Rome in the Ninth Century: A History in Art (British School at Rome Studies)

Intended as a sequel to Rome in the Eighth Century (Cambridge, 2020), this survey of the material culture of the city of Rome spans the period from the imperial coronation of Charlemagne in 800 to the nadir of the fortunes of the Roman Church a century later. The evidence of standing buildings, objects, historical documents, and archaeology is brought together to create an integrated picture of the political, economic, and cultural situation in the city over this period, one characterized initially by substantial wealth resulting in enormous patronage of art and architecture, but then followed by almost total impoverishment and collapse. John Osborne also attempts to correct the widespread notion that the Franco-papal alliance of the late eighth century led to a political and cultural break between Rome and the broader cultural world of the Christian eastern Mediterranean. Beautifully illustrated, this book is essential for everyone interested in medieval Rome. Cover 1 Half-title page 3 Series page 4 Title page 5 Copyright page 6 Contents 7 List of Figures 8 Acknowledgements 11 List of Abbreviations 12 List of Ninth-century Popes 13 1 Introduction 15 2 Rome in 800: The Pontificate of Leo III 24 3 Paschal I, the Church of Santa Prassede and the Question of a ‘Carolingian Renovatio’ in Rome 65 4 Paschal I: Other Projects 100 5 Eugenius II, Gregory IV and Sergius II 123 6 The Gathering Storm: The Pontificate of Pope Leo IV (847–55) 145 7 Benedict III, Nicholas I and Hadrian II, and the Continuing ‘Greek’ Presence in Rome 175 8 The Last Hurrah: John VIII (872–82) 210 9 ‘Not with a Bang but a Whimper’ 249 Afterword 277 Bibliography 281 Index 339