LEO IV.

leo iv., pope from 847 to 855, was a roman by birth, and succeeded sergius ii. his pontificate was chiefly distinguished by his efforts to repair the damage done by the saracens during the reign of his predecessor to various churches of the city, especially those of st peter and st paul. it was he who built and fortified the suburb on the right bank of the tiber still known as the civitas leonina. a frightful conflagration, which he is said to have extinguished by his prayers, is the subject of raphael's great work in the sala dell' incendio of the vatican. he held three synods, one of them (in 850) distinguished by the presence of louis ii., who was crowned emperor on the occasion, but none of them otherwise of importance. the history of the papal struggle with hincmar of reims, which began during leo's pontificate, belongs rather to that of nicholas i. benedict iii. was leo's immediate successor.