Benedictus I., pope

Benedictus I., pope, called by the Greeks Bonosus (Evagr. Sc. H. E. v. 16), son of Boniface, a Roman, was elected successor to John III. on June 3, 574 (Jaffé, Regesta Pont.; the dates given by Baronius are erroneous; cf. Clinton, F. R. ii. 543, on the causes of discrepancy in the pontifical chronology). During his pontificate Italy was harassed by the invasion of the Lombards. Though they never actually penetrated into the city of Rome, they ravaged the suburbs, violated the cemeteries, and persecuted the Christians. Misery and famine ensued, and Rome was only relieved eventually by a corn fleet from Egypt, dispatched at the pope's request by the emperor Justin. Benedict died in July 578, and was buried on the last day of that month in St Peter's. He was succeeded by Pelagius II. (Anastas. Liber. Pontif.; cf. Paul. Diac. de Gestis Long. ii. 10, ap. Muratori, i.). According to Ciacconius (Vitae Pont. Rom.) his memory was eulogized by Gregory the Great. His restoration of certain lands to the Abbot of San Marco at Spoleto rests on the same authority (Greg. Op. ii. 950, ed. Bened.); see generally Baronius, sub annis 575-577; Labbe, Concil. vol. v.).

[T.R.B.]