The Roman Catholic Diocese of Fiorentino (Lat.: Florentinum),[1] named after its see (Castel) Fiorentino (di Puglia), was a medieval Latin Rite bishopric (1059–1391). It was located about four miles southwest of the present 'commune' (municipality) of Torremaggiore. The name has been restored as a titular see.
The fortress of Castel Fiorentino, like Troia, Montecorvino, Civitate, Lesina, and Draconara in the Capitanata area, was probably erected not long after his victory over the Apulians in 1018, by the Italian catapan (Byzantine governor) Basilio Boioannes, as a Byzantine ring opposing the expansionist Lombard duchy of Benevento.[2]
The diocese of Fiorentino started as a suffragan of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, using its Greek rite, until Rome's Latin rite was introduced by the conquering Normans mid eleventh century.
On 12 July 1053, Pope Leo IX issued the bull "Cum Summae Apostolicae", in which he confirmed the privileges and possessions of the Church of Benevento for Archbishop Voldaricus. The list of properties did not include Fiorentino.[3]
In a bull, "Cum Summae Apostolicae", on 24 January 1058, Pope Stephen IX confirmed for Archbishop Vodalricus of Benevento the privileges and properties granted to the Church of Benevento by Pope Leo IX. These included some which had not appeared in the bull of Leo IX, including Florentino.[4]
On 13 December 1250, the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II died at Fiorentino.[6] In 1224, he had made Fiorentino a civitas of his demesne, and ordered the construction of a castle and a residence for the emperor. The "domus" of Fiorenza is listed in the "Statuum de reparatione castrorum" (c. 1241–1245).[7] In the summer of 1255, Pope Alexander IV sent a papal army against the supporters of Frederick's son Manfred in Apulia and the Capitanata. Gathered at Canosa, they set off on 26 September, following the via di Capitinata, and raviging along the way both Dragonara and Fiorentino, and killing every Saracen they met. The expedition climaxed with an assault on Nocera (Lucera).[8]
Its archeological site comprises a cathedral and one more of a dozen documented churches, including Santa Maria, San Cristoforo, San Giorgio and San Lorenzo, which had an archpriest; San Nicola, Santa Maria, San Donnino and Santissima Trinità, depending on the abbey of Torremaggiore; San Nicola and San Pietro; Santa Maria Coronata, which bishop Ramfredo conceded in 1205 to San Leonardo di Siponto; and San Leone, depending on the extramural monastery San Salvatore.
From the 14th century, according to a 1313 Angevin chancellery document, the city was progressively abandoned, like other cities of the Capitanata, due to unhealthiness, tax burdens, and spoliation. The bishopric was suppressed after bishop Meglio's death in 1410. Its territory was merged into the Diocese of Lucera.[9]
The title of Bishop of Fiorentino, though not the diocese itself, was restored in 1968, to be used as a titular bishopric. It has had the following incumbents:
^The diocese was also called: Farentinum, Ferentinum, Florentinum, Ferenzola, and Ferunzola. Ughelli VIII, p. 283. Ughelli enshrines an early mistake, reporting a bishop Ignizzo at Fiorentino in 969; Ignizzo was actually bishop of Ferentino: Kehr IX, p. 162: "Ignizzonem ep. Floren. ab Ughello ad a. 969 recensitum potius Ferentinae sedi in Campania Romana attribuendum esse iam Cappelletti et Gams recte statuerunt."
^Martin (2005), "CASTELFIORENTINO", § 1, referencing the "Chronicon Casinense" of Leo Marsicanus (II. 51): Ea tempestate supradictus Boiano catapanus, cum jam dudum trojam in capite Apulie construxisset, Draconariam quoque et Florentinum ac Civitatem et reliqua municipia, quae vulgo Capitinata dicuntur, edificavit, et ex circumpositis terris habitatores convocans deinceps habitari constituit." J.P. Migne (ed.), Patrologiae Latinae Cursus Completus, Tomus 173 (Paris 1854), p. 643. No mention is made of any bishoprics.
^Kehr IX, p. 58, nos. 23 and 24: "...Troia, Draconaria, Civitate, Monte Corvino, Tortibulo, Viccari, Florentino, Bobiniano, Toccho, Monte Marano, Monte de Vico...."
^Leo Marsicanus, "Chronicon Monasterii Casinensis," J.P. Migne (ed.), Patrologiae Cursus Completus, Series Latina Tomus 173 (Paris 1854), p. 751.
