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Pope Boniface VII

Also known as: Pope Boniface VII; primary name: Boniface VII; other name: Franco
Details: cleric/religious official; ruler; Italian; Male
Other dates: -985
Biography: Pope, or antipope, succeeded Benedict VI (q.v.); born and died Rome. He ordered the murder of his predecessor and was installed by the Crescenti family, but was later expelled and replaced by Benedict VII (q.v.). He fled to Constantinople but returned shortly after Benedict's successor John XIV (q.v.) came to power; he subsequently reclaimed the papacy, having probably murdered John. Benedict himself was later murdered by a Roman mob.