Gregory V dies suddenly and mysteriously, and…
999 CE
Gregory V dies suddenly and mysteriously, and not without suspicion of foul play, on February 18, 999.
His successor, at the arrangement of Otto, is Gerbert, appointed by Gregory V as Archbishop of Ravenna in 998, who takes the name of regnal name of Sylvester II.
The use of this papal name is not casual: it recalls the first pope of this name, Sylvester I (314–335), who had allegedly created the "Christian empire" together with Constantine the Great (324–337).
Otto therefore is to be seen as the ideal successor to Constantine in the task of reunifying the Roman Empire.
Soon after he is elected Pope, Sylvester confirms the position of his former rival Arnulf as archbishop of Rheims.
As Pope, he takes energetic measures against the widespread practices of simony and concubinage among the clergy, maintaining that only capable men of spotless lives should be allowed to become bishops.
Gerbert had studied in Barcelona in his youth, and is known to have requested mathematical treatises concerning the astrolabe from Lupitus of Barcelona after he had returned to France.
A prolific scholar, teacher, Pope Sylvester will introduce Arabic knowledge of arithmetic, mathematics, and astronomy to Europe, reintroducing the abacus and armillary sphere, which had been lost to Europe since the end of the Greco-Roman era.
He will use his position to spread knowledge of Arabic numerals in Europe.