Crescentius II

Early life and family

Crescentius II was presumably born in Latium around 950. He was the son of Crescentius I the Elder, who had led the revolt against Pope Benedict VI (r. 973–974) in June 974, and his wife Sergia. Although Crescentius II was a leading figure in the history of Rome during the late 10th century, his career became surrounded by legends and misunderstandings that caused considerable confusion among later historians. A passage in the chronicle of John the Deacon also led to confusion between Crescentius and his elder brother John I Crescentius. Several historians, including Ferdinand Gregorovius, incorrectly treated the two brothers as a single person. John I Crescentius was an important political figure in late 10th century Rome who became leader of the Crescentii family after Crescentius I retired from political life. He had supported the election of Pope John XV (r. 985–996) and subsequently served as patrician and ruler of Rome. The distinction between the brothers is made explicit in the Cronica Sancti Bartholomei in Insula, which describes Crescentius II as "Crescentio eiusdem patrici germano" (Crescentius, brother of the same patrician). The two brothers are also recorded together in a document dated to October 989, which names their parents, both of whom were already dead.