^Nicholas of Curbio, "Life of Pope Innocent IV", in G. A. Muratori (ed.), Rerum Italicorum Scriptores Vol. III (Tomus quintus) (Milan 1724), part 1, p. 605, column 1: "Anno Domini 1250, indictione nona, mense Decembris ejusdem indictionis, Dominus Imperator Fredericus Secundus obiit in Apulea in terra, quae dicitur Florentinum."
^Fra Salimbene of Parma, "Cronica", quoted by Calò Mariani (2012b), "La domus di Fiorentino...", p. 631.
^Cardillo (1885), Dizionario corografico..., p. 47.
^Bishop Landolfo was present at the provincial synod of Benevento in 1061, and the synod of 13 June 1062. Pope Benedict XIII (1724), Synodicon S. Beneventanensis ecclesiae(in Latin) (Roma: Rochus Bernabo, 1724), pp. 13, 15. Cappelletti XIX, p. 276.
^Bishop Robertus was present at the provincial synod of Benevento on 1 April 1075. Benedict XIII (1724), Synodicon S. Beneventanensis ecclesiae, p. 20. Cappelletti XIX, p. 277.
^Bishop Robert took part in the Third Lateran CouncilofPope Alexander III in March 1179. In 1182, he took part in the consecration of the abbey church of Montevergine. In 1197 he (or a third Bishop Robert) took part in the consecration of the cathedral of San Marco in Bovino. Cappelletti XIX, p. 277. Kehr IX, p. 184, no. 7: "A. ab inc. 1082, ind. 5, die kal. dec. in Civitate praesentibus Bernardo Papie S. R. E. diac. (card.) una cum archiep. Rofrido Beneventan., Guillelmo Larinen., Leone Draconarien., Landulfo Civitatis, Ruberto Florentinen., Alberto Montiscorbini epp. et comitibus Roberto et Petrone et Roberto Constantini filio Desiderius card, et abbas coenobii Casinen. confitetur se peccasse...."
^Kehr IX, p. 162, believes that there were three Bishop Robert, not two: "Tertius denique Robertus ep. occurrit in notitia a. 1197 mai. 18 data."
^On 22 September 1217, Pope Honorius III wrote to the Bishop of Termoli and the Archdeacon of Siponto "ut inquirant contra Florentinum episcopum, de quo enormia ferebantur." [to inquire into enormities which were being alleged against the bishop of Fiorentino]. P. Pressuti, Regesta Honorii papae III Vol. 1 (Roma: typ. Vaticana 1888), p. 137, no. 805.
^Melius was appointed by Pope Boniface IX. Cappelletti XIX, p. 278. Gams, p. 892. Eubel I, p. 251.
^Barbarito was a papal diplomat, for which an appropriate rank, Titular Archbishop, was necessary. He was appointed Apostolic Nuncio (ambassador) to Haiti on 11 June 1969. He was transferred to the post of Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso) on 5 April 1975. He became Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to Niger as well as Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to Senegal, Apostolic Delegate to Guinea-Bissau, Apostolic Delegate to Mali, Apostolic Delegate to Mauritania until 10 June 1978. In 1977 he had the added responsibilityu of Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to Cape Verde (1977 – 1978). He was appointed Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to Australia on 10 June 1978, where he served until 21 January 1986. He was promoted to Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to Great Britain (21 January 1986), and on 13 April 1993 he became Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain. He retired on 31 July 1997. He died on 12 March 2017.
^Bishop Cota de Oliveira was Auxiliary BishopofArchdiocese of Curitiba (Brazil) (7 June 2017 – 10 June 2020). On 10 June 2020, Cota de Oliveira was appointed Bishop ofSete Lagoas, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Beck, P. (1989). "Archeologia di un complesso castrale: Fiorentino in Capitanata," (in Italian), in: Archeologia medievale 16 (1989), pp. 137–154; Id.,
Beck, P. (1995). "La domus imperiale di Fiorentino in Capitanata," (in Italian), in: M.S.Calò Mariani e R.Cassano (edd.), Federico II.Immagine e potere: Catalogo della Mostra (Bari, Castello Svevo, 4 febbraio-14 maggio 1995) (Venezia, 1995), pp 183–185.
Mariani, Maria Stella Calò (2007). "I『villages désertés』della Capitanata. Fiorentino e Montecorvino," in Atti del 27º convegno sulla preistoria-protostoria-storia della Daunia, San Severo 2007, pp. 43–55.
Mariani, Maria Stella Calò (2012). "La cattedrale di Fiorentino e il territorio.[permanent dead link] Osservazioni sull’architettura e sulla suppellettile sacra," (in Italian), in: Fiorentino ville désertée, nel contesto della Capitanata medievale (ricerche 1982-1993) Rome: École française de Rome 2012.
