Siponto

Coordinates: 41°36′25″N 15°53′45″E / 41.60694°N 15.89583°E / 41.60694; 15.89583
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Siponto
Dialing code
0884
Ruins of the ancient basilica of Siponto

Siponto (

Latin: Sipontum, Greek: Σιπιούς) was an ancient port town and bishopric of Magna Graecia in Apulia, southern Italy. The town was abandoned after earthquakes in the 13th century; today the area is administered as a frazione of the comune of Manfredonia, in the province of Foggia
. Siponto is located around 3 km south of Manfredonia.

History

According to legend, Sipontum was founded by Diomedes, product of the union of the Homeric hero of the same name with the daughter of the king of the Daunians. Siponto was probably founded by the Daunians.

Sipontum was a flourishing Greek colony, its Greek name being Sipious (Σιπιούς); having fallen into the hands of the

Alexander of Epirus, uncle of Alexander the Great. In 189 BC it became a Roman
colony with its original Sipious name still used in Byzantine times, and in 663 AD it was taken and destroyed by the Slavs.

In the ninth century, Sipontum was for a time in the power of the Saracens; in 1042 the Normans made it the seat of one of their twelve counties. The latter won a decisive victory there over the Byzantine general

Argyrus
in 1052.

Croatian navy under Michael's leadership to drive the Saracens from that part of southern Italy and free the city.[2]

Before the second half of the 12th century, the

Hospitalier Order founded their first Italian fincas in the area of Capitanata, which spanned from Siponto to Foggia, including Spinazzola,[3] Borgonioni, Salpi, Trinitapoli, Santa Maria de Salinis, Belmonte, Lama and Bersentino. They were devoted to animal husbandry, the commerce of marine salt, the depot of dietary goods, the olive and vineyard cultivation, as well to the use of natural waterfalls through mills. Such a skilful administration of their assets, grew the economic and military potential of the Orders, who were engaged in the Crusades and in the protection of local communities.[4]

Some of the Knight Templar's masserie survived until the 21st century.[3] Lastly, Siponto produced one of the greatest

Jewish oral law.[5]

In 1223, a major earthquake centered on Monte Gargano destroyed nearly every building in Siponto. The tremors continued for another two years, until, by 1225, everything was in ruins.[6]

Ecclesiastical history

Ancient bishopric

According to legend, the Gospel was preached at Sipontum by

Saint Mark. Another tradition relates the martyrdom of the priest Saint Justin and his companions under Gallienus and Maximian
, about 255.

A bishopric of Sipontum (or Siponto) was established around 400 AD (or already in the third century according to others). The first bishop whose date may be fixed, was Felix, who was at Rome in 465.[7]

Another legend reports that, in the time of bishop

Monte Gargano; in memory of the event, the Monastery of the Archangel was founded.[8] Among the pilgrims were the emperors Otto III, Henry II, and Lothar III, and popes Leo IX, Urban II, and et Alexander III.[9]

A bishop Felix is attested in 591 and 593, and a bishop Vitalianus in 597 and 599.[10]

By about 688, Siponto was almost abandoned. The diocese was suppressed, and

bishopric of Benevento.[11]

New (arch)bishopric

The see was re-established in 1034 as Diocese of Siponto, recovering its territory from the meanwhile Metropolitan

Archdiocese of Benevento. Bishops of Siponto, suffragans of Benevento, included Bonus (1049? – 1059?)[12]

In April 1050, Pope Leo IX held a synod at Siponto, at which he deposed two archbishops, who were charged with simony.[13]

In August 1059, at the Synod of Melfi, Pope Nicholas II deposed the archbishop of Trani and bishop of Siponto. Archbishop Johannes of Trani, in his tomb inscription claimed to be "Archiepiscopus Tranensis, Sipontinensis, Garganensis Ecclesiae, atque Imperialis Synkellus."[14]

Bishop Guisard is attested in 1062.[15]

Under bishop Gerardus Gerard (1066–74), Siponto became the non-Metropolitan Archdiocese of Siponto in 1074.[11] Non-Metropolitan Archbishops of Siponto included Omobono (1087? – 1097?)[16]

In 1090, the diocese of Siponto lost territory to establish the

Diocese of Vieste.[citation needed
]

In 1099 Siponto was promoted to the rank of Metropolitan Archdiocese of Siponto

Cathedral

The ancient cathedral remained still at Sipontum but, with the building of

Archdiocese of Manfredonia
(viz.), yet still Sipontin(us) as Latin adjective.

See also

Notes and references

  1. ^ Rački, Odlomci iz državnoga práva hrvatskoga za narodne dynastie:, p. 15
  2. ^ Omrčanin, Military history of Croatia:, p. 24
  3. ^ a b "Sacrum Ordinis Militum Templi (Onlus)". Italian Knight Templar Oder (in Italian). Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  4. . Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  5. .
  6. Fratelli Bocca
    . pp. 31–32.
  7. ^ Lanzoni, p. 278: "Una Vita interpolata di s. Lorenzo, suo successore in Siponto, pone la morte di lui nell'anno 490.... La Vita originale del medesimo s. Lorenzo lo pone al tempo di Zenone, mentre Odoacre e Teodorico si combattevano tra loro (489-93)."
  8. ^ Lanzoni, pp. 279-283. Kehr IX, p. 244.
  9. ^ Kehr IX, p. 244.
  10. ^ Lanzoni, p. 284.
  11. ^ a b Benigni, U. (1910). "Archdiocese of Manfredonia". The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York City: Robert Appleton. Online version, New Advent.
  12. ^ Gams, p. 924, column 1.
  13. ^ Wibert of Tulle, "Vita Leonis IX" II. 6, in: J. M. Watterich, Pontificum Romanorum Vitae Vol. I (Leipzig: G. Engelmann 1862), p. 158.
  14. ^ Ughelli VII, p. 823. Kehr IX, p. 235, no. 11.
  15. ^ Pope Alexander II wrote to "Sipontino ep. G.". Kehr IX, p. 235, no. 12.
  16. ^ Ughelli VII, p. 824.

Bibliography

Sources and external links