Saeculum Obscurum: Dead Popes and Holy Wars in the Dark Age of the Catholic Church

[@QBCPerdition]

I like when the episodes on this channel don't end with the usual cheery send-off and a reminder to like and subscribe. Keeps the somber tone this channel is going for.

[@IntotheShadows]

One of the things I aim for with this channel is that it should be inappropriate to sign off with "DONT FORGET TO SUB SUB SUB!!!"

[@jakeh8780]

Still did though

[@xXScissorHandsXx]

@@jakeh8780 obviously didn't actually watch this video...

[@drusik]

Unfortunately the KZbin algorithm in a way requires content creators to say "like and subscribe"

[@PaulDixon25]

@@IntotheShadows Unlike most videos out there, yours deserve a like. Doesn't need to be said every time.

[@MegaKat]

As a Catholic, I knew this story, but it's always bizarrely hilarious everytime I hear it. Also, at one point, we had 3 popes and Pope Wars. If you get into that later, that's awesome, too, as I'm only at the beginning of the video.

[@rattyratstuff7125]

do you know any rich folk willing to fund my newly thought of game "the pope wars"

[@jaketurner7321]

I’m sorry for your loss of intelligence by being a catholic.

[@MegaKat]

@@jaketurner7321 I'm sorry for your poor grammar and for you, because clearly you were taught to hate and belittle people based simply on their faith.

[@mbathroom1]

@@jaketurner7321 indeed

[@terryenby2304]

@@jaketurner7321 why would you suggest a lack of intelligence because someone wants to feel part of a collective? It’s a natural human instinct, as is religious belief (although that varies in strength) and more to the point, insulting people for their religion is just plain rude and considered a hate crime.

[@eddmoody3316]

this mans hustle on the amount of channels he has is insane

[@LaurieAnnCurry]

Truth

[@ignitionfrn2223]

1:25 - Chapter 1 - Chaos in the vatican 3:35 - Chapter 2 - Formosus 5:20 - Chapter 3 - The assassination of Pope John VIII 6:20 - Chapter 4 - The return of formosus 8:10 - Chapter 5 - Pope formosus 9:10 - Chapter 6 - Battle for the roman crown 13:15 - Chapter 7 - Raising the dead 16:15 - Chapter 8 - The final twist - Chapter 9 - - Chapter 10 -

[@dudepool7530]

"And smashed the popes head in" Well, someone needed a dislike button, allegedly.

[@pygmybean8050]

Someone ALLEGEDLY smashed the popes skull ALLEGEDLY... 🤫

[@dudepool7530]

@@pygmybean8050 my grandmother almost shot one with a slingshot for shits and giggles, allegedly, but no really she almost did.

[@MissCharChar13]

@@dudepool7530 it’s all shits & giggles… until someone giggles and shits…

[@dudepool7530]

@@MissCharChar13 it's a vicious cycle, cuz it becomes shits and giggles again.

[@dudepool7530]

@@MissCharChar13 especially if my grandmothers sling shot is involved. That woman still amazes me with that thing!

[@mho...]

When is the releasedate for "Game of Popes"?!

[@nevermind-he8ni]

"The Borgias, Faith and Fear" has that covered.

[@tomlxyz]

August 29th

[@seanmcguire7974]

This brings, "I wish I could bring him back to life so I could kill him again", a whole new meaning.

[@TheQuietReader1920]

I think it was a Today I Found Out video which mentioned the Cadaver Synod that inspired my MA essay on the subject, so I'm pleased Simon is covering it again in more detail--wonderful video, as ever!

[@IntotheShadows]

Thanks :).

[@sarahcoleman3125]

That's what we mean when we call people Influencers. ❤

[@TheQuietReader1920]

@@sarahcoleman3125 absolutely! And the best kind :)

[@linabasilisk1955]

I first heard of this case on Ask A Mortician. I'm glad to have another look at this...special occasion. Thankfully, it also seems that this was quite rare, if not unique.

[@tolecmaviclae7349]

The church where this took place is one of the most amazing places I have been. I have been to some interesting places but the sculptures and the entire place just enchanted me.

[@winterrye3022]

Do one on Russia's False Dimitri I. I don't know if it's a better one for into the shadows, TIFO, Biographics or Casual criminalist, but I do know I need to hear that story in Simon's voice.

[@IntotheShadows]

Cool, I'll look into this. Thanks!

[@decodyg484]

Does this guy take a day off?

