The Archbishop of Nazareth is a former residential Metropolitan see, first in the Holy Land, then in Apulian exile in Barletta (southern Italy), which had a Latin and a Maronite successor as titular sees, the first merged into Barletta, the second suppressed.[1][2]
Following the Muslim conquest in the Holy Land, the Archbishops of Nazareth took refuge in Barletta (Apulia, southern Italy), and moved permanently there in 1327. It began the long line of Metropolitan Archbishops of Nazareth residing in Barletta, which was called the see of Nazareth in Barletta.
On June 27, 1818, with the papal bullDe ulterioriofPope Pius VII, the Archdiocese of Nazareth was suppressed.
On 22 October 1828, with the Bull Multis quidemofPope Leo XII, the title of Archbishop of Nazareth was granted to the Archbishops of Trani.
On 21 April 1860, the archdiocese was nominally restored as Metropolitan Titular archbishopric of Nazareth.
In 1925 it was suppressed, only to be restored in 1929 and finally united with (i.e. merged into) the residential Metropolitan Archdiocese of Trani–Barletta–Bisceglie, also territorial heir to the former Apulian see in exile.
It has had the following archiepiscopal incumbents, apparently all of the highest (Metropolitan) rank :
Giuseppe de' Bianchi Dottula (1860.04.21 – 1892.09.22)
It was established in the late 19th century as a Titular bishopric of the lowest (episcopal) rank, but suppressed in 1911, having had a single incumbent :
In 1926 it was restored, now as a Titular archbishopric of the intermediate (non-Metropolitan) rank. In 1939 it was again suppressed, having had the following incumbents :
Titular Archbishop Paul Auad (1896.09.24 – 1911.02.11)
Titular Archbishop Elias Richa (1926.06.21 – 1937.10.10).