The Archdiocese of Trani-Barletta-Bisceglie () is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Italy in the province of Barletta-Andria-Trani in Apulia. Formerly a metropolitan see, in 1980 it became a suffragan archdiocese in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Bari-Bitonto. It received its current name in 1986, when the Archdiocese of Trani (suffragan until 1063) added to its title the names of two suppressed dioceses merged into it."Archdiocese of Trani-Barletta-Bisceglie" GCatholic.org. Gabriel Chow. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
Special churches The Archdiocese's archiepiscopal cathedral is Basilica Cattedrale di S. Nicola Pellegrino, a minor basilica, in Trani.
The Archdiocese also includes three Co-cathedrals, in the two bishoprics whose titles it adopted: they are Basilica Concattedrale di S. Maria Maggiore, located in Barletta, Basilica Concattedrale di S. Pietro Apostolo, in Bisceglie (both also Minor basilicas) and Concattedrale di S. Maria di Nazareth, again in Barletta.
Furthermore, the archdiocese comprises another Minor Basilica: Basilica del San Sepolcro, in Barletta, and two Former Cathedrals: Chiesa San Giacomo Maggiore, in Barletta, and Ex cattedrale San Stefano, in Trinitapoli.
History
Established circa 250 as Diocese of Trani (Italian) / Tranen(sis) (Latin), without known precursor see Gained territory in 844 from Diocese of Canosa Promoted in 1063 as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Trani (Italiano) / Tranen(sis) (Latin) Lost territories in 1100 to Metropolitan Archdiocese of Nazareth, and to establish Diocese of Andria Lost territory in 1327 to establish Metropolitan Archdiocese of Nazareth in Barletta (at the ancient Barduli). Gained territory in 1424 from the suppressed Diocese of Salpi, lost it again in 1523 to (re)establish the Diocese of Salpi and on 1547.04.22 gained it back from the (again) suppressed Diocese of Salpi Gained territories on 1818.06.27 from the suppressed above Metropolitan daughter Archdiocese of Nazareth in Barletta and from the Diocese of Canne, and gained the 'adopted' title of Nazareth [dropping in Barletta] Lost territory on 1860.04.21 to (re)establish the Archdiocese of Barletta Demoted on 1980.10.20 as non-metropolitan Archdiocese of Trani (Italiano) / Tranen(sis) (Latin) Renamed on 1986.09.30 as Archdiocese of Trani–Barletta–Bisceglie (Italiano) / Tranen(sis)–Barolen(sis)–Vigilien(sis) (Latin), having gained territories (and adopting their titles) from the suppressed Archdiocese of Barletta (above daughter) and Diocese of Bisceglie Gained in 1989 the (honorary) title of the see of Nazareth
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 legend is recent in origin, and its character is so fantastic that it is not to be believed.Lanzoni, pp. 300–301.
The first bishop whose date is known with certainty is Eutychius, who was present at the dedication of the Basilica of Monte Gargano in 493.Pope Gelasius is quoted as having believed that the bishop's name was Eutychius, not Eusebius.
Until the end of the 10th century, Trani had followed the Latin Church and its liturgies, and Bishop BernardoOnly Benigni, in the Catholic Encyclopedia article on "Trani", speaks of this Bishop Bernardo, without reference. opposed the decree of the Patriarch Polyeuctes (968) introducing the Byzantine 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 Church.
In 1073 Trani fell into the hands of the Normans, and Count Pierre d'Hauteville became Count of Trani, though he was quickly put down by Robert Guiscard.
In 1098 Nicholas the Pilgrim, a Byzantine Christian, died there; under another Byzantine the new cathedral was dedicated to that saint. Bertrand II (1157–87) tried to arrange a Byzantine–Sicilian marriage alliance. 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.
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 the 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.
Bishops and Archbishops
Diocese of Trani Erected: 5th Century
Eutychius (attested 493, 502, 503)Eutychius was present at the third, fourth and fifth Roman synods of Pope Symmachus. J.-D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus VIII (Florence: A. Zatta 1762), pp. 252, 268, 299. Suthinius (attested 761)Bishop Suthinius was present at the Roman synod of 761 held by Pope Paul I. [Leo]Ughelli, p. 891, alleges that a Bishop Leo subscribed at the II Council of Nicaea in 787. This claim has never been substantiated, and it has been pointed out that Ughelli may have confused Trani with Trajanopolis. LeopardusBishop Leopardus was the predecessor of Bishop Auderis. Prologo, Le carte, p. 24 no. 1. Oderisius (Auderis) (attested 834)Auderis: Prologo, Le carte, p. 24 no. 1. Rhodostamos (attested 983)Prologo, p. 24 (in Greek). Cf. Erich Kaspar, "Kritische Untersuchungen" zu den älteren Papsturkunden für Apulien," Bishop Rhodostamos was highly praised as a patriot of Trani by the Byzantine Kapitan of Italy Kalokyris, even though he had received ordination from Pope Benedict (VII, 974–983): Prologo, p. 33-34, no. VII. Chrysostomos (attested 999)Pagano, pp. 35–38, no. VIII. ... [Berardus (or Bernardus) (?)]Cappelletti, p. 49. Berardus' existence depends solely on the reference to him by Thomas Aceti, Berardus, seu Bernardus Matera, ex MS. Famil. Consent., in: Berardus has no date and no achievements; Cappelletti places him before Rhodostamos, for no apparent reason. ... Joannes (attested 1053, deposed 1059)Joannes was a Greek rite bishop with ties to Constantinople. Ughelli, VII, p. 894. Joannes was deposed according to a comment of Petrus Damiani in a treatise called "Contra Philargyriam et munerum cupiditatem". Kehr, p. 290 no. 2. J.P. Migne (ed.), Patrologiae Latinae Tomus CXLV, pp. 538–539. Delius
