Page 84 - All About History - Issue 70-18

NOCRACY Papal States, 890-950

A lthough the lewd in mind may

think they have
landed on
their feet, you would be wise
instead.
on
stay
toes
your
to
During the Pornocracy – or the Age Follow orders
of Harlots, as it is also known – you y >,9 8,=49: With the majority of popes
are just as likely to find yourself earning their position only
stabbed in the back as you are to at the whims of the ruling nobles in
get caught up in a bacchanalia. Rome, not doing what you are told
The women of the aristocratic after can end in disfigurement or,
House of Theophylact, particularly even worse, death.
Theodora and her daughter Marozia,
pull the strings in the Papal States, =:80 y Bring your bow
deciding for themselves who will be Hunting boar is a favourite
pope, as well as brutally dispatching pastime of the upper
those they don’t like. classes. Have your horse ready and
Although many historians will waiting when you leave mass.
blame these ‘harlots’ for the period’s
horrors, this is merely reflective Blind your rivals
of the distrust and sexism often One of the popular ways to
directed toward powerful women. see off a rival during this
Others prefer to refer to this nadir time is to blind them. This way, they
in the history of the Papal States as no longer pose a threat, but remain
the saeculum obscurum (Latin for alive to suffer!
dark age) as neither man, woman
nor beast comes out free of sin in FIG.01 Learn your proverbs
the eyes of God. While no-one will expect
you to walk the walk

WHERE TO STAY during this period, boning up on the
Bible will ensure you can at least
For glamour, gluttony and gold there is no more exciting city than Rome. It is the epicentre of talk the talk.
politics and culture, and home to the highs and lows of society. There is no better place to forge
your career and no better place to see it smashed to a thousand piecess.
y o u r c a r e e r a n d n o b e t t e r p l a c e t o s e e i t s m a s h e d t o a t h o u s a n d p i e c e Look to the pope for
Spend your evenings on the Isola Tiberina, an island in the middle of the River Tiber, to guidance
experience the pleasures and dangers of the night. Hang With their constant
around with the right people long enough and you too gambling, orgies and drinking, it’s
could see yourself taking the role of pope. safe to say you would be better off
teaching yourself the word of God.

Be afraid to fight
When the Saracen raiders
invade, you don’t want to
be caught between the sheets.

Take the job of pope
It may sound glamorous,
but most who accept the
post meet a suspicious end.

Visit Castel Sant’Angelo
This is a beautiful papal
residency, but also serves as
a prison for foes of the ruling classes.
FIG.02

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