Pope Damasus II
While the envoys were away, the former pope Benedict IX reasserted himself and with the assistance of the disaffected Margrave Boniface III of Tuscany once again assumed the papacy.
Pope Gregory VI's archdeacon, Peter, took matters into his own hands, summoned a Roman synod, and sent representatives to the Emperor Henry III, begging for aid to restore order.
[14] Henry III in 1046 had displayed his imperial power by intervening against Pope Gregory VI and installing Clement II,[15] The Roman plebs, acknowledging that power, sent an embassy to the emperor, which found Henry, who had been engaged in an indecisive campaign in Frisia, in his palace at Pöhlde in Saxony shortly before Christmas Day of 1047.
[17] The envoys, following their instructions, suggested as a suitable candidate Halinard, Archbishop of Lyon, who was a fluent speaker of Italian, and was well respected in Rome.
After careful consideration, Wazo declared that the most appropriate candidate for the vacant papal throne was the man the emperor had removed – Gregory VI.
Henry instead appointed Poppo, bishop of Brixen in Tyrol, a proud man of distinguished learning[19] who had taken part in the Synod of Sutri.
A former pope, Benedict IX, residing at Tusculum, had been watching the situation in Rome intently, and had decided that now was his opportunity to reclaim the papal throne.
After Benedict had used his extensive supply of gold to gain a large number of followers, the margrave's influence enabled him to occupy the papal throne for over eight months, from 8 November 1047 until 17 July 1048.
In addition, a deed was drawn up on 25 January 1048 that granted Poppo an important forest in the valley of Puster, some 75 km east of Brixen.
[23] Having done this, and unable to leave Germany in case there might be an uprising during his absence, Henry III directed Margrave Boniface of Tuscany to conduct the pope-designate to Rome in person, and in the emperor's name to arrange for the enthroning of the new pope.
[24] Given his role in the usurpation by Benedict IX, and his attitude towards Henry III, it is unsurprising that Boniface at first refused, advising Poppo when he entered Tuscany, "I cannot go to Rome with you.
[27] After Benedict IX's removal, Poppo entered the city, as the Romans, with demonstrations of joy, welcomed the bishop who would be pope.
Rumors circulated that he had been poisoned,[28] allegedly by a man named Gerhard Brazutus, a friend of Benedict IX and a follower of Hildebrand.
[32] Pope Damasus II was buried in San Lorenzo fuori le Mura, according to Onuphrio Panvinio, the 16th century "scriptor" in the Vatican Library.
[33] The sarcophagus in which Damasus' body had been placed, and which was moved at least twice,[34] was large and "adorned with reliefs representing a vineyard, with cupids as the wine gatherers.
