Editing Pope Stephen III (section)

===Lateran Council===
With Constantine's supporters largely dealt with, Stephen wrote to the [[Franks|Frankish]] king, [[Pepin the Short]], notifying him of his election, and asking for a number of bishops to participate in a council he was seeking to hold to discuss the recent confusion. As Pepin had died, it was [[Charlemagne]] and [[Carloman I]] who agreed to send twelve bishops to participate in the [[Lateran Council (769)|Lateran Council of 769]].<ref>Mann, pgs. 372–373</ref> The council saw the final condemnation of Constantine II, who was beaten and had his tongue removed before being returned to his monastic cell. All clerical appointments made by Constantine were declared null and void. It also set about establishing strict rules for papal elections, thereby restricting the involvement of the nobility in subsequent elections. Finally, the rulings of the [[Council of Hieria]] were rejected, and the practice of devotion to [[icon]]s was confirmed (see [[iconoclasm]]).<ref>Mann, pgs. 373–375</ref>

In 770, Stephen was asked to confirm the election of Michael, a [[Laity|layperson]], as [[archbishop of Ravenna]]. In fact, Michael, in league with the Lombard king [[Desiderius]] and the duke of [[Rimini]], had imprisoned [[Leo I, Archbishop of Ravenna|Leo I]], who had been elected first.<ref>DeCormenin, pg. 199</ref>  Stephen refused to confirm Michael's election; citing the conventions of the Lateran council, he sent letters and envoys to Michael, demanding that he stand down.<ref name="m376">Mann, pg. 376</ref> Michael refused, and the stand-off continued for over a year, until the arrival of the Frankish ambassador in Ravenna along with the [[papal legate]]s encouraged Michael's opponents to overthrow him, and send him to Rome in chains. Leo followed soon after, when Stephen consecrated him as archbishop.<ref name="m376"/>