Day 27: Benedict V
Benedict was pope for about a month in 964, between the death of John XII and the reinstallation of Leo VIII. The Roman nobles were no more interested in Leo as pope the second time as they were the first time, and they elected Benedict, who also enjoyed the support of the local militia.
Envoys sent to Holy Roman Emperor Otto I to tell him of the election were warned that Benedict should not be made pope. They returned to Rome with the message, but the locals decided to proceed, and Benedict's coronation went off as planned.
Otto, still wanting to get Leo on the throne, laid siege to Rome. While Benedict did what he could to boost morale among the defending troops, the city could not hold out in the face of ongoing famine. Benedict was brought in front of a synod (led by Leo) accusing him of breaking his oath to not elect a pope without the emperor's consent. Benedict acknowledged his guilt in return for his life.
Stripped down to the rank of deacon, Benedict wound up in Hamburg, under the care of the local archbishop. He died a little over a year later.
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