Pope John the Eighth and the Arabs
Fred E. Engreen
JOHN THE EIGHTH, Pope of Rome from 8792 to 882, is not generally included among the half dozen Roman bishops whose personality and policy have decided fate centuries. But his figure always interested historians. With John's death first murder a pope2 Papacy, position allot thrones kings emperors, tumbles down into darkest decades its history. Further, none popes between Gregory First Seventh do we possess larger number letters,3 these fragments correspondence give conception character achievements, unusually accurate for that time. Though in letters find numerous reports invasions Saracens attempt free Italy them, up now nobody has studied pontificate John Eighth point view struggle with Arabs. Only Amari, middle last century, started Saracenic problem, but he was chiefly Sicilian events, besides anticlerical attitude prevented him just appreciation Papacy.4 Without underrating existence or importance other problems connected time, will try understand this pope light relations To endeavor are led only by correspondence, also many contemporary sources. We find, instance, political events inserted ecclesiastical notes calendar Monte Cassino' Saracens. Written
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