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==Life==
Nicholas was born about the year 800, the son of the Defensor Theodore. Having received education at the Lateran, Nicholas entered the service of the church at an early age. He was made a [[subdeacon]] by [[Sergius II of Rome|Pope Sergius II]] and [[ordination|ordained]] a [[deacon]] by [[Leo IV of Rome|Leo IV]]. After the death of Pope [[[Benedict III of Rome|Benedict III]] on [[April 7]], 858, Nicholas was elected pope on [[April 24]] while Holy Roman Emperor Louis II was present in Rome and exerted his influence upon the election. The emperor was also present for Nicholas' [[consecration]] and [[enthronement]] in St. Peter's [[Basilica]].
Nicholas became pope in a western Europe that was loosing its integrity, approaching anarchy, and in an environment in which even Christian morality was despised. In this world Pope Nicholas appeared as a conscientious representative of the primacy in the Church, filled with a high conception of his mission for the vindication of Christian morality and the defense of God's law against powerful [[bishop]]s. Against erring hierarchs, Pope Nicholas took firm action to forced their recognition of the prerogatives of the papal [[see]], using [[excommunication]] when necessary.