[@RejectedInch]

Fun fact: we actually have 2 popes. The one that resigned in 2013 ( but still alive and the papal role is for life) and the one currently in active charge.

[@paramounttechnicalconsulti5219]

Actually, by accepted defintion, the "Dark Ages" in western Europe span from the fall Roman Emperor, Romulus Augustus, in 476 until the crowning of Charlemagne in 800. It was originally called "Dark" for the lack of written records, not due to some strange reverse evolution that made everyone dumb

[@TitusCastiglione1503]

Honestly even calling the time period “dark” is not really accepted by most historians that I know of

[@jonathancampbell5231]

The Dark Ages referred to the entire span of the Middle Ages and was a result of Italian Renaissance writers like Petrarch lamenting the lost glory days or "light" of ancient Rome compared to the "dark" days that came afterwards and patting themselves on the back for being supposedly morally and intellectually superior than their predecessors by rediscovering Roman writings and ideas. The term "dark age" was coined by an Italian cardinal in the 17th century to refer specifically to the period of the 10th to 11th centuries which he saw as particularly nasty, and was later adopted by Enlightenment thinkers to refer to the entirely of the Middle Ages as they saw themselves as intellectually superior and "enlightened" compared to all who came before. It was only later on that other scholars fought back and pointed out that the "dark ages" weren't all that dark and the pagan Romans weren't actually more advanced than the medieval Christians. It's around this time that the idea that the dark ages referring only to the early middle ages appears due to their lack of records and that's because some people wanted to keep the term alive, not because that's what it always meant.

[@paramounttechnicalconsulti5219]

@@jonathancampbell5231 Fair enough! Maion point being that human intellect (and evolution) does not do sharp 360's every 2 or three years. Pick and "age" and it was full of people exactly like us trying to get on gettiong on with the means available.

[@shehannanayakkara4162]

Also Saeculum obscurum started in 904 with the election of Pope Sergius III (and lasted until 964 with the murder of Pope John XII while he was engaging in adultery). This video is more like the direct precursor to the Saeculum obscurum.

[@TimJBenham]

The lack of written records might be related to a lack of people who could write.

[@pooryorick831]

The fact that Simon gets through this without confusing names and dates is remarkable. Great storytelling! 👍🏻🙂✌🏻

[@C_hoffmanni]

Please cover the story of the VOC Batavia where a psychopath led a coup on a Dutch treasure ship with the delusion of making his own country, leading to the entire crew getting stranded on an island off the coast of Australia where two factions formed and fought each other. It ends with the mutineers losing and then being marooned in mainland west Australia and there’s accounts of future travelers coming across aboriginals in the area with blonde hair, blue eyes and light skin.

[@ShaunCheah]

It also resulted in the oldest surviving manmade structure on the continent. The survivors built a fort to defend themselves from the hostile breakaway faction, and parts of it still remain today.

[@kimashitawa8113]

Fun fact, those two mutineers were the first people ever that got marooned to Australia. But yeah the story of the Batavia is pretty grim one. A lot of backstabbing, senseless violence, rape and even a bit of cannibalism from what i've heard.

[@essexginge9167]

The level of nonces those walls have seen is nothing short of amazingly bad

[@justicar5]

Well it does seem that the Church (all denominations) are basically pedophile rings with robes and tax exemption.

[@TheQuickSilver101]

Wow, this is a crazy story that I had never heard before. Also there was an insane amount of chaos around that time. Thanks for this!

[@keiththorpe9571]

I swear I would hear the name 'Formosus' and kept hearing 'Pope Phimosis'... A pope named after a foreskin condition that reportedly afflicted King Louis XVI...Now that's comedy.

[@RealElongatedMuskrat]

I tried to resist googling, but my spirit is weak and curiosity got the better of me

[@N00bcrunch3r]

Formosus is Latin for "The Beautiful".

[@TheHansjo29]

Holy crap! I always pass at this church everyday going to work and I had no idea that this happened there.

[@Loki_Morningstar666]

I absolutely love this channel. Of course anything Simon does is gold, but this channel is particularly awesome.

[@angelogarcia2189]

this is one of my favorite stories of the church.

[@pamelamays4186]

This story had been featured on The Infographics Channel. It wasn't as in depth as your spin on this subject. Well done!

[@NathanCassidy721]

It doesn’t take much to out-research the Infographics Channel. One example that comes to mind is they said that the Iron Maiden was a medieval torture device. A device that didn’t really exist.

