This volume provides a comprehensive account of the lives and papacies of the popes during the early middle ages. It covers the period from 993-1048, and covers the reigns of several important popes, including Benedict VIII and Gregory VI. The book is based on extensive research and provides a wealth of information on the religious, political, and social history of the period. It is essential reading for anyone interested in the history of the papacy or the middle ages. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.