Etymology
Sixtus is a name with dual possible origins. Most directly, it is the Latin form of the Greek name Ξύστος (Xystos), meaning "scraped, polished" – a reference to smooth or refined stone or marble. However, because the first pope to bear this name (Sixtus I) was the sixth successor of Saint Peter, it has long been associated with Latin sextus, meaning "sixth." Over time Sixtus became the standard papal name, while the earlier Greek-derived form Sisto (Italian) and Sixto (Spanish) evolved in the Romance languages.
Historical and Papal Significance
Five popes have used Sixtus. Pope Sixtus I (c. 115–125) is traditionally counted as the sixth bishop of Rome. Pope Sixtus II (257–258) was martyred under Emperor Valerian and commemorated in the Catholic and Orthodox liturgies. The best known is Pope Sixtus IV (1471–1484), a Renaissance patron who commissioned the Sistine Chapel and founded the Vatican Library. Pope Sixtus V (1585–1590) reorganized the Roman Curia and built the aqueduct named Acqua Felice.
Notable Bearers
- Sixtus of Reims (d. c. 300), early bishop of Reims in Gaul.
- Sixtus of Siena (1520–1569), a Jewish convert who became a Dominican theologian and wrote Bibliotheca Sancta.
- Prince Sixtus of Bourbon-Parma (1886–1934), a member of the deposed Italian royal family who served as an Austrian officer in World War I and later became a medievalist historian.
- Prince Sixtus Henry of Bourbon-Parma (born 1940), a Carlist pretender to the Spanish throne.
- Edmund Sixtus Muskie (1914–1996), U.S. Senator from Maine, Secretary of State under President Carter, and noted environmental advocate.
- Sixtus Leung Chung-hang (born 1986), Hong Kong pro-democracy advocate and regional councillor.
Cultural References
The name appears in the Sixtus Affair, a diplomatic episode during World War I in which Prince Sixtus of Bourbon-Parma attempted to broker a separate peace between Austria-Hungary and France.
Key Facts
Sources: Wikipedia — Sixtus