Arnulf III, Archbishop of Milan

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Arnulf III (Italian: Arnolfo di Porta Argentea^[1] or di Porta Orientale^[2]) was the Archbishop of Milan from his election 6 December 1093 to his death in 1097. He succeeded Anselm III only two days after his death. Along with Anselm III and Anselm IV, he was one of a trio of successive Ambrosian pontiffs to side with pope against emperor in the late eleventh and early twelfth century.

Though his election had been vaild, he was invested by Conrad II, but the papal legate declared him a simoniac and deposed. Consequently, he was never consacrated. Arnulf went into a brief retirement of penance at the monastery of S. Pietro di Civate, where Anselm III had gone for a similar reason during his episcopate. After his brief sojour there, he was reconciled with Pope Urban II and received the pallium. According to Pandulf of Pisa, this was the moment of his consacration. Bernold of Constance places his consacration in March 1095. It was performed by three great bishops of the German Gregorian reform: Thimo of Salzburg, Odalric of Passau, and Gebhard III of Constance.

Arnulf himself became an enthusiastic reformer and opponent of the Emperor Henry IV. He participated in the Council of Piacenza. From 6 to 26 May that same year (1095), the pope was present at Milan for the transferral of the relics of Erlembald to S. Dionigi. In 1096, the pope preached the First Crusade at S. Tecla in Milanese territory. Only two of Arnulf's acts as bishop survive and he is buried in Civate.

[edit] Notes

1. ^ Bernold of Constance.
2. ^ Landolfo Iuniore, Historia. He makes Arnulf descended from a family of local captains.

[edit] Sources

• Landolfo Iuniore di San Paolo. Historia Mediolanensis.
• Ghisalberti, Alberto M. Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani: III Ammirato – Arcoleo. Rome, 1961.