The Party Pope.. [curious.com]
On today's date in 964, Pope John XII—possibly the youngest (and most depraved) pope ever—breathed his last breath. He died doing what he loved most: adultery. I kid you not. John was born Octavianus of Spoleto in the Papal States of modern-day Italy around 930 C.E. He was the son of the secular ruler of Rome, Alberic II of Spoleto, who schemed to fast-track Octavianus to popedom. And Alberic II succeeded. In 955, Octavianus was pontificated as Pope John XII somewhere between the ages of 18 and 25. If that seems ludicrous, it's because it was. Pope John XII had only joined the clergy in pursuit of power. Once pope, he revealed his fondness of the ladies (including his own niece and his father's mistress). In fact, Pope John XII was so obsessed with the opposite sex, many accused him of turning the Vatican into a brothel. Among other things, he was accused of murder, kidnapping, torture, mutilation, and excessive drinking. He ordained a 10-year-old as a high-ranking bishop. He also allegedly attended Mass without taking communion, refused to make the sign of the cross, toasted to the devil with wine, and even called upon pagan gods like Jupiter for luck when gambling with dice. In other words, John was fully "devoted to hunting, hawking, gaming, and wine." Eventually, John's traitorous stratagem and rampant blasphemy angered the many Christians who took their faith seriously. One was John's former ally, Otto I, the German Holy Roman Emperor, who attacked Rome. John fled after losing in battle to Otto, but returned to Rome afterward. He vied for power against regent popes. John seemed back in power when he died in the act of adultery at age 27 or 34. Some say the woman's husband killed John; others, that John suffered a stroke. Either way, after an unruly decade, the Vatican's frat house days were finally over. One can only guess how long it took to get the wine stains out of the floor!

Image credit & copyright: HBO

More about this Curio:
AVClub: "The young Pope John XII died as he lived: Fornicating"