Editing Monothelitism (section)

==Conflict with Rome==
This state of schism remained for the next few years. The death of Heraclius in 641 had thrown the political situation in Constantinople into chaos, and his young grandson [[Constans II (Byzantine Empire)|Constans II]] (641–668) succeeded him. Meanwhile, in Africa, a monk, [[Maximus the Confessor]], carried on a furious campaign against monothelitism, and in 646, he convinced the African councils to draw up a manifesto against the doctrine, which they forwarded to the new pope, [[Pope Theodore I|Theodore I]] (642–649), who, in turn, wrote to [[Patriarch Paul II of Constantinople]] to outline the heretical nature of monothelitism. Paul, another devoted monothelite, replied in a letter directing the pope to adhere to the doctrine of one will. Theodore, in turn, [[excommunicated]] the patriarch in 649 and declared Paul a heretic.{{sfn|Bury|1889|p=292}}

Constans II was only 17 and was indifferent to the religious debates convulsing the Church.{{sfn|Bury|1889|p=293}} However, he was concerned about the effect that the debate had on the [[Roman Empire]] and so he issued an imperial [[edict]], the [[Type of Constans]]. The edict made it illegal to discuss in any manner Christ possessing either one or two wills or one or two energies. He declared that the whole controversy was to be forgotten: "the scheme which existed before the strife arose shall be maintained, as it would have been if no such disputation had arisen".{{sfn|Bury|1889|p=293}} However, he would soon discover that the controversy would not die down.

In Rome and the West, opposition to monothelitism was reaching fever pitch, and the ''Type'' of Constans did nothing to defuse the situation but indeed made it worse by implying that either doctrine was as good as the other.{{sfn|Bury|1889|p=293}} Theodore planned the [[Lateran Council of 649]] to condemn the ''Ecthesis'' but died before he could convene it, which his successor, [[Pope Martin I]] (649–653), did. The council condemned the ''Ecthesis'' but also the ''Type''. After the synod, Pope Martin wrote to Constans to inform him of its conclusions and to require him to condemn both the monothelite doctrine and his own ''Type''. However, Constans was not the sort of emperor to take such a rebuke of imperial authority lightly.{{sfn|Norwich|1988|p=318}}

Even while the Lateran Synod was sitting, [[Olympius (exarch)|Olympius]] arrived as the new [[exarchate of Ravenna|exarch of Ravenna]], with instructions to ensure that the ''Type'' was followed in [[Italy]] and to use whatever means necessary to ensure that the Pope adhered to it.{{sfn|Bury|1889|p=294}} He was unable to complete his mission and soon died, but his successor, [[Theodore I Calliopas]], seized Pope Martin and abducted him to Constantinople, where he was imprisoned and tortured before he was condemned for breaking the imperial commands and banished before he died from his treatment at the hands of the emperor.{{sfn|Bury|1889|p=296}}

The emperor continued to persecute any who spoke out against monothelitism, including Maximus the Confessor and a number of his disciples. Maximus lost his tongue and his right hand in an effort to have him recant.{{sfn|Norwich|1988|p=319}} Nevertheless, his brutality had an effect, with the patriarchs, including the popes, remaining silent throughout the remainder of his reign.