The Italian Catholic archdiocese of Trani-Barletta-Bisceglie, in Apulia, received its current name in 1986. The historic archdiocese of Trani was elevated from a diocese in the eleventh century. It was combined with the diocese of Bisceglie in 1818. Its metropolitan is now the archdiocese of Bari-Bitonto.[1]
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The Archbishop of Trani has also the title of Bishop of Nazareth; in 1190 the title of that see was transferred to the diocese of Barletta (the ancient Barduli). From 1828 the archdiocese was the archdiocese of Trani e Nazareth e Bisceglie, from 1860 archdiocese of Trani e Barletta (e Nazareth e Bisceglie), and currently it is correctly archdiocese of Trani-Barletta-Bisceglie (-Nazareth)
In 1455 the diocese of Cannae (Italian Canne) was united with that of Nazareth. Cannae was destroyed in 1083 by Robert Guiscard, with the exception of the cathedral and the episcopal residence. It had bishops in ths sixth century, for Gregory the Great entrusted the see to the care of the bishop of Siponto; its bishops are again mentioned after the tenth century. In 1534 Cannae was separated from Nazareth and united to the diocese of Monteverde, but in 1552 the united dioceses were incorporated with Nazareth. In 1860 the See of Nazareth (Barletta) was united with Trani, the archbishop of which had been appointed in 1818 perpetual administrator of the see of Bisceglie.
With the See of Trani is united the ancient diocese of Salpe (Salapia of the Greeks), its known bishops comprising Palladius (465) and 23 successors before the definitive union in 1547. Another is the see of Carnia, which had bishops before the time Gregory, who entrusted it to the care of the Bishop of Reggio Calabria; in 649 it had a new ordinary, but later the city fell into decay.
The legend of St. Magnus relates that there was at Trani about the middle of the third century a bishop, Redemptus, who was succeeded by St. Magnus. The first bishop whose date is known with certainty is Eusebius who was present at the dedication of the Basilica of Monte Gargano in 493. A few other names have been preserved like Suthinius (761) and Rodostanus (983). Till then Trani had certainly followed the Latin Rite and Bishop Bernardo opposed the decree of the Partiarch Polyeuctus (968) introducing the Greek Rite; it is uncertain whether Joannes, bishop of Trani, who embraced the schism of Michael Caerularius and in consequence was deposed by Pope Nicholas II (1059), belonged to the Greek Rite. His successor was Delius, and thenceforward Trani continued in the Latin Rite.
In 1098 Nicholas Pellegrino, a Byzantine bishop, died there; under another Byzantine the new cathedral was dedicated to that saint. Samarus was granted the lordship of the Jews of Trani by Emperor Henry VI for his support against Tancred. Bartolommeo Brancacci (1328) distinguished himself on several embassies and was chancellor of the Kingdom of Naples.
Other archbishops were:
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed (1913). Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company.