Image: Wikimedia Commons

Formosus

Pope

PersonhumanQ170499

Also known as Pope Formosus

Born: 816
1
Sources
1.Stated in Enciclopedia dei Papi
View statement on Wikidata ↗
Died: April 4, 896
1
Sources
1.Stated in Enciclopedia dei Papi
View statement on Wikidata ↗
Birthplace: Rome
1
Sources
1.Stated in Enciclopedia dei Papi
View statement on Wikidata ↗
Place of death: Rome
Citizenship: Papal States
Occupation: diplomat
, Catholic priest
, writer
1
Sources
1.Stated in Mirabile: Digital Archives for Medieval Culture
View statement on Wikidata ↗
Positions held: Pope(0891–0896)
, bishop of Porto-Santa Rufina(since 0846)
Languages spoken, written or signed: Latin
1
Sources
1.Stated in Mirabile: Digital Archives for Medieval Culture
View statement on Wikidata ↗

Overview

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia · Read full article · Text CC BY-SA 4.0

Pope Formosus was the pope and ruler of the Papal States from 6 October 891 until his death on 4 April 896. His reign as Pope was troubled, marked by interventions in power struggles over the Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Kingdom of West Francia, and the Holy Roman Empire. Because he sided with Arnulf of Carinthia against Lambert of Spoleto, Formosus's remains were exhumed and put on trial in the Cadaver Synod. Several of his immediate successors were primarily preoccupied by the controversial legacy of his pontificate, noting his desertion from the diocese in Portus to pursue personal ambition in Rome. Formosus was seen as failing to uphold the ideals of the Church, which is why Stephen VI judged him for moving into an elevated role while holding another. Due to these controversies, no other pope has ever taken on the papal name Formosus.

Overview

Life at a glance

Positions, education, employers and awards over time

Spans and dates from Wikidata qualifiers (start/end/point in time). Hover for details; click to open.

All data

88 statements · 19% with external sources · numbers in brackets are citations

Sex or gender: male
Religion or worldview: Catholic Church
1
Sources
1.Stated in Catholic-Hierarchy.orgRetrieved 2020-10-23
View statement on Wikidata ↗
Work location: Rome
Papal States
Cause of death: poisoning
Place of burial: St. Peter's Basilica
Given name: Formosus
Copyright status as a creator: copyrights on works have expired applies to jurisdiction: worldwide
Name in native language: Formosus PP.
Significant event: Cadaver Synod

On other databases

65 identifiers linking Formosus across the web's reference databases

Data quality

statements

19%

externally sourced

Source last edited September 12, 2026. AIDB refreshes this page daily.

Suggest a fact or correction

Links

Use this data

curl https://aidb.si/api/v1/entities/Q170499

API docs, limits & keys

Cite this page

AIDB. (2026). Formosus (Q170499). Retrieved from https://aidb.si/e/formosus-Q170499