Theophylact I , Count of Tusculum Theophylact I ( before 864 – 924 / 925 ) was a medieval Count of Tusculum who was the effective ruler of Rome from around 905 through to his death in 924 . His descendants would control the Papacy for the next 100 years . Biography . Theophylact was the hereditary Count of Tusculum , a small hill town near the vicinity of Rome . He is mentioned for the first time in a document of 901 as " palatine iudex " of the Emperor Louis III . He remained in Rome , commanding a group of soldiers after the emperor ’ s return to Provence in 902 , and was prominent in the overthrow of Antipope Christopher in January 904 , whom he very likely ordered to be killed whilst in prison later that year . Theophylact formed an alliance with Alberic I of Spoleto , and with their combined backing , Pope Sergius III was elected in Christopher ’ s place . During his pontificate , Theophylact became Sergius ’ " sacri palatii vestararius " and " magister militum " , effectively seizing control of the city . He was also granted other honorific titles , such as " senator " , " glorissimus dux " , and " dominus urbis " . Sometime between the end of Sergius ’ pontificate and the start of John X ’ s , Theophylact was elected as the head of Rome , under the centuries old title of " Roman consul " by the city ' s nobility . As per the ancient office , this must have been for a year only , as in 915 , he is referred to as a senator only , although first among the listed nobility . In this capacity , Theophylact was able to dominate the papal electoral process , with all popes until his death in 925 chosen after he had hand - picked them . Theophylact ’ s rule of Rome was shared to a large degree with his wife Theodora , who was styled " senatrix " and " serenissima vestaratrix " of Rome . It was by her suggestion that the popes who followed Sergius III , Anastasius III and Lando , were chosen by her husband for the papal see . Then in 914 , she prevailed upon him to support her alleged lover as pope , having him installed as Pope John X ( although it has been suggested that John was in fact related to either Theodora or Theophylact ) . Theophylact worked closely with the able John X , who supported Theophylact ’ s overall objectives with regards to strengthening the imperial presence in Italy by supporting Emperor Berengar I of Italy . He fought alongside John X against the Saracens at the Battle of Garigliano in 915 , and was the pope ’ s principal political support until his death in either 924 or 925 . Theophylact had two daughters with Theodora : Marozia and Theodora . In the longer term , the heirs of Theophylact , the Tusculani , were the rivals of the Crescentii in controlling Rome , and placed several popes on the Chair of St Peter . Their eventual heirs were the Colonna . Reputation . It is now believed that Theodora ’ s influence over Theophylact was overstated by misogynistic contemporary chroniclers such as Liutprand of Cremona , who wished to exaggerate the corruption of the Roman and Papal court , as a counterpoint to rulers such as Alberic I of Spoleto , and the future emperor Otto I , whom Liutprand later served . The charges of adultery against Theodora , the use of the term “ harlot ” , and the presumption that she was using her “ feminine wiles ” to prostitute herself in order to influence her husband and appoint numerous lovers to important posts were used to tarnish the rule of Theophylact and his successors . Later historians , influenced by the moral tone of this critique , described the influence of Theodora and her descendants over the papacy as the “ Pornocracy ” or the “ Rule of the Harlots ” . Modern historians now instead use the term Saeculum obscurum to describe the period when the Papacy was under the direct control of the Roman nobility , in particular when it was under the domination of the family of Theophylact .