The Political Pretensions of Pope Nicholas I
Frederick A. Norwood
When Nicholas, the first of that name, was consecrated pope on twenty-fourth April, 858, no one—least all Emperor Louis II, by whose favor former deacon succeeded in obtaining election—could have foreseen series political and ecclesiastical upheavals, more like thunderbolts Jupiter than benedictions St. Peter, which new occupant Holy See won fame for himself, prestige papacy, dignity being called “the Great.” Few popes hold a dominating place history Catholic Church Nicholas I. In course his nine-year pontificate he so fully establishing pre-eminence late Carolingian world over both prince prelate found it possible to attain ends mere rumbling thunder, without using lightning-bolt any but most extreme cases. The threat excommunication often proved sufficient move mighty kings not-so-mighty emperors into path righteousness.
Church History