John XI

pope

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Article History

Quick Facts

Born:: 910?, Rome [Italy]

Died:: December 935/January 936, Rome

See all related content

John XI (born 910?, Rome [Italy]—died December 935/January 936, Rome) was the pope from 931 to late 935 or early 936.

He was the son of Marozia (dominant lady of the Roman Crescentii family) perhaps by her reputed lover, Pope Sergius III. John was consecrated in February/March 931. He served his mother’s political ends until 932/933, when his half-brother Alberic II (Marozia’s son by Duke Alberic I of Spoleto), the self-proclaimed prince of Rome, deposed, arrested, and imprisoned her in Castel Sant’Angelo, Rome, and confined John to the Lateran. He remained a prisoner until his death.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.