In 946, Pope Agapitus II (946–955) personally consecrated two bishops, the priest and monk Leo for the diocese of Trivento, and the priest Benedict for the diocese of Termoli. This produced an immediate protest from Archbishop Joannes of Benevento, who, as metropolitan, enjoyed the privilege of consecrated suffragan bishops in his ecclesiastical province. Agapitus admitted that he had done this in ignorance and contrary to the rules (irrationabiliter a sese episcopis consecratis et ipsum ordinem rei nesciente), and he ordered the clergy and laity of the two dioceses not to receive Leo and Benedict as their rightful bishops.
According to Ferdinando Ughelli, whose information is repeated by nearly all authorities, the earliest known bishop of Termoli was Scio, who subscribed a bull of Pope John XIII in 969, establishing the ecclesiastical province of Benevento. The actual text of the bull, however, does not name Scio's diocese. The diocese was a suffragan (subordinate) of the archdiocese of Benevento.
The earthquake of 11 October 1125 caused considerable damage in Termoli.
In May 1219, the Emperor Frederick II gave orders that Termoli should be fortified with five fortresses (casalitia). In 1242, the Venetians, who had long been urged to come to the support of the Papal States in the struggle with Frederick II, finally opened a campaign in Apulia by attacking Termoli. The city was ruined. Frederick immediately had the castrum of Termoli rebuilt. In the autumn of 1297, Frederick wrote to the justiciar of the Capitinata, appointing Hugo de Abbemara castellan of the castrum of Termoli, and assigning him sufficient soldiers and a port officer.
In 1620, a serious earthquake caused heavy damage to the façade of the cathedral of Termoli. In 1677, the population of Termoli was c. 300 persons. In 1753, it was estimated at 1,000 persons. In the census of 1861, the population had risen to 2626.
The cathedral in Termoli is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and S. Bassus, whose body is buried in the church. It is administered by a corporation called the Chapter, consisting of twelve canons, including three dignities (the Archdeacon, the Archpriest, and the Primicerius). The cathedral is also a parish church, and the spiritual needs of the parishioners are serviced by the Archpriest.
After the French
Following the extinction of the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy, the Congress of Vienna authorized the restoration of the Papal States and the Kingdom of Naples. Since the French occupation had seen the abolition of many Church institutions in the Kingdom, as well as the confiscation of much Church property and resources, it was imperative that Pope Pius VII and King Ferdinand IV reach agreement on restoration and restitution. Ferdinand demanded the suppression of fifty dioceses.
A concordat was finally signed on 16 February 1818, and ratified by Pius VII on 25 February 1818. Ferdinand issued the concordat as a law on 21 March 1818. On 27 June 1818, Pius VII issued the bull De Ulteriore, in which the ecclesiastical province of Benevento was restored, including it suffragans, among them the diocese of Termoli. The decision was also made to suppress permanently the diocese of Guardialfiera, and to incorporate its territory into the diocese of Termoli.
New ecclesiastical province
Following the Second Vatican Council, and in accordance with the norms laid out in the council's decree, Christus Dominus chapter 40, Pope Paul VI ordered a reorganization of the ecclesiastical provinces in southern Italy. On 21 August 1976, he issued the decree "Ad apicem", creating the new ecclesiastical province entitled «Boianensis-Campobassensis», with its administrative center in Campobasso. The metropolitan archdiocese was assigned as suffragans the dioceses of Trivento (which had been immediately subject to the Holy See), Isernia-Venafro (which had been subject to the metropolitan archdiocese of Capua), and Termoli-Larino (which had been subject to the metropolitan archdiocese of Benevento.
^"qui ostendit privilegia
ab antecessoribus suis pontificibus facta, quod Triventina et Termolensis ecclesiae antiquitus subditae fuissent Beneventano episcopo."
^Kehr IX, p. 188, nos. 1-3. Cappelletti XIX, p. 351.
^Bullarum diplomatum et privilegiorum sanctorum romanorum pontificum Taurinensis editio (in Latin). Vol. I. Turin (Augusta Taurinorum: Dalmazzo 1858), p. 422. J.-P. Migne (ed.), Patrologiae Latinae Collectio Tomus CXXXV (Paris 1853), p. 978. Cappelletti III, p. 62, calls him "Sico sanctae Bleran. ecclesiae", while admitting that there are many differences between the original and published versions. Gerhard Schwartz, Die Besetzung der Bistümer Reichsitaliens unter den sächsischen und salischen Kaisern: mit den Listen der Bischöfe, 951-1122, (in German), (Leipzig: B.G. Teubner 1907), p. 255, provides evidence for Scio at Bieda. Klewitz, p. 51, accepts the attribution of Scio to the diocese of Bieda in Latium.
^Kehr IX, p. 187: "Termulensem ecclesiam antiquitus Beneventanae sedi subiectam esse patet ex bulla Agapiti II (n. 3), qua presbyterum quendam irrationabiliter a se in episcopum consecratum excommunicavit."
