and
made efforts to restore discipline. The chaotic confusion of the tenth century, like the migration of
nations in the fifth, proved to be only the throe and anguish of a new birth. It was followed first by
the restoration of the empire under Otho the Great, and then by the reform of the papacy under
Hildebrand.
rick simeone
(Rick Simeone)
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