Diocese of Volterra

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The Italian Catholic diocese of Volterra lies in Tuscany. It is a suffragan of the archdiocese of Pisa^[1].

1 History
2 References
3 Notes
4 External link

[edit] History

Volterra was called Volaterrae by the Romans. It was of some importance in the Gothic War. In the Carlovingian period it belonged to the Marquisate of Tuscany; with the approval of Henry, son of Frederick Barbarossa, the government of it afterwards passed into the hands of the bishop, until his temporal authority was suspended by the commune. In the wars or factions of the thirteenth century, Volterra, being Ghibelline, was continually embroiled with the Florentines, who captured it in 1254, but obtained definitive possession of it only in 1361.

According to the Liber Pontificalis, Volterra was the birthplace of St. Linus, the immediate successor of St. Peter. Nothing is known as to its Christian origins; Eucharistus, the first bishop of Volterra of whom there is any record (495), was deposed by the pope, and Helpidius (496) was put in his place. Justus (560) was at first involved in the Schism of the Three Chapters.

Other bishops were:

Gunfridus (1014), whose metrical epitaph is to be seen in the cathedral
Herimannus (1066), a Camaldolese monk and reformer of the clergy
Galgano, killed by the people in 1172, for some unknown reason
St. Ugo dei Conti del Castel d'Agnato (1173 84), a defender of the rights of his church, and founder of a college for the education of clerics
Pagao dell'Ardenghesca (1213), who vainly endeavoured to retain the temporal government of the city.

The conflict on this score was continued under Pagano's successors, particularly under Raineri Belforti (1301). Roberto degli Adimari was deposed for taking part in the Council of Basle. Joseph du Mesnil (1748) died a prisoner in Castel Sant' Angelo. Giuseppe Incontri (1806) distingished himself by his beneficence. Pope Pius IX made his first studies in the Piarist College at Volterra.

Volterra was immediately subject to the Holy See until 1856, when it became a suffragan of Pisa.

[edit] References

Cappelletti, Le chiese d'Italia, XVIII
Riccobaldi del Bavia, Dissertazione istorico etruscie sopra l'origine ... della Etrusca nazione e ... della citta di Volterra (Florence, 1758)
Maffei, ed. Cinci, Annali di Volterra (Volterra, 1887)
Amidei,, Storia Volterrana (Volterra, 1864-65)
Leoncini, Illustrazione della cattedrale di Volterra (Siena, 1869)
Schneider, Regestum Volterranum (Rome, 1907).