John the Deacon of the Lateran

For other people named John the Deacon, see John the Deacon (disambiguation).

John, known as canon of the Lateran or deacon of the Lateran (fl. 12th century), was a medieval Roman deacon, canon and religious chronicler. John lived in the second half of the 12th century, and served as a deacon and canon of the Basilica of St. John Lateran. He compiled a work on this papal basilica, and dedicated it, in the preface, to Pope Alexander III (c. 1100/1105 – 1181), thereby indicating the date of its composition. It was obviously a secondary object of the author in composing this work to support the canons of the Lateran in their dispute for precedence with the canons of St. Peter's Basilica.

References

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: 
• Mabillon, ed. Iter Italicum, II, 560-76; P.L., CXCIV, 1543–50

• Debra J. Birch, Pilgrimage to Rome in the Middle Ages: Continuity and Change, (Boydell Press, 1998), 111.