[@codfan2057]

Simon has been hitting all of the stories Sam has already covered, so I know the jist of it.

[@IvanVoras]

Nice discovery, this channel! Very well told, and the video length is spot on! Might even span a couple of minutes longer, in fact.

[@AcaliahWolfsong]

Some of his channels have hours long videos lol. Fact Boi puts in work recording, has amazing writers, and an awesome team editing all his vids!

[@Scott15s]

Should check out Sam O'Nella's video on this. It's like 5 minutes but hilarious. This is definitely more historically accurate tho. Love both the vids ❤❤❤

[@sizanogreen9900]

Immediatly though of good old sam when seeing this title:) Oh, how do I hope he comes back one day...

[@lastnameever3990]

"See this hat! This means im pope. P-o-o-p pope!"

[@ayakotami3318]

Oh, I remember hearing about this. This was actually bizarrely hilarious and had me scratching my head. 😂 Who knew that a person dead for months would be exhumed for trial against him.

[@neopagan1976]

Yay! A brand new video upload. Thank you, Simon.

[@COBALTCOVERT]

Another good one. Honestly an in depth on thr Trail of Tears would be interesting to see

[@chypearce8457]

I literally watched a historical video on 'what LEAD Rome to their downfall". Hit: lead made the Roman's insane over several generations.

[@ladyfluffsy1700]

Long time fan! I appreciate your videos.

[@ravertaking6343]

As a former Catholic I don't ever remember learning about this in catechism class. Probably for good reason.

[@harrietharlow9929]

Might have put the kids off Catholicism.

[@lucapaoloni2075]

Funny. At my catholic school we have learned about the three pope period

[@LaurieAnnCurry]

Seriously, If my ex had would have told me he wanted to transition to sex reassignment surgery and wanted a divorce in Simon’s voice I’d of said “yes ma’am” and paid for his surgery. Oh the magic that is Simon Whistlers voice.❤️❤️❤️

[@ernestbywater411]

The whole period concerned just shows how much the higher church positions were more involved in power and control of people on earth than they were in spiritual matters. It also makes me wonder to what extent that may have changed as the push for power over people has been a mainstay of the senior church leaders ever since the claim for a single leader of the whole church was made.

[@jeffdroog]

The catholic church is only focused on power and money,so I wouldn't think much has changed since then.They just murder their popes a lot less nowadays,as it's highly frowned upon,and will require at least saying the WHOLE rosary twice in order to to be forgiven by God,which we all know is a major pain to do.It turns out that you can indeed talk about God and spread his word for free.You don't even need a big fancy building,or Lamborghini to talk about God and have people listen to you.You don't even need to ask for money,because having someone else believe in God and his positive teachings,and having them go forth and be kind to others as well,is its own reward in itself...But apparently you actually have buy a ticket into heaven,and they're SUPER expensive I guess lol

[@dsnodgrass4843]

All religions are about earthly power, and damned little else. The faith of people without earthly power, tho'; that's a powerful thing.

[@ernestbywater411]

@@dsnodgrass4843 I disagree with you to a certain point as I believe the religion is about what the people believe but the religious leadership is all about earthly power over others and gaining wealth for the religious leaders.

[@dsnodgrass4843]

@@ernestbywater411 Religion is about what people without power (are directed to) believe; faith is the act of believing, which is non-exclusive and has a power of its own, which is why earthly power is so desperate to "direct" it.

[@codywilber6885]

Sooo when does the HBO show start?

[@CYCLONE4499]

The walls of the lateran palace has seen things that would make jeebus blush 😳

[@xessenceofinsanityx]

Woah, hold up there. The period between 1100-1400 has never been considered part of the 'Dark Ages'. 19th and 20th Century scholars referred to the 5th-10/11th Centuries as the Dark Ages, and 11-15th centuries as Medieval. The first mention of a 'dark' period post-Rome was actually mentioned in the 1300s. Love your videos, but couldn't ignore that sorry 🤷‍♀️

[@zin153]

Thank God for the Reformation!

[@sabokiTV]

Wish these episodes ended with a cheery send off and reminded me to like and subscribe

[@jonofthehill]

"...revenge need not suffer death." -Simon

[@IANF126]

when you said the complex political quagmire my brain automatically finished with "the middle east" lmao

[@user-is6gn2lw5t]

OK. That was weird. I've had enough internet for tonight.

[@TSmith-yy3cc]

This is remarkably similar to ETA's trial

[@IntotheShadows]

Lol trial.