Archdiocese of Trani Elevated: 11th Century Bisantius (attested 1063)Kehr, p. 291, no. 3 (15 May 1063), called Archbishop of Trani by Pope Alexander II. In the late 1090s Bizantius was promoting the candidacy for sainthood of Nicolaus Peregrinus with Pope Urban II: Kehr, pp. 291–292, nos. 5–6. Bisantius [Veterandus (1129)]Veterandus (Bertrandus) is said to have been Archbishop of Trani in 1129 and to have attended the coronation of Roger II as King of Sicily in Palermo: But Roger was invested with the royal title by Pope Anacletus II on 27 September 1130. On 30 October 1130, while visiting Trani, Anacletus confirmed the possessions and privileges of Hubaldus Archbishop of Trani, and granted him and his successors the use of the pallium. Prologo, Le carte de Trani, p. 77. The coronation at Palermo took place on Christmas Day, 1130. The information about a putative Archbishop Veterandus is defective. If one considers the document in Kehr, p. 292 no. 8, as authentic, then Veterandus's episcopate is impossible. Hubaldus (attested 1130 to 1138)Kehr, p. 292 no. 8, labels one piece of evidence for Hubaldus, that of 1120, a forgery. Bisantius (attested 1150)On 4 July 1144 Bisantius was Bishop-elect. Kehr, p. 293, no. 10. Bertrandus (c.1157 – after September 1187)In a document dated 1181 Bishop Bertrandus mentions that it was the twenty-fourth year of his archepiscopate. Prologo, p. 153. Kamp, pp. 545–547. Samarus (Sanmarus) (attested 1192 – 1201/1202)Kamp, pp. 548–550. G(regorius), O.S.B (1202)Gregorius was a native of Isola de Liri. He was abbot of Monte Cassino, and was elected by the Chapter of Trani to the bishopric before 24 June 1202. Pope Innocent III ordered an inquiry into the election, and then on 16 September ordered the Chapter to send representatives to the Holy See (the Pope was at Velletri) to receive their new Archbishop, which the Pope was providing. Ughelli, VII, p. 906. Gams, p. 933. Eubel, I, p. 491. Kamp, pp. 550–552. Bartholomaeus (1203 – 1225/1226)On 7 July 1206, Pope Innocent III wrote to Bartholomaeus of Trani, who was also Apostolici Sedis Legatus, about a subdeacon who had been ordained before the minimum canonical age. Migne, Tomus CCXV (215), pp. 686–687. He took part in the Lateran Council of 1215. Ughelli, VII, p. 906. Kamp, pp. 552–554. Jacobus, O.P. (1227 – 1263?)Jacobus: Ughelli, VII, p. 906. Gams, p. 933. Kamp, pp. 557–559. Nicolaus (1267 – 1276/1277)Kamp believes that Nicolaus was Nicolaus Andreocte de Urbe, a native of Rome. Nicolaus was a Canon of Reims and a Chaplain of Pope Clement IV (Jacques Falcoldi), who consecrated Nicholas personally. King Charles I of Naples sent Nicholas to Hungary to arrange a marriage between Charles' son and Maria of Hungary. Ughelli, p. 906. E. Jordan, Registres de Clément IV I (Paris 1893), p. 142, no. 469 (28 May 1267). Opizo (1280–1287) (Administrator)Opizo (not Ottobonus, as in Ughelli) was Latin Patriarch of Antioch, whose see was overrun by the Saracens. At Trani, Thomas de Fossa had been canonically elected to succeed Bishop Nicholas, but Pope Nicholas III quashed the election, not on grounds of personal suitability, but for other reasons. Opizo was required to live at Trani. Eubel, I, pp. 93, with note 8; 491. J. Gay, Registres de Nicolas III (Paris 1904), pp. 287–288, no. 647 (1 April 1280). Philippus (5 November 1288 – 1295/1297)Philip had been Abbot of the secular church of S. Girolamo di Veroli (diocese of Trani). Ughelli, p. 906. Eubel, I, p.491. Joannes de Anagnia, O.Min. (17 June 1297 – 1299)Giovanni d'Anagni was appointed by Pope Boniface VIII. He had previously been Bishop of Zadar (Jadrensis) in Dalmatia (1291–1297). Ughelli, p. 906. Eubel, I, pp. 281, 491. Oddo (6 November 1299 – 1317)A native of Rome and a member of the Archione family, Oddo had previously been Archpriest of Tyensis, and was a Papal Chaplain. Pope Boniface VIII had suppressed the election of Canon Nicholas of Trani, and then the election of Magister Lorenzo, Canon of Ravello. Ughelli, p. 907. Eubel, I, p. 491, with note 5. Bartholomaeus (8 July 1317 – 1327)Bartholomew, a former Canon of Trani, had previously been Bishop of Ragusa (1312–1317). Ughelli, p. 907. Eubel, I, pp. 411, 491. Bartholomaeus Brancaccio (23 December 1327 – 14 November 1341)Born of Neapolitan aristocracy, Brancaccio had been Archdeacon of Bari. He had been an ambassador of King Robert of Naples early in 1335 to offer congratulations to Pope Benedict XII on his election. He served as Vicechancellor of the Kingdom of Naples. Ughelli, p. 907. Eubel, I, p. 491. Brancaccio was Doctor of Canon Law (Bologna 1324): Andreas (4 March 1342 – 1342)Andreas died in Avignon before he could take possession. Eubel, I, p. 491.