Its first bishop known to history was Evandrus, who assisted at the Council of Rome in 313.
In 1077, Pope Gregory VII granted the sovereignty of the island of Corsica to Pisa. In 1347, Pisa was forced to cede its control over the island of Corsica to Genoa. Pope Eugene IV tried to reestablish papal sovereignty, but he failed.
At the end of the sixteenth century, the Cathedral of Ajaccio had only two dignities, the Archpriest and the Archdeacon, and three Canons with three prebends. Pope Sixtus V added five Canons, making a total of ten members of the body. In 1695, there were two dignities and twelve Canons.
In 1759, Ajaccio had a population of around 5,000, under the political control of the Republic of Genoa, though the diocese was suffragan to the Metropolitan of Pisa. The Cathedral had one dignity and thirteen canons, there was one monastery of monks.
Before the French Revolution, Corsica contained five other dioceses:
Diocese of Accia (vacant since 1563, and merged with the diocese of Mariana; both suppressed in 1790);
and Diocese of Nebbio (whose bishop resided in the port of Saint-Florent).
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy (1791) suppressed all these bishoprics in favor of one diocese for the entire island, called the Diocese de Corse, inside the province of the Côtes de la Méditerranée.
The Byzantine ruins at Mariana perpetuate the memory of the church built by the Pisans in the 12th century.
Cathedral
There is a legend that the bishops banished from Africa to Corsica in 484 by Hunneric, ArianKing of the Vandals, built with their own hands the primitive cathedral of Ajaccio. The present cathedral, dating from 1554 to 1593, owes its construction to the initiative of Gregory XIII, who while still Ugo Buoncompagni, spent some time at Ajaccio as papal legate. The see was left vacant for five years, during which time the diocesan revenues were applied to the building of the cathedral. It was finished by Bishop Giustiniani after his nomination. It is said that the cathedral was designed by Giacomo della Porta, but a guidebook remarks, "Se è vero, non era molto in forma." Napoleon Bonaparte's uncle Lucien (Luciano) was Archdeacon of the Church of Ajaccio. Napoleon was baptized in the Cathedral on 21 July 1771.
^Evandrus ab Ursino: Ughelli, III, pp. 493–494. J. D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio editio novissima Tomus II (Florence 1759), p. 437.
^Benedictus was present at the Lateran council of 649 under Pope Martin I. Mansi, Tomus X (Florence 1764), p. 866. Gams, p. 764.
^Petrus had been transferred from the diocese of Ampurias (Sardinia) (1395–1401). He was appointed by Boniface IX, of the Roman Obedience. Eubel, I, p. 71, 86.
^A Florentine, Alberti had been Bishop of Orte (1395–1420). He was transferred from Ajaccio to Asculi Piceno on 19 October 1422. Eubel, I, 71, 111.
^Andreas had been Bishop of Ciudad Rodrigo (1410–1422). He was transferred from Ajaccio to the titular bishopric of Megara in Greece on 5 May 1428. Ughelli, pp. 494–495. Eubel, I, 71, 190, 333.
^Offida was a Master of theology. Eubel, I, p. 71.
^Calderini was a Doctor of Canon Law. On 18 July 1438 he was transferred to Sagona (Corsica); in 1443 he was transferred to Savona; in 1466 he was transferred to Albenga. He died in 1472. Eubel, II, p. 79, 84 227, 229.
^Fregoso was Archbishop of Genoa (1453–1498). Doge of Genoa (for the third time), 1483. Eubel, II, p. 167.
^Filippo Pallavicini of Genoa was the nephew of Cardinal Antoniotto Pallavicini. He died in 1515. Ughelli, p. 495. Eubel, II, p. 79; III, p. 94, note 2.
^A native of Genoa, Giacomo Pallavicini was the nephew of his predecessor, as well as his coadjutor. Eubel, III, p. 94, with note 3.
^Tornabuoni was secretary (until 1538) and chamberlain of Pope Clement VII, who appointed him Bishop of Borgo San Sepolcro (1522–1539). In December 1529 he was sent as Nuncio to Flanders by Clement VII. In 1539 the Genoese authorities refused to grant Tornabuoni possession of the diocese of Ajaccio. On 9 April 1539 Pope Paul III had to write to the Genoese demanding his installation, but in November had to extend the term of Tornabuoni executing his bulls. He was buried in Santo Spiritu in Sasso in Rome on 31 August 1544. Eubel III, p. 94, with notes 4 and 6.
