The pope who put a corpse on trial

In January 897, Pope Stephen VI put his predecessor, Pope Formosus, on trial months after his death.

The decaying corpse was exhumed, dressed in papal robes, and propped up on a throne to face judgment.

Formosus was accused of perjury, illegal ascension to the papacy, and unlawfully holding multiple bishoprics.

The corpse was found guilty, stripped of vestments, had three fingers cut off, and was thrown into the Tiber.

The trial was a desperate political move to discredit Formosus and signal loyalty to rival Roman factions.