Papal States (Medieval World)

The States of the Church, more commonly called the Papal States, is a theocratic elective monarchy established in 754. It is ruled over by the Pope, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, who is chosen by the senior clergymen residing in or around Rome.

History
The Papal States were established when Pepin the Short donated Lombard conquests to the papacy in 754 and again in 756. However, the Pope's prestige declined beginning in the mid-ninth century. By the year 900, the Pope had almost no actual temporal power.

Benedict IV
When Benedict IV ascended to the Papal throne, he had high hopes. Almost immediately, he invited the Patriarch of the East to Rome in order to improve relations. However, despite the Patriarch being enthusiastic to the idea, he never actually came to Rome until recently. His lack of response was a source of constant frustration for Benedict, and eventually, it led to illness. Benedict IV is currently bedridden, with his friend Sergio taking over most of the administrative work.

Rise of the Sergians
After Sergio took over, he became the unofficial leader of a new faction of Romans, the Sergians. Starting out as just a group of Sergio's followers, their numbers have swelled. Although they remain a minority, they are quickly growing.

The Sergians are based on strong anti-Byzantine and anti-Muslim beliefs. They demand an end to the meetings between the Pope and the Patriarch and the cessation of all relations with the Eastern Roman Empire. The Sergians also wish for the Muslim empires to be destroyed and replaced with Christian kingdoms.

Foreign Relations
The Papal States are allied with Italy and Venice and are on good terms with Alba. Despite wishing for good relations, the Papal States and Byzantines' relationship is steadily declining. They are formally against both major Caliphates, the Abbasids and the Umayyads.