^Doctor in utroque iure (Civil and Canon Law). Maggiordomo of Pope Paul III. Commander of the Hospital of Santo Spiritu. In 1548 he resigned the diocese. He died on 7 October 1552 in Rome. Eubel, III, p. 94, with note 8.
^Bernardi was a native of Lucca. Papal Chamberlain. Scriptor litterarum Apostolicarum (papal secretary). In 1562 he was at the Council of Trent. Ughelli, pp. 496–497. Eubel, III, p. 94, with note 9.
^Guidiccioni was a native of Lucca. He died at the age of 46. Ughelli, p. 497.
^Giustiniani was a native of Genoa. He was a Doctor in theology. Ughelli, pp. 499–500. Gauchat, IV, p. 68 with note 2.
^Rivarola, a native of Genoa, was the nephew of Cardinal Dominico Rivarola. He was Doctor in utroque iure (Civil Law and Canon Law), and was appointed Referendary of the Two Signatures, Vice-Legate in the Romandiola, and Vice-Governor of Fermo. Ughelli, p. 500. Gauchat, IV, p. 68 with note 3.
^Donghi, a native of Genoa, had been created a cardinal-deacon by Pope Urban VIII on 13 July 1643, and assigned the Deaconry of San Giorgio in Velabro. He was transferred to Imola on 2 August 1655. Gauchat, p. 26, no. 70; p. 68, with note 4; and p. 209.
^Strassera was a native of Genoa, and was a professor of theology. He was appointed on 11 October 1655, and died on 28 April, 1656. Gauchat, IV, p. 68, with note 5.
^Ardizzoni was born at Tabiae (Taggia) in the diocese of Albenga (Liguria). He was Doctor in utroque iure (Civil and Canon Law) from Bologna. He was appointed to Ajaccio on 28 August 1656, and died in November 1685. Gauchat, IV, p. 68 with note 6. Ritzler, V, p. 68, note 2.
^Inurea was born in Genoa. He rose to be General of the Camaldolese Order. He died on 10 March 1694. Ritzler, V, p. 68 with note 3.
^Gentile was born in Genoa. He held doctorates in philosophy and theology from the University of Parma. He was consecrated in Rome by Cardinal Bandino Panciatici on 19 September 1694. He died in September 1695. Ritzler, V, p. 68 with note 4.
^Sacco was born in Savona. He was lecturer in theology, and became Provost in his convents in Ravenna and in Rome. He was consecrated in Rome by Cardinal Pietro Petrucci on 30 November 1695. He was transferred to the diocese of Brugnato on 27 March 1697; he died there on 21 December 1721. Ritzler, V, p. 68 with note 5; p. 128 with n. 3.
^Spinola was transferred to Savona on 23 September 1722. Ritzler, V, p. 68 with note 7.
^Lomellino resigned on 26 November 1741, and was transferred to the titular Archbishopric of Hierapolis. Ritzler, V, p. 68 with note 8.
^Centurione was born in Pavomia, in the diocese of Sagona on Corsica. He held a Doctorate in theology. He was consecrated in Rome on 30 November 1741 by Cardinal Pompeio Aldovrando. He died in Ajaccio on 11 November 1758. Ritzler, VI, p. 65 with note 2.
^Born in Rogliano, in the diocese of Mariana on Corsica, Doria was a Doctor in utroque iure (Civil and Canon Law) (Pisa 1759); Consultor of the Inquisition in Genoa. He was a Canon in the Cathedral of Genoa. Doria was consecrated in Rome on 4 June 1759 by Cardinal Joaquin Fernández de Portocarrero. He died in La Spezia on 17 September 1794. Gams, p. 764. Ritzler, VI, p. 65 with note 3.
^Olivieri had been Vicar-General for Bishop de la Foata. He was Chevalier of the Legion of Honor (1898). Casta, pp. 215–217.
^This was during the struggle over, and implementation of, the Law of Separation. Casta, pp. 217–227.
^A native of Ajaccio, Desanti had been Canon of the Cathedral of Ajaccio. Casta, pp. 224–233.
^Simeone was born in Marseille and was a follower of Bishop Pierre-Paulin Andrieu, who became a Cardinal in 1907. He studied at the French College in Rome, and held a doctorate in theology. He was Canon of the Cathedral of Marseille. Casta, pp. 233–235.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Diocese of Ajaccio". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