[@jimcappa6815]

😂😂😅😅😆😆

[@paulmeredith2037]

This will make a good tv show

[@lmihalis23]

I really hope there is in the works about the Byzantium priests and their power struggles

[@brendanbishop4254]

Actually crazy how much history was avoided at catholic high school growing up…

[@Romartus]

Would be a great TV series. Netflix? Amazon??

[@thcusandsunny]

Puts the tale of Pedro and Inês into perspective.

[@Hammerhead547]

The satirical comedy show History Bites did an episode about this story back in the late 90's.

[@charleswarden291]

Not really a fan of religion in general, but Simon nailed this one like a list of complaints to a door...

[@rosiehawtrey]

I love that the reason why protestantism exists is because someone needed to fix the church roof ⛪😂😂😂😂

[@haldorasgirson9463]

Simon. Your intellect is impressive. Do you have staff?

[@Stop.Honchotime]

If the Queen's name was Algatrude no one would dare mess with England. Elizabeth is a strong name but Algatrude - she's gonna rain hell down upon you.

[@najibzubir7699]

.... I really thought it is about Emperor of Mankind kind of situation...

[@jonrolfson1686]

Sounds like the plot for play which ought to be staged with some frequency. Wonder what Shakespeare would have done with this story, had he not been a crypto Papist. You might find the Siamese King Taksin (reigned 1767 - 1782) an interesting subject. Taksin re-established Siam after the 1767 sack of Ayutthaya, and reigned fron the city of Thonburi before the 1782 establishment of the current Chakri Dynasty’s capital, modern Bangkok.

[@shehannanayakkara4162]

Great video but this isn't really the Saeculum obscurum, that started with Sergius III in 904. This video is more like the direct precursor to the Saeculum obscurum.

[@Pcgamingfixes]

Pope wars just makes me imagine Palpatine with a big white hat

[@stuartchadwick184]

They did the same with Oliver Cromwell

[@rich7787]

Sam O’Nella also covered this, shorter and more hilariously though

[@ScribeHolder]

I knew this story existed but not the full story

[@Fsilone]

I learned the abridged version of this from Sam O'Nella.

[@barrydysert2974]

Yes indeed the modern meaning of Cadaver is a dead human body that is specifically designated for medical dissection. Very few dead people can properly be described as cadavers. The more you know!:-) 🖖

[@oneminuteofmyday]

I got kicked out of my mother-in-law’s kitchen once when she asked me to ask my father-in-law to come carve a turkey and I asked him to come cut up the cadaver.

[@barrydysert2974]

@@oneminuteofmyday 😂

[@A7Xbaby]

You should do it again it's about Turkey time😂

[@boristhedespot3473]

Oliver Cromwell was put on trial after his death. This was very common in the middle ages . Simon should do one on others

[@evanblake5252]

This is certainly a wild one.

[@angryatheist]

Simon you should do an episode on the R kelly crimes ( casual criminalist) and the culture of sexual depravity in Hollywood and the music industry( on into the shadows ) both would be interesting

[@colin3424]

This would be really cool except Simon would probably die mysteriously two weeks after the video uploads from a "congenital heart defect" with two bullets in the back, arsenic poisoning, and his brake lines cut.

[@angryatheist]

@@colin3424 lol true

[@brendakrieger7000]

Thanks🧡

[@amandam8609]

Anybody else thinking of Shane’s version of this on Ruining History

[@victoriandino]

Me

[@The_Lone_Wolf]

Thank you for using AD and BC, these two terms are more easier to understand, and thank you for this interesting story

[@foragegrasspause2gotoloop961]

Anno domini is more simple than common era? Not that either is particularly complicated...

[@5777Whatup]

@@foragegrasspause2gotoloop961 an astrophysicist would say yes because it’s the calendar you use, which was a hell of a mess to fix… as we were having winter in June.

[@foragegrasspause2gotoloop961]

@@5777Whatup I'm sorry I don't understand what you mean Astrophysics and calendars? Winter in June - - you talking about the hemispheres and months in a calendar system that, far as I know, is only there to split up years in a strictly arbitrary manner based on a mythological figure?

[@foragegrasspause2gotoloop961]

@@5777Whatup regardless, the context here is simply referring to years. AD or CE is an arbitrary decision

[@TaniaNairchan]

They are literally the same, but without religious overtones. Thus, better.

