Jean Mincius, (????-1074)

Antipope with the name of Benedict X, of 1058 to 1059.

Jean Mincius would be from the area of Tusculum. Bishop of Velletri, he was elected pope on August 03,1057 at the death of Stephen X at the instigation of the count de Tusculum..

Opposed to this election, however, some cardinals considered it irregular, but had to flee Rome for their own safety. Hildebrand⁽¹⁾, advised of events happening in the Curia, also decided to oppose this election by obtaining first the support of Godefroy⁽²⁾, Duke of Lorraine, and then the support of the Empress Agnes and the Emperor Henry IV.

Hildebrand, with the support of these powerful lords, offered to recognize as Pope Gerhard de Bourgogne, Bishop of Florence. He was recognized and elected by the Cardinals opposed to Benedict X who were gathered in Sienne in December 1058. Gerhard accepted this election and took then the name of Pope Nicolas II.

Nicolas II heading for Rome, convened a synod in Sutri where he had Benedict X deposed. As Nicolas II and his partisans advanced, Benedict X was forced to flee Rome and to take refuge in the fortress of Galeria.

Nicolas II allied himself with with the Normans of Robert Guiscard to fight Benedict X and his partisans. In the fall of 1059, Nicolas II's Normans dealt Benedict X's army a severe defeat, forcing him to abandon the Papacy.

Benedict X was allowed to stay free and to retire in a family property, but Hildebrand emprisoned him in a convent in the beginning of 1060, where he died in obscurity around 1074.

Previous Pope : Stephen X – following Pope : Nicolas II

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1. "Histoire des Papes - de Saint Pierre à Jean Paul II"
   

   Editions Tallandier - Historia 2000

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2. "New Advent - The Catholic Encyclopedia"