John X, known as Giovanni da Besate ('John of Besate') or Giovanni Vincenzo ('John Vincent'), was the archbishop of Ravenna from 983 until 998. John belonged to a prominent family from Besate in

Lombardy Lombardy ( it, Lombardia, Lombard language, Lombard: ''Lombardia'' or ''Lumbardia' '') is an administrative regions of Italy, region of Italy that covers ; it is located in the northern-central part of the country and has a population of about 10 ...

. His brothers were Rotofred, the father of Bishop Sigifred of Piacenza, and Otto, a patron of the monastery of San Savino in Piacenza. He was also related to Bishops John II of Lucca and Cunibert of Turin, and to the scholar Anselm of Besate. Prior to becoming archbishop, John was attached to the cathedral of Pavia. He also lived as a hermit for a time, following Romuald of Ravenna. John was elected to succeed Honestus as archbishop. Not long after his election, John travelled to

Aachen Aachen ( ; ; Aachen dialect: ''Oche'' ; French and traditional English: Aix-la-Chapelle; or ''Aquisgranum''; nl, Aken ; Polish: Akwizgran) is, with around 249,000 inhabitants, the 13th-largest city in North Rhine-Westphalia, and the 28th- ...

to jointly crown the young

Otto III Otto III (June/July 980 – 23 January 1002) was Holy Roman Emperor from 996 until his death in 1002. A member of the Ottonian dynasty, Otto III was the only son of the Emperor Otto II and his wife Theophanu. Otto III was crowned as King of ...

with Archbishop

Willigis of Mainz Willigis ( la, Willigisus; german: Willigis, Willegis; 940 – 23 February 1011 AD) was Archbishop of Mainz from 975 until his death as well as archchancellor of the Holy Roman Empire. Life Willigus was born in the Duchy of Saxony, possibly at S ...

on 25 December 983. Otto had been elected king of Germany and Italy at a diet in Verona in May, although his father, Emperor Otto II, retained the real power. John X's participation in the coronation, as a representative of Italy, is unique in the history of the Holy Roman Empire.. The primary source for John's presence in Aachen is Thietmar of Merseburg. In 988, Pope John XV detached the diocese of Piacenza from the archdiocese of Ravenna and made it an archdiocese for John Philagathos.

Pope Gregory V Pope Gregory V ( la, Gregorius V; c. 972 – 18 February 999), born Bruno of Carinthia, was the bishop of Rome and ruler of the Papal States from 3 May 996 to his death. A member of the Salian dynasty, he was made pope by his cousin, Emperor Ott ...

visited Ravenna in late 996 or early 997. He confirmed the archdiocese's privileges. John X then accompanied him to the synod he had convoked in Pavia for February. After Philagathos was elected

antipope An antipope ( la, antipapa) is a person who makes a significant and substantial attempt to occupy the position of Bishop of Rome and leader of the Catholic Church in opposition to the legitimately elected pope. At times between the 3rd and mid- ...

, Gregory nullified the elevation of Piacenza, returned it to the jurisdiction of Ravenna and declared it vacant on 7 July 997. John X's brother Sigifred was then elected bishop. John was granted further privileges by the pope. The last mention of John in the sources is dated March 998. His death is not recorded, but the archdiocese was vacant shortly afterwards, since Otto III engineered the election of Gerbert of Aurillac, who was invested with the see on 28 April 998.

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Bibliography

* * * * * * * * * {{S-end 10th-century births Archbishops of Ravenna