Patriarchate of Aquileia

Coordinates: 45°46′N 13°22′E / 45.767°N 13.367°E / 45.767; 13.367
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Patriarchate of Aquileia (Episcopal)
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Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta in Aquileia

The Patriarchate of Aquileia was an

Patriarchal State of Aquileia. A number of Aquileian church councils were held during the late antiquity and throughout the middle ages. Today, it is an titular archiepiscopal see.[1][2]

History

From bishopric to patriarchate

Ancient tradition asserts that the see was founded by

St. Hermagoras is said to have been its first bishop and to have died a martyr's death (c. 70). At the end of the third century (285) another martyr, St. Helarus
(or St. Hilarius), was bishop of Aquileia.

In the course of the

.

In time, part of western

Rome, a trait it shared with its rival, Ravenna
, which, less fortunate, never obtained the patriarchal dignity.

Emperor

Paulinus I (557–569) began using the title around 560.[3]

Meanwhile, by the end of the next decade, the

imperial possessions
in northern Italy. This political change did not affect the relations of the patriarchate with Rome; its bishops, whether in Lombard or imperial territory, persistently refused all invitations to a reconciliation.

Split with Grado

Grado and other Byzantine possessions in the North Adriatic (6th-9th centuries)

Various efforts of the popes at Rome and the exarchs at Ravenna, both peaceful and otherwise, met with persistent refusal to renew the bonds of unity until the election of Candidianus (606 or 607) as Metropolitan of Aquileia (in Grado). Weary of fifty years' schism, those of his suffragans whose sees lay within the empire joined him in submission to Rome; his mainland suffragans among the Lombards persisted in the schism. They went further and elected in Aquileia itself, patriarch John the Abbot (606 or 607) so that henceforth there were two little patriarchates in northern Italy, the insular patriarchate of Aquileia in Grado and the mainland patriarchate of Old Aquileia, residing in the fortress of Cormons.

With the death of King

Arian, attitudes began to change. Royal court officials were prevalently Catholic and favoured an agreement with the Church of Rome. Eventually the Lombard kings wished to remove all conflicts with Rome, including the schism with the Aquileian church. Gradually the schism lost its vigour. King Cunipert summoned the Synod of Pavia (698/699) whereby Old-Aquileia reconciled with Rome, and Pope Gregory II granted the pallium to Patriarch Serenus (715–730) of Aquileia in 723.[4]
It was probably during the seventh century that the popes recognized in the metropolitans of Grado the title of Patriarch of Aquileia, in order to offset its assumption by the metropolitans of Old-Aquileia. In succeeding centuries it continued in use by both, but had no longer any practical significance.

In 628, the patriarchs of Old-Aquileia transferred their residence to Cormons. Patriarch Callistus moved the patriarchal residence to Cividale del Friuli (Forum Julii) in 737 and it remained there until the thirteenth century when it was moved again, this time to Udine in 1223.

In the last decade of the 8th century, the creation of a new metropolitan see at

Drave was relinquished to Arno of Salzburg. After the death of Ursus, Maxentius picked up where he left off[specify], and solicited funds from Charlemagne's court to rebuild Aquileia.[5] Maxentius served as the Patriarch of Aquileia from 811 till his death in 837.[6]

Nevertheless, the

Hungarian
invasion of the 9th century and the decline of imperial control increased the authority of the patriarchs.

Expansion and collapse

11th-century patriarchal throne

German feudal influence was henceforth more and more tangible in the ecclesiastical affairs of Old-Aquileia. In 1011 one of its patriarchs, John IV, surrounded by thirty bishops, consecrated the new cathedral of

Grado
.

In 1047, the Patriarch Eberhard, a German, assisted at the Roman synod of that year, in which it was declared that Aquileia was inferior in honour only to Rome, Ravenna, and Milan. In 1063, however,

Emperor Henry III
.

Temporal power

In 1077, the patriarch

Urban III
deposed him.

