Constantinus Tiberius

Constantinus Tiberius antipope, did not await the death of Paul I in order to obtain the papal power. He was elected in 767 by the influence of his brother Toto, or Teuto, duke of Nepi, who installed him by force of arms. Constantinus was a layman. He assumed the deaconry, disdained the priesthood, and was ordained bishop by George, bishop of Preneste, and afterwards consecrated pope by the same George, assisted by Eustrasius, bishop of Albano, and by Citonatus, bishop of Oporto. A little later, another intruder, Philip, priest of St. Vito, and cardinal-priest, proclaimed himself. He excited a sedition in, which Toto was killed. Constantinus took refuge with his other brother Passicus, in the oratorio of St. Caesarius. He was pursued, dragged from his retreat, and imprisoned in the monastery of Cellaova, where he was cruelly treated. Stephen IV was named and acknowledged sovereign pontiff, August 5, 768. In April 769, a council was convoked in St. John of Lateran, which decided that one could not be raised to the papacy who had not been ordained deacon and priest. The election of Constantinus was thus annulled, and he was condemned to pass the remainder of his days in a monastery. During his usurpation he had created eight bishops, eight priests, and four deacons, who could not be confirmed. The letters of the antipope were published by the Jesuit Gretser (Ingolstadt, 1613), and by Duchesne, in his Collection des Historiens de France. See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.