[@TheEvilCommenter]

Good video 👍

[@lordalexandermalcolmguy6971]

Great video loved the exit

[@ComaDave]

"Just when I thought I was out, THEY DIG ME BACK UP"

[@duanemansel5704]

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?

[@andrewharper1609]

Synod pronun sin-odd fyi not that I think you'd be overly bothered. We get them in York (the general synod) every so often which is how I know.

[@albussr1589]

The Describtion killed me. Oh, Whistleboy, let´s all pray to the bearded Dude who caused the Mess that is called Church that you will never change

[@markriosn7589]

Saeculum Obscurum just sounds like something out of 40k

[@Mikey__R]

How many channels does Simon Whistler have?!

[@ZechsMerquise195]

Overly Sarcastic Productions has several more videos about Pope shenanigans. Very funny.

[@MickeyMallone.]

I imagine something like this: "What say you, perjurer, heretic, immoral imposter?! What say you?!" *arm falls off* "I knew it!"

[@Reina.Nijinsky]

Simon/Callum: en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Era not using Anno Domini anymore guys!🤦🏻‍♀️ sheesh

[@mepoindexter]

Can't wait until Francis's cadaver synod.

[@donaldwert7137]

Strip out the historical references and the first minute or so sounds like American politics over the last year or so. Allegedly.

[@andersbjrnsen7203]

Things are bad on your side of the Atlantic, but maybe not quite so bad....yet..

[@shawnnewell4541]

Well at least my parents didn't name me after Pope Adrian III. My middle name is Adrianne. I was named for Pope Adrian I. He died on December 25th, closest to my birth date of December 24th. He seemed a good guy.

[@jeffdroog]

WHOA! You gotta write a whole novel about this.Thats some insane personal info you've got there.Its weird your parents chose to spell it differently though,but thag makes for a better twist ending I suppose.Im sure this could be spun very easily into its own cinematic universe.Keep up the good work!

[@shawnnewell4541]

@@jeffdroog I'm a female. My dad wanted a boy named after himself. Didn't quite work out as he wanted. His first lesson in parenthood you might say.

[@empressoftheknownuniverse]

This was well researched and presented, of course, but a little-known Canadian show called History Bites did an hilarous take on this story. 😄

[@rattyratstuff7125]

worlds best gnome. this gal

[@empressoftheknownuniverse]

@@rattyratstuff7125 Thank you. His name is Henry Mankini.

[@callmedavid9696]

I proclaim thee Simon 'The Bald' Whistler

[@isaacray8530]

Wow. Dark indeed.

[@joeennis2571]

not an easy story to tell , but they were exciting times , how the world has not changed

[@Ryan-gz9xg]

This honestly as good as game of thrones

[@johnbaran4428]

Guys, Qxir yt has the best bit about this time

[@andromedatonks60]

✨the Middle Ages were magic!✨

[@timothygreer188]

JFC what show don't you narrate?

[@TravisJRaasch]

Notification Squad!!! :D

[@haydennunya4477]

Simon my guy how meany channels you got like damn. Glad to see another but damn!!!! Gotta be like 8 or 9

[@TheEpicWolf64]

Imagine their reaction if the dead guy responded.

[@Original50]

Everybody! Visit St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Just do it. It's not a God thing. It's about what man can create.

[@jeffdroog]

Buy me a plane ticket first! I'm on the wrong side of the ocean.

[@elainemoreland3908]

No it is evil. Babylon religion. Only the Roman empire which will produce the beast and the false prophet. Wonder which unholy pope will be the false prophet.

[@jerrybuckland9660]

The modoc war was some silly and nasty uneccesary shit

[@truemoayyed8482]

Hello Simon

[@kerrynicholls6683]

Has he ever replied?

[@DARisse-ji1yw]

Yup. Italians.

[@minagica]

Pretty sure I've read about that corpse before

[@barbararoca6847]

Well, I've read about the folks that dug up Wycliffe's bones, so he could be burned for translating the Bible into English. I must say that would be my preferred method of being burned. The 8th and 9th century certainly had its share of creative politics. Sadly, creative politics is still a way of life costing many people their lives and any way to decently lead their lives. While history has some very interesting quirks and ironies, it is also a sad business.

[@nastynate956]

hi Simon

[@kerrynicholls6683]

Has he ever replied?

[@nastynate956]

not yet :(

[@johnnysocket76]

I love when people say that politics is boring lmao this is game of thrones without as much incest and sex scenes and its real!