John XIII

Pope, who was made such A.D. 965, was of noble descent, and held, previous to his election, the bishopric of Narni. Provoking the wrath of the .Roman nobility on account of his severity, and being a favorite of the imperial party, they instigated a riot against him, and finally secured him as prisoner. The pope, however, effected his escape, and returned to the city about a year after when the emperor himself made his appearance, visiting the disorderly factions of the city with unmitigated severity. After the appointment of a prefect as representative of the imperial power, Otho the Great went to Ravenna; followed by the pope. Here a great and influential council was held, Easter, 967, and fresh guarantees offered to the pontifical chair on all the territory to which it had ever been entitled, including Ravenna. In return for these favors, John crowned the younger Otho (afterwards Otho II) as emperor, and associate king of Germany; also his wife Theophania, the daughter of the Greek emperor. He also evinced his gratefulness by establishing, at the emperor's expressed desire, a mission among the northeastern Slavonians. John died in 972. His few letters are found in Mansi, Concil. Suppl. 1, 1142, and Harduin, Concil. 6, pt. 1, 639. See Pagi, Brev. Pontif. R. 2, 233 sq.; Aschbach, Kirchen-Lex. 3, 520; Herzog, Real-Encyklop. 6, 757.