House of Tusculum facts for kids

The House of Tusculum was a very powerful noble family in a region of Italy called Lazio. They were known as the Counts of Tusculum from the 900s to the 1100s. Many important popes and even an antipope (someone who claimed to be pope but wasn't officially recognized) came from this family during the 1000s. The Counts of Tusculum were super important in the politics and religion of Rome for over a hundred years!

Family tree of lords and counts of Tusculum

Who Were the Counts of Tusculum?

This family was a big deal in Italy during the Middle Ages. They were called "counts," which was a title for important leaders who ruled over a specific area. Before they were officially "counts" around 1013, they were known as "lords." They had a lot of power and influence in the area around Rome.

Important Counts of Tusculum

Here are some of the key members of the Tusculum family who held the title of count or lord. The exact dates for some of the earlier leaders are a bit unclear.

• before 924 Theophylact I
• until 924 Alberic I, who was Theophylact's son-in-law.
• 924 – 954 Alberic II, son of Alberic I.
• before 1013 Gregory I, son of Alberic II.
• until 1012 Theophylact II, son of Gregory I.
• 1012 – 1024 Romanus, brother of Theophylact II and son of Gregory I.
• 1032 – 1045 Alberic III, brother of Theophylact II and Romanus.
• 1024 – 1032 Theophylact III, son of Alberic III.
• 1044 – 1058 Gregory II, son of Alberic III.
• 1058 – around 1108 Gregory III, son of Gregory II.
• around 1108 – 1126 Ptolemy I (also called Tolomeo I), son of Gregory III.
• 1126 – 1153 Ptolemy II (also called Tolomeo II), son of Ptolemy I.
• 1153 – around 1167 Jonathan, who ruled alongside Raino. He was the son of Ptolemy II.
• 1153 – 1179 Raino, brother of Jonathan, who also ruled with Jonathan.

Popes from the Tusculum Family

The House of Tusculum was so powerful that several members of their family became popes, the head of the Catholic Church. This shows just how much influence they had in Rome and beyond.

• John XI (931-935), son of Alberic I.
• John XII (955-964), son of Alberic II.
• Benedict VII (974-983), nephew of Alberic II.
• Benedict VIII (1012-1024), son of Gregory I. He was also a count.
• John XIX (1024-1032), son of Gregory I. He was also a count.
• Benedict IX (1032-1048), son of Alberic III. He was also a count.

Antipopes from the Family

Some members of the Tusculum family also became "antipopes." An antipope is someone who claims to be the pope but is not officially recognized by the Church as the true pope.

• Antipope Benedict X (1058-1059), son of Alberic III.
• Antipope Victor IV (1159-1164), whose birth name was Octavius.