# Pope Stephen IX

_Pope_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/pope-stephen-ix
Last updated: 2026-11-03

> Pope Stephen IX (Latin: Stephanus, christened Frederick; c. 1020 – 29 March 1058) was the Bishop of Rome and ruler of the Papal States from 3 August 1057 to his death on 29 March 1058. He was a member of the Ardenne-Verdun family, who ruled the Duchy of Lorraine, and started his ecclesiastical career as a canon in Liège. He was invited to Rome by Pope Leo IX, who made him chancellor in 1051 and one of three legates to Constantinople in 1054. The failure of their negotiations with Patriarch Michael I Cerularius of Constantinople and Archbishop Leo of Ohrid led to the permanent East–West Schism. He continued as chancellor to the next pope, Victor II, and was elected abbot of the Benedictine monastery of Montecassino.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 1000 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q58568#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Duchy of Lorraine ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q58568#P19))
- **Died:** 29 March 1058 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q58568#P570))
- **Place of death:** Florence ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q58568#P20))
- **Occupation:** Catholic priest ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q58568#P106))
- **Education:** Abbey of Monte Cassino ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q58568#P69))
- **Positions held:** Pope (9 August 1057 – 29 March 1058); cardinal-deacon (14 June 1057 – 2 August 1057); abbot of Monte Cassino (1057–1058); cardinal-deacon (1049–1057) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q58568#P39))

## About

Stephen was elected to succeed Victor on 2 August 1057. As pope, Stephen retained the Montecassino abbacy, enforced the Gregorian Reform, and continued Leo IX's efforts to expel Normans from southern Italy. He died in Florence, apparently poisoned by Romans, while endeavouring to crown his brother Godfrey the Bearded as Holy Roman emperor. He remains the most recent pope to take the pontifical name "Stephen".

## Questions

**When was Pope Stephen IX born?**  
Pope Stephen IX was born on 1000 in Duchy of Lorraine.

**What positions has Pope Stephen IX held?**  
Positions held by Pope Stephen IX include: Pope (1057–1058); cardinal-deacon (1057–1057); abbot of Monte Cassino (1057–1058); cardinal-deacon (1049–1057).

**Where did Pope Stephen IX study?**  
Pope Stephen IX was educated at Abbey of Monte Cassino.

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- [Pope Paul II](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-paul-ii)
- [Pope Alexander IV](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-alexander-iv)
- [Pope Alexander VI](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-alexander-vi)
- [Pope Lando](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-lando)
- [Pope Urban V](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-urban-v)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Pope Stephen IX](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Stephen_IX) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q58568](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q58568) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Pope Stephen IX.jpg by Artaud de Montor (1772–1849) (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pope_Stephen_IX.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Pope Stephen IX, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Pope Stephen IX.jpg — Artaud de Montor (1772–1849), Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Pope Stephen IX". DigiNepal. Last updated 3 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/pope-stephen-ix. Retrieved 4 November 2026.