^M. Baratta, I terremoti d'Italia (Torino: Bocca 1901), pp. 25, 802: "fu pure danneggiata la facciata della cattedrale di Termoli." "Termoli fu gravemente danneggiato dal parossismo del 1125 per il quale Larino non rimase incolume."
^Eduard Winkelmann (1880), Acta imperii inedita, saeculi XIII et XIV: Urkunden und Briefe zur Geschichte des Kaiserreichs und des Konigreichs Sizilien Vol. I (Innsbruck: Wagner 1880), pp. 138–139: "... insuper in suburbio Termularum de demanio nostro casalitia quinque in maiori strata publica libere et omni servitio absoluta...."
^Camillo Manfroni, Storia della marina italiana (Livorno: R. Accademia navale 1899), p. 394. F. C. Hodgson, Venice in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries (London: George Allen 1910), p. 85.
^c. 1241–1245: "Castrum Termularum potest reparari per homines ipsius terre, item per homines baronie domini Corradi de Stipite et Thomasii fratris eius, item per homines Cebize, sancte Sophie, Celdoni et casalium suorum, Cerciae maioris et casalium suorum, Plenti, sancti Nicolai de Sacione, Civilelle de Celdono, Montislongi et Civitelle de Benosto." Winkelmann, p. 771.
^F. Torelli (1848), La chiave del concordato dell'anno 1818 I, second edition (Naples: Fibreno 1848), pp. 1-19.
^Pius VII, Bullarii Romani Continuatio Tomus 25 (Rome 1853), p. 58 § 15: "Ecclesia archiepiscopalis Beneventana dominio Sedis apostolicae etiam in temporalibus subjecta suffraganeas habere perget episcopales in regia ditione citra Pharum existentes ecclesias Avellinam, Arianensem, Bovinensem, Lucerinam, sancti Severi, Cerretanam et Thelesinam unitas, Bojanensem, Thermularum, Larinensem , et sanctae Agathae Gothorum..."
^"De Ulteriore", p. 58 § 11: "Supprimimus ulterius episcopalem ecclesiam Guardiensem, ac civitatem et dioecesim Guardiensem episcopali ecclesiae Thermularum perpetuo unimus atque incorporamus..." Guardialfiera is a small town near Cerrato, which had its first bishop in 1075 and its last in 1804.
^Christus Dominus 40. Therefore, in order to accomplish these aims this sacred synod decrees as follows: 1) The boundaries of ecclesiastical provinces are to be submitted to an early review and the rights and privileges of metropolitans are to be defined by new and suitable norms. 2) As a general rule all dioceses and other territorial divisions that are by law equivalent to dioceses should be attached to an ecclesiastical province. Therefore dioceses which are now directly subject to the Apostolic See and which are not united to any other are either to be brought together to form a new ecclesiastical province, if that be possible, or else attached to that province which is nearer or more convenient. They are to be made subject to the metropolitan jurisdiction of the bishop, in keeping with the norms of the common law. 3) Wherever advantageous, ecclesiastical provinces should be grouped into ecclesiastical regions for the structure of which juridical provision is to be made.
^Acta Apostolicae Sedis 68 (Città del Vaticano 1976), pp. 594-595.
^Bishop Nicolaus was present at the consecration of the new basilica dedicated to Saint Benedict at the monastery of Montecassino on 1 October 1071, by Pope Alexander II. He was assisted by Cardinal Hildebrand and other cardinals, by ten archbishops, and forty-four bishops, as well as abbots, clergy, nobles, and people. Luigi Tosti, Storia della Badia di Monte-cassino, (in Italian), I (Napoli: F. Cirelli 1842), pp. 337-341; 403-411. Leo Marsicanus, "Chronica Monasterii Cassinensis", Book III, (in Latin), in: Monumenta Germaniae Historia Scriptorum Tomus VII (Hannover: Hahn 1846), pp. 719-722. Ughelli VIII, p. 374. Klewitz, p. 51. He was present at the Third Provincial Council of Benevento on 1 April 1075. Synodicon S. Beneventanensis ecclesiae continens concilia 19... cura, labore... fr. Vincentii Mariae... cardinalis Vrsini archiepiscopi, (in Latin), (Benevento: ex typographia Archiepiscopali, 1695), p. 22.
^Jocelinus: Klewitz, p. 51, citing Di Meo, but noting that there is no documentary evidence.
^Magister Valentinus had been a canon of the collegiate church "Garganice", was elected by the Chapter of Termoli, and confirmed by the archbishop of Benevento. On 16 October 1254, permission was granted by Pope Innocent IV to the bishops of Larino, Guardia, and Fiorentino to consecrate him. Élie Berger, Les registres d'Innocent IV Tome III (Paris: Fontemoing 1897), p.549, no, 8080. Eubel I, p. 483.
