# Pope Martin I

_7th‑century pope and martyr, bishop of Rome (649–655), exiled for opposing Monothelitism, venerated as a saint in Catholic and Orthodox Churches_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/pope-martin-i
Last updated: 2026-11-03

> Pope Martin I, also known as Martin the Confessor, was the bishop of Rome from 21 July 649 to 653 or 654. He had served as Pope Theodore I's ambassador to Constantinople, and was elected to succeed him as pope. He was the only pope when Constantinople controlled the papacy whose election had not awaited imperial mandate. For his strong opposition to Monothelitism, Pope Martin I was arrested by Emperor Constans II, carried off to Constantinople, and ultimately banished to Cherson. He is considered a saint by both the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church, as well as the last pope recognised as a martyr.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 21 June 598 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q172390#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Pian di San Martino ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q172390#P19))
- **Died:** 19 September 655 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q172390#P570))
- **Place of death:** Chersonesus ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q172390#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Byzantine Empire ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q172390#P27))
- **Occupation:** politician; diplomat; Western priest; writer ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q172390#P106))
- **Positions held:** Pope (24 July 649 – 16 September 655); cardinal (since 649); papal apocrisiarius to Constantinople ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q172390#P39))

## Questions

**When was Pope Martin I born?**  
Pope Martin I was born on 21 June 598 in Pian di San Martino.

**What positions has Pope Martin I held?**  
Positions held by Pope Martin I include: Pope (0649–0655); cardinal (since 649); papal apocrisiarius to Constantinople.

## Related

- [Pope Telesphorus](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-telesphorus)
- [Pope Gregory XIII](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-gregory-xiii)
- [Pope Clement VII](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-clement-vii)
- [Pope Pius I](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-pius-i)
- [Pope Boniface I](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-boniface-i)
- [Pope Agapetus I](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-agapetus-i)
- [Pope Hormisdas](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-hormisdas)
- [Pope Innocent VIII](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-innocent-viii)
- [Pope Alexander VIII](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-alexander-viii)
- [Pope Innocent X](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-innocent-x)
- [Pope Vigilius](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-vigilius)
- [Pope Sabinian](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-sabinian)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Pope Martin I](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Martin_I) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q172390](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q172390) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: 14 Chiesa di Santa Maria della Consolazione (Todi), el papa Martí I, de Carlo Laurenti.jpg by Enric (CC BY-SA 4.0)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:14_Chiesa_di_Santa_Maria_della_Consolazione_(Todi),_el_papa_Mart%C3%AD_I,_de_Carlo_Laurenti.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Pope Martin I, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: 14 Chiesa di Santa Maria della Consolazione (Todi), el papa Martí I, de Carlo Laurenti.jpg — Enric, CC BY-SA 4.0.

## Cite this page

"Pope Martin I". DigiNepal. Last updated 3 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/pope-martin-i. Retrieved 4 November 2026.