Can anyone give me an overview of the Tusculan Papacy and Saeculum obscurum.

by MuffinTopBop

While reading about the history of Italy around the 1000s I noticed references to the Counts of Tusculum and how that family wielded extreme influence and power for about ~100 years. Can somebody give me an overview of this family and how they came to power, in particular how the women in the family had influence?

MuffinTopBop

I understand ~100 years is a long time period so if I need to ask more specific questions to clarify let me know.