The Bad Popes cover art

The Bad Popes

 Preview

Get 30 days of Premium Plus free

£8.99/month after 30-day free trial. Cancel monthly.
Try for £0.00
More purchase options
Buy Now for £12.99

Buy Now for £12.99

About this listen

A dramatic account of some of the most notorious figures of medieval and Renaissance history who ruled from the Eternal City. It is sure to grip fans of John Julius Norwich, Tom Holland, and Peter Ackroyd.

The papal tiara has been worn by a number of infamous men through the course of its history.

Some have been accused of murder, many have had mistresses, while others sold positions in the church to their followers or gave land and wealth to their illegitimate children.

E. R. Chamberlin examines the lives of eight of the most controversial popes to have ruled over the Holy See, from the reign of Pope Stephen VI, who had his predecessor exhumed, put on trial and thrown in the Tiber, in the ninth century, through to Pope Clement VII, the second Medici pope, whose failed international policy led to the Sack of Rome in 1527.

The Bad Popes explains how during these six centuries the papal monarchy rose to its greatest heights, as popes attempted to assert not only their spiritual authority but also their temporal power, only for it to come crashing down.

©1969 The Estate of E.R. Chamberlin (P)2020 Tantor Christianity Europe Renaissance Middle Ages Italy Rome Crusade Roman Catholicism
All stars
Most relevant
Corruption and vice galore, whilst astonishing as the events of early Christian Rome are startling, I’m not sure I’ll ever return the facts. And there are many of them, well delivered and precise. Don’t expect a Netflix style account, but by today’s standards, any one of these Popes would scandalise the world.

A dry read but fascinating all the same

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Having read John Julius, it is instructive to get the political and cultural background in depth, although I had expected more of the venalities it was edifying to realise how ultimately unnecessary they seemed in context. I had hoped for a bit of fun but actually come away perhaps a little wiser. Great book, well read.

Serious stuff, not too many laughs! Great book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A pleasure to listen to . Incredible stories and insights described at the perfect pace . Excellent from start to finish

A brilliantly interesting and fascinating book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Incredible research and insight into some fascinating characters. I really enjoyed this. No wonder there was a Reformation. Excellent narration as always for Patterson.

Absolutely fascinating

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
excellently written, engaging and balanced. really good performance. this took me by surprise and I d recommend it to anyone interested in the papacy in history

a gem

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews