# Anastasius Bibliothecarius

> antipope and chief archivist of the Catholic church

**Wikidata**: [Q125984](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q125984)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anastasius_Bibliothecarius)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/anastasius-bibliothecarius

## Summary
Anastasius Bibliothecarius was an antipope and chief archivist of the Catholic Church, as well as a librarian, translator, writer, and Catholic priest. A citizen of the Papal States, he is historically recognized for his ecclesiastical leadership and his role in managing and preserving the church's information and literary heritage during the 9th century.

## Biography
- **Born:** Date and place not provided in source material
- **Nationality:** Papal States
- **Education:** Not provided in source material
- **Known for:** Serving as antipope and chief archivist of the Catholic Church
- **Employer(s):** Catholic Church, Papal States
- **Field(s):** Librarianship, Archival Science, Translation, Writing, Theology

## Contributions
- **Ecclesiastical Leadership:** Served as an antipope, a claimant to the papacy outside the canonical succession, during a period of complex religious authority in the Papal States.
- **Archival Management:** Functioned as the chief archivist of the Catholic Church, where he assessed, collected, organized, preserved, and provided access to information determined to have long-term value.
- **Librarianship:** Worked professionally as a librarian, managing library resources within the ecclesiastical framework.
- **Literary Translation:** Contributed as a translator, converting written text from one language to another to facilitate the transmission of knowledge.
- **Authorship:** Produced written works as a writer, communicating ideas and creating literary documents relevant to the church and his era.

## FAQs
**What roles did Anastasius Bibliothecarius hold in the Catholic Church?**
He held multiple significant positions including antipope, chief archivist, Catholic priest, librarian, translator, and writer.

**When did Anastasius Bibliothecarius live and die?**
While his birth date is not provided in the source material, records indicate he died in the year 879.

**What was Anastasius Bibliothecarius's citizenship?**
He was a citizen of the Papal States, the territories in the Apennine Peninsula under the sovereign direct rule of the pope between 756 and 1870.

**Is Anastasius Bibliothecarius known by any other names?**
Yes, he is known by the alias Anastasius III.

**What historical event is associated with Anastasius Bibliothecarius?**
He is associated with a historical conflict depicted in artwork where he tears the papal mantle from the shoulders of Benedict III.

## Why They Matter
Anastasius Bibliothecarius matters as a multifaceted figure in the history of the Catholic Church and the Papal States, bridging the gap between religious authority and the preservation of knowledge. As a chief archivist and librarian, he played a critical role in the maintenance and organization of information that the Church deemed to have long-term value, contributing to the preservation of classical and ecclesiastical texts during the Middle Ages. His simultaneous roles as antipope and priest highlight the complex political and spiritual dynamics of the papacy in the 9th century, illustrating the era's struggles over legitimate authority. His work as a translator and writer further underscores his contribution to the intellectual and literary life of the Papal States, serving as a conduit for communication and ideas within the theocratic state.

## Notable For
- Serving as an antipope during the 9th century.
- Holding the position of chief archivist of the Catholic Church.
- Working as a librarian, translator, and writer.
- Being a citizen of the Papal States.
- Dying in the year 879.
- Being historically depicted in artwork tearing the papal mantle from Benedict III.
- Using the alias Anastasius III.

## Body

### Ecclesiastical Roles and Authority
Anastasius Bibliothecarius held significant authority within the structure of the Catholic Church and the Papal States. As a Catholic priest, he was ordained to perform sacred duties, but his influence extended beyond standard clerical functions. He is notably identified as an antipope, a title indicating that he claimed the office of bishop of Rome—the papacy—in opposition to the canonically recognized pope. This position placed him at the center of the complex political and spiritual struggles characteristic of the Papal States during his lifetime. Historical records, including visual depictions such as the work by Vinzenz Katzler titled "Cardinal Anastasius tears the papal mantle from Benedict III's shoulders," suggest that his claim to authority involved direct and dramatic conflicts with other claimants, specifically Pope Benedict III.

### Archival and Library Responsibilities
In addition to his spiritual and political roles, Anastasius served as the chief archivist of the Catholic Church. In this capacity, he functioned as a professional responsible for the assessment, collection, organization, preservation, and maintenance of control over information. His work ensured that records determined to have long-term value were kept accessible for the administration of the Church. This role was crucial in the context of the Papal States, which served as the temporal domain of the Catholic Church's papal authority for over a millennium. As a librarian, he also worked professionally within a library setting, likely utilizing training in librarianship to manage the collections of texts and knowledge that the Church accumulated. His efforts contributed to the Papal States' legacy as a center for the preservation and transmission of classical texts and knowledge.

### Literary and Scholarly Work
Anastasius Bibliothecarius was actively engaged in the literary and intellectual circles of his time. He is classified as a writer, a person who used written words to communicate ideas and produce literary works. Furthermore, he served as a translator, a role that required him to translate written text from one language to another. Given that the official language of the Papal States was Latin, his work as a translator likely involved rendering texts into or out of Latin, facilitating the exchange of information across different cultures and linguistic groups. These scholarly activities supported the educational and administrative functions of the Church, reinforcing the Papal States' role as a patron of knowledge and learning.

### Context within the Papal States
Anastasius lived and worked within the geopolitical entity known as the Papal States. This confessional state and sovereign state existed from 754 CE until 1870, encompassing territories mostly in the Apennine Peninsula under the direct sovereign rule of the Pope. As a citizen of this state, Anastasius operated within a unique model of governance that combined religious and temporal authority. The Papal States were characterized by their use of Latin as an official language and their sophisticated diplomatic and administrative systems. Anastasius's career as a chief archivist and antipope unfolded against the backdrop of this state's evolution, which included the development of legal systems based on canon law and the management of territories that included major cities such as Rome. His death in 879 occurred during the Carolingian era, a formative period for the Papal States' temporal power.

### Historical Record and Identifiers
The historical footprint of Anastasius Bibliothecarius is documented through numerous identifiers and records that reflect his enduring presence in historical databases. He is known by the alias Anastasius III, which distinguishes him from other historical figures. His life and career are cataloged across various academic and archival systems, including the Library of Congress and the Virtual International Authority File (VIAF). These records confirm his multifaceted occupations as a human, librarian, archivist, translator, writer, Catholic priest, and antipope. The structured data associated with him highlights the intersection of his religious duties and his scholarly contributions, painting a picture of a historical figure who navigated the highest levels of church leadership while simultaneously dedicating himself to the preservation and creation of knowledge.

## References

1. LIBRIS. 2012
2. Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani. 1961
3. Mirabile: Digital Archives for Medieval Culture
4. International Standard Name Identifier
5. Virtual International Authority File
6. Integrated Authority File
7. Catalogue of the Library of the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas
8. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
9. CERL Thesaurus
10. Treccani's Enciclopedia on line
11. Enciclopedia Treccani
12. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
13. CollectieGelderland
14. HMML Authority File
15. Clavis Historicorum Antiquitatis Posterioris