Sylvester III

antipope, was born in Rome, May 1,1044; and while known as John, bishop of Sabina, he was set on the pontifical throne through the influence of the consul Ptolemaeus, in place of the juvenile Benedict IX, who had been expelled for his vices. Sylvester reigned but three months, when the counts of Frascati took up arms to replace Benedict. The latter, seeing he was despised by the clergy, sold the tiara to John Gratian, whom he crowned as Gregory VI. The emperor Henry III held, in December, 1046, a council at Sutri when the three popes were all deposed, and Clement II was elected. SEE POPE.