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Revision as of 11:54, 27 May 2006 by Švitrigaila (talk | contribs) (Zacharias --> Zachary)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Note: In sources prior to the 1960's, this pope is sometimes called Stephen III and Pope-elect Stephen is sometimes called Stephen II. See Pope-elect Stephen for detailed explanations.
| Pope Stephen II | |
|---|---|
| File:Vatican coa.png | |
| Installed | 752 |
| Term ended | April 27, 757 |
| Predecessor | Saint Zachary |
| Successor | Saint Paul I |
| Personal details | |
| Born | ??? ??? |
| Died | April 27, 757 |
Stephen II (d. April 27, 757) was a pope of the Roman Catholic Church (752 - 757).
The Lombards to the north of Rome had captured Ravenna, former capital of the Byzantine Empire exarchate, in 751, and began to put pressure on Rome. Relations were very strained in the mid-8th century between the papacy and the Byzantine emperors of the Isaurian dynasty, and the Byzantine Empire itself was beset by the Abbasid Caliphate and Bulgars; no help came from Constantinople. Stephen turned to Pippin the Younger, the recently crowned King of the Franks, and even traveled to Paris to plead for help in person. On January 6, 754, Stephen re-consecrated Pippin as king. In return, Pippin assumed the role of ordained protector of the Church and set his sights on the Lombards.
Pippin invaded Italy twice to settle the Lombard problem and delivered the territory between Rome and Ravenna to the papacy, but left the Lombard kings in possession of their kingdom.
Template:Pope Template:Popes (500-999)
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