Pope Stephen IX

Pope Stephen IX was pope from about July 14, 939 until his death towards the end of October, 942).

During his pontificate he was subject to Alberic[?], Prince of the Romans, and did not effectively rule the Papal States. His period as pope was during a brief respite from the period when the church had been ruled by the the so-called "pornocracy[?]" of Theodora and Marozia, Roman noblewomen.