John XIII
John · 965 – 972
Exiled by the Roman aristocracy, then restored by Otto I, he strengthened the alliance between the papacy and the new German empire.
John was a Roman bishop and the son of a woman named Theodora. He became pope in 965 with Otto I's support. Within months, the Roman nobility revolted and exiled him. Otto marched into Italy, restored John to the papal throne, and punished the rebels severely. For the rest of his pontificate, John worked closely with Otto, crowning his son Otto II as co-emperor in 967. He also established the archdiocese of Magdeburg to support missionary work among the Slavs.
Exile and Return
John XIII learned quickly that being pope in tenth-century Rome meant nothing without military backing. The Romans threw him out; Otto brought him back. It was a lesson in power, and John adapted. He spent the rest of his pontificate working with Otto rather than against him, and the Church expanded its reach into German and Slavic territories as a result.