The empress Theodora killed, drowned or hanged no fewer than 100,000.
He made several journeys to Constantinople, where he enjoyed the favour of the empress Theodora.
His adherents rallied round the .vestiarius Theophylact, a powerful Roman functionary, and his wife Theodora.
Sergius is reputed to have been the lover of Theodora's daughter Marozia, by whom he is said to have had a son, who became pope as John XI.
The Anecdota (" Secret History") purports to be a supplement to the Histories, containing explanations and additions which the author could not insert in the latter work for fear of Justinian and Theodora.