Page "Pope Stephen III" Paragraph 3

At this point, supporters of the pope-elect Stephen began to brutally attack key members of Constantine ’ s regime, including Constantine himself, who was hounded through the streets of Rome, with heavy weights attached to his feet.

Bishop Theodore, Constantine ’ s Vice-dominus was blinded and had his tongue cut out, while Constantine ’ s brother, Passivus, was also blinded.

After Constantine was officially dethroned on August 6, Stephen was consecrated pope on the following day, August 7, 768.

Retributions continued even after the consecration of Stephen ; the town of Alatri revolted in support of Constantine, and after its capture, the key members of the revolt were blinded and had their tongues ripped out.

Then on the orders of the papal Chartularius, Gratiosus, Constantine was removed from his monastic cell, blinded, and left on the streets of Rome with specific instructions that no-one should aid him.

Finally, on a charge of conspiring to kill Christophorus and many other nobles, with the intent of handing over the city to the Lombards, the priest Waldipert, who was the prime mover in the elevation of the Antipope Philip, was arrested, blinded, and soon died of his wounds.