In the early 13th century, particularly under Wolfger von Erla (1204–1218) and Berthold (1218–1251), the Patriarchate had a flourishing industry and commerce, favoured by a good road network, as well as a notable cultural activity. Damaged by earthquakes and other calamities, and reduced to a few hundred inhabitants, Aquileia was nearly abandoned in the 14th century. The capital of the state was moved first to Cividale and then, from 1238, to Udine, in central Friuli, which had been a favourite residence of the patriarch since the 13th century and soon became a large city.

However, late in the century, the Patriarchate had to face the increasing power of the Republic of Venice, as well as the inner strifes between its vassals, and also became entangled in the endless wars between Guelphs and Ghibellines. A recovery occurred during the rule of Bertrand (1334–1350), a successful administrator and military leader. He was killed in 1350 in a plot, at the age of ninety.

Since the transfer of the patriarchal residence to Udine the Venetians had never lived in peace with the patriarchate, of whose imperial favour and tendencies they were jealous. In the 15th century the state also suffered a series of inner strifes between Cividale and Udine. In 1411 this turned into a war which was to mark the end of the Patriarchate, Cividale having received support from most of the Friulian communes, the

followed.

In 1445, after the defeated patriarch

Patriarchate of Grado (1451), it was superseded by the Patriarchate of Venice. The title of Patriarch of Aquileia maintained just a religious value.[8] The former Friulian state was incorporated in the Republic of Venice
with the name of Patria del Friuli, ruled by a General Proveditor or a Luogotenente living in Udine.

Under Domenico Grimani (cardinal since 1497), Austrian Friuli was added to the territory of the patriarchate whose jurisdiction thus extended over some Austrian dioceses. In 1623 provost of Aquileia Albert Pessler, on behalf of Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor, requested establishment of the Bishopric of Gorizia and removing the Austrian dioceses from jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Aquileia.[9]

Extinction

The 109th and last Patriarch of Aquileia was Daniel Dolfin, coadjutor since 1714 of his predecessor, Dionigio Dolfin, his successor since 1734, and a cardinal since 1747.

The Venetian claim to the nomination of the Patriarch of Aquileia had been met by a counter-claim on the part of Austria since the end of the fifteenth century when Austrian dioceses came to be included within the jurisdiction of the patriarchate.

Finally,

vicariate apostolic with residence at Gorizia
, independent of the Patriarch of Aquileia, and exempt (i.e., immediately dependent on the Holy See), in whose name all jurisdiction was exercised.

This decision was not satisfactory to Venice, and in 1751 with the 6 July bull Injunctio Nobis, the Pope divided the patriarchate into two archdioceses; one at Udine, with Venetian Friuli for its territory, the other at Gorizia, with jurisdiction over Austrian Friuli. Of the ancient patriarchate, once so proud and influential, there remained but the parish church of Aquileia. It was made immediately subject to the Apostolic See and to its rector was granted the right of using episcopal insignia seven times in the year.

Titular see

In 1968,

metropolitan rank.[10] As of 2014, the see is held by Charles John Brown, currently Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines
, who was appointed to the see on 26 November 2011.

See also

Notes and references

  1. ^ Meyendorff 1989, p. 310-314.
  2. ^ Sotinel 2007, p. 85-120.
  3. ^ G. C. Menis, History of Friuli, pp. 109–110, G. E. A. P. Pordenone 1988.
  4. ^ G. C. Menis, History of Friuli, pp. 142–143, G. E. A. P. Pordenone 1988.
  5. ^ Everett, Nicholas. Paulinus, The Carolgingians and Famosissima Aquileia, 145.
  6. '^ Friulian Biographical Dictionary
  7. ^ G. C. Menis, History of Friuli, p. 207, Pordenone 1988
  8. ^ G. C. Menis, History of Friuli, p. 251, Pordenone 1988.
  9. ^ Prilozi za književnost, jezik, istoriju i folklor. Državna Štamparija. 1925. p. 35.
  10. ^ Annuario Pontificio 1968 (Tipografia Poliglotta Vaticana 1968), p. 553

Sources

45°46′N 13°22′E / 45.767°N 13.367°E / 45.767; 13.367