Editing Pope Gregory V (section)

==Policies==
Politically, Gregory acted consistently as the Emperor's representative in Rome and granted many exceptional privileges to monasteries within the [[Holy Roman Empire]]. One of his first acts was to crown [[Otto III]] emperor on 21 May 996.{{sfn|Collins|2001|p=191}} Together, they held a synod a few days after the coronation in which [[Arnulf, Archbishop of Reims]], was ordered to be restored to his [[See of Reims]],{{sfn|Glenn|2004|p=109}} and [[Gerbert of Aurillac]], was condemned as an intruder. King [[Robert II of France]], who had been insisting on his right to appoint bishops, was ultimately obliged to retract his claim, and also to put aside his wife, [[Bertha of Burgundy]], by the rigorous enforcement of a sentence of [[excommunication]] on the kingdom.{{sfn|Duckett|1988|p=130}}

Until the conclusion of the council of [[Pavia]] in 997, John XVI and Crescentius were in possession of Rome. The revolt of Crescentius II was decisively suppressed by Otto III, who marched upon Rome. John XVI fled, and Crescentius shut himself up in the [[Castel Sant'Angelo]]. The Emperor's troops pursued the antipope, captured him, cut off his nose and ears, cut out his tongue, blinded him, and publicly degraded him before Otto III and Gregory V.{{sfn|Levillain|2002|p=646}} When the much respected [[Nilus the Younger|St. Nilus of Rossano]] castigated both the Emperor and Pope for their cruelty, John XVI was sent to the [[monastery of Fulda]] in Germany, where he lived until {{circa|1001}}.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/72100| title = Agasso, Domenico. "San Nilo da Rossano", Santi e Beati, February 1, 2001}}</ref> The Castel Sant'Angelo was besieged, and when it was taken in 998, Crescentius was hanged upon its walls.