Editing Pope Stephen IV (section)

==Rise==
The son of a [[Roman people|Roman]] noble called Marinus, Stephen belonged to the same family which also produced the Popes [[Pope Sergius II|Sergius II]] and [[Adrian II]].<ref>Mann, pgs. 111–112</ref> The ''[[Liber Censuum]]'' says that Stephen was from the Massimi branch of the [[Massimo family]], as was his successor, [[Pope Paschal I|Paschal I]].<ref name="g9n13">Goodson, 2010, p. 9 & n.13.</ref> At a young age he was raised at the [[Lateran Palace]] during the pontificate of [[Adrian I]], and it was under [[Pope Leo III|Leo III]] that he was [[ordained]] a [[subdeacon]] before he was subsequently made a [[deacon]]. Very popular among the Roman people,<ref name="Mann, pg. 112">Mann, pg. 112</ref> within ten days of Leo III's death, he was escorted to [[Saint Peter's Basilica]] and [[episcopal consecration|consecrated]] [[bishop of Rome]] on or about 22 June 816. It has been conjectured that his [[Papal selection before 1059|rapid election]] was an attempt by the Roman clergy to ensure that the Carolingian emperor [[Louis the Pious]] could not interfere.<ref name="Mann, pg. 112"/>