BONIFACE, the name of several Popes. BONIFACE I, elected 418 by a party of the clergy and confirmed by the Emperor Honorius, who declared the anti-Pope Eulalius a usurper. Bon iface condemned Pelagianism and 'extended his authority by prudent measures. In a contest with the Emperor Theodosius, who endeavored to take from the bishops of Thessalonica their canonical jurisdiction over Illyria, he success fully vindicated the primacy of the Roman see. He died in 422. BONIFACE IL elected 530; d. 532. The death of his rival, the anti-Pope Dioscorus, a few days after his election, left him in quiet possession of the papal chair. During his pontificate Saint Benedict laid the foundations of monasticism in the west. Born FACE III, chosen 607, died nine months after his election. BorvirAcz IV reigned He consecrated the Pantheon to the Virgin and all the saints. BONIFACE V, a Neapolitan, was Pope 619-25. He confirmed the inviolability of the asylums and endeavored to diffuse Christianity among the English. BONIFACE VI, a Roman, elected 896, died a fortnight after. Bortmez VII, anti-Pope, elected 974, during the lifetime of Benedict VI, whose death he was suspected of having caused. Expelled from Rome, he returned on the death of Bene dict VII and found the chair occupied by John XIV, whom .he deposed and threw into prison, where he died. Boniface died 11 months after his return. BONIFACE VIII, Benedict Gaetano: b. Anagni of an ancient Catalonian . family; elected Pope 24 Dec. 1294. He studied juris prudence, was a canon at Paris and Lyons, advocate of the consistory and prothonotary of the Pope at Rome. After Martin IV had elevated him to the dignity of a cardinal (1281) he went as legate to Sicily and Portugal, and was entrusted with the charge of reconciling the King of Sicily with A!phonso of Aragon and Philip the Fair with Edward I of Eng land. After Ccelestine V had resigned the papal dignity at Naples, in 1294, at the insti gation of Boniface, the latter was chosen Pope. He met with opposition from the cardinals of the family Colonna, whose antagonism followed him throughout his entire pontificate. His in duction was magnificent. The Kings of Hun gary and Sicily held his bridle on his way to the Lateran and served him at table with their crowns on their heads. Boniface, however, was not successful in his first efforts for the increase of his power. He first opposed Albert
of Austria in his contest for the imperial title, but finally yielded and crowned him emperor. He was equally unsuccessful in his attempt to arbitrate between England and France. The bulls which he issued at this time against King Philip the Fair of France obtained no consid eration. This was also the case with the inter dict which he pronounced against him at the Council of Rome in 1302. Intimidating the clergy in France, Philip refused to yield to the Pope's decrees. The Pope was accused of duplicity, of simony, of usurpation, of heresy, of unchastity, and it was resolved to condemn and depose him at a general council at Lyons. Philip went still further; he sent Nogaret to Italy in order to seize his person and bring him to Lyons. Nogaret united himself for this pur pose with Sciarra Colonna, who with his whole family was bitterly inimical to Boniface. Boni face fled to Anagni, where Nogaret and Co lonna surprised him. Boniface acted with spirit. •Since I am betrayed,' said he, as Jesus Christ was betrayed, I will die at least as a Pope.' He assumed the pontifical robes and the tiara, took the keys and the cross in hand and seated himself in the papal chair. But the insignia of his holy office did not save him from seizure. Colonna even went so far as to use personal violence. Boniface remained in imprisonment for two days, when the Anag nese took up arms and delivered him. After this he departed to Rome, where he died, a month later, in 1303. BONIFACE IX, Pietro Tomacelli of Naples, succeeded Urban VI at Rome (1389) during the schism in the Church, while Clement VII resided in Avignon. He was distinguished for the beauty of his person and the elegance of his manners rather than for a profound knowledge of theology and canon law. Even the counsel of his experi enced cardinals could not save him from the commission of gross blunders. He made the annates a regular tax in 1392. Many abuses in the sale of benefices were indulged during his pontificate. A notable event in his reign was the suppression of the rebellion in Rome in favor of a republic. He supported the pre tensions of Ladislaus to the throne of Naples and during the greatest part of his pontificate was engaged in negotiations at Avignon with his rivals, Clement VII and Benedict XIIL He died 1404.