19th century popes

You've heard of the Pope, but have you heard of the woman who practically ruled the papacy in the 10th century?

Her name was Marozia, and her story is one of ambition, power, and intrigue that rivals any fictional drama.

The Papacy: A Game of Thrones in Real Life

Forget what you think you know about papal elections.

Back in the early Middle Ages, it wasn't cardinals in conclave who chose the next Pope.

Pope adultery

It was whoever held the most power in Rome, and more often than not, that power was in the hands of a powerful family.

Enter Marozia of Tusculum. She wasn't a queen or an empress, but she might as well have been. Her family, the Tusculums, held immense sway over the papacy, and Marozia, through a combination of cunning and circumstance, became a key player in this high-stakes game.

A Family Affair: From Mistress to Mother of a Pope

Marozia's story is tangled up with the papacy from the very beginning.

Her mother, Theodora, was a powerful figure who essentially handpicke