FORMO'SUS, Bishop of l'orto, was raised to the see of Rome in 891, after the death of Stephen V. He had acquired a reputation for learning and piety, but being in opposition to John VIII. in the matter of the election of a new emperor, that pope had deposed him in 878; but Martin II., John 'e successor, honourably re-inatated him in his see. Ilk conduct after his exaltation to the papal see was both firm and moderates, as is shown by his letters relative to the schism of Photius, as well as by those which he wrote to Eudee the competitor of Charles the Simple, and to the bishops of Gaul, exhorting them not to disturb Charles iu the possession of the crown. In one instance however he has been accused of tergiversation. In February 892 he crowned Lambert, son of Guido, as colleague to his father in the kingdom of Italy; but soon after, in consequence of disputes between Guido and the Roman see, Formosus wrote to Arnulph, king of Germany, inviting him to come to Italy and assume the crown. Arnulph came to Italy,
and was crowned at Rome by Formosus in the beginning of the year 895, after the death of Guido. The history of that period, and of the various competitors to the crown of Italy, is extremely confused. Formosan died in April 895, and was succeeded by 13ouiface VL, who, dying a few days after, was succeeded by Stephen. VI.,.by some styled the VII., who, having taken the part of Lambert against Arnulph, instituted proceedings in a council agaioet the memory of Formosus, and had his body disinterred. Romanus however, who succeeded Stephen, iu a council held at Rome in 893 rescued the character of Fortnosus from this stigma, bad his body honourably buried again, and declared the acts of his pontificate to be legal and valid.