^Jacopo de Ceni (Senis), O.P.: Cappelletti XIX, p. 353. Eubel I, p. 484.
^Domenico: Cappelletti XIX, p. 353. Eubel I, p. 484.
^Antonio was appointed on 20 (or 22) November 1422, by Pope Martin V. He died in 1455. Ughelli VIII, p. 376, no. 21. Cappelletti XIX, p. 353. Eubel I, p. 484; II, p. 247.
^Tucius (Tuccio) or Duccio, a canon of the cathedral Chapter of Termoli, was appointed bishop by Pope Nicholas V on 23 January 1455. He died in 1465. Ughelli VIII, p. 376, no. 22. Cappelletti XIX, p. 353. Eubel II, p. 247.
^A native of Città di Castello (Tifernum), Muzi held the degree of Doctor in utroque iure. He was appointed bishop of Termoli by Pope Clement VIII at the consistory of 31 January 1594. He served for four months and eleven days, and died on 11 October 1594. Giovanni Muzi, Memorie ecclesiastiche e civili di Città di Castello Vol. 5 (Città di Castello: presso Francesco Donati, 1843). p. 223 (quoting his tombstone). Gauchat, Hierarchia catholica IV, p. 334 with note 2.
^Drago had been Commissarius of the Holy Office of the Roman Inquisition in Rome. He was appointed bishop of Termoli by Pope Clement VIII on 29 November 1599. He died on 3 January 1601. Gauchat IV, p. 334 with note 4."Bishop Alberto Drago, O.P."Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved March 21, 2016.
^Mezio had been a "corrector" at the Vatican Library, and was learned in both Latin and Greek. In 1580, he became professor of Greek at the Collegio Graeco in Rome. He was named bishop of Teramo on 14 January 1602 by Pope Clement VIII. He died in 1612. Gauchat IV, p. 334 with note 5.
^Camillus was a member of the nobility of Ferrara, and was Primicerius in the Chapter of the cathedral of Ferrara. He was appointed bishop of Termoli on 3 December 1612 by Pope Paul V. On 2 March 1626, Bishop Camillo Mori (Moro) was appointed Bishop of Comacchio by Pope Urban VIII. Ughelli VIII, p. 377, no. 37. Gauchat IV, pp. 157 with note 4; 334 with note 6.
^De Monte was appointed by Pope Urban VIII on 16 March 1626. He was consecrated on 25 March 1626. He died 7 days after his consecration (Cappelletti); or in the seventh month (Ughelli: post septimum suae consecrationis mensem); or in July (Gauchat). Ughelli VIII, p. 377, no. 38. Cappelletti XIX, p. 355. Gauchat, p. 334 with note 7. "Bishop Hector de Monte"Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved March 21, 2016.
^Born in Casali (Diocese of Como), Cappello had been a Consultor at the Holy Office of the Roman Inquisition. He was named bishop of Termoli on 26 November 1626, by Pope Urban VIII. He died in 1643. Ughelli VIII, p. 377–378, no. 39. Gauchat, Hierarchia catholica IV, p. 334 with note 8.
^Crescenzi was a Roman, the nephew of Cardinal Pier Paolo Crescenzi (d. 1645). He served as Prefect of the Apostolic Camera. He was appointed bishop of Teramo on 13 July 1643 by Pope Urban VIII. On 13 June 1644 Crescenzi was appointed Bishop of Ortona a Mare e Campli. He was appointed a cardinal by Pope Clement X in the consistory of 27 May 1675, and assigned the titulus of Santa Prisca. He died on 8 May 1688. Gauchat IV, p. 334 with note 9. Ritzler & Sefrin V, p. 9, no. 15. David M. Cheney, "Alessandro Cardinal Crescenzi, C.R.S. "Catholic-Hierarchy.org; retrieved August 9, 2016.
^Born in Naples, Manzoni held the degree of doctor of theology. He was consecrated a bishop on 26 August 1635, in Rome, at Santa Maria Maggiore, byCardinal Francesco Maria Brancaccio,
assisted by Fabrizio Suardi, Bishop of Lucera, and by Sismondo Taddei, Bishop of Bitetto. He had been Bishop of Lavello from 1635 to 1644. He was appointed bishop of Termoli on 13 July 1644 by Pope Urban VIII. Manzoni died in 1651. Gauchat IV, pp. 207 with note 10; 334 with note 10. André Chapeau, Charles N. Bransom and Jr. (1988), "Franciscan Bishops," (Part 2), in: Franciscan Studies, Vol. 48 (1988), pp. 269–354, at p. 330, no. 25.
^A native of Spoleto, Leoncilli held the degree of Doctor in utroque iure. He was appointed bishop in the papal consistory of 3 July 1651 by Pope Innocent X. He died in 1652 or 1653. Gauchat IV, p. 334 with note 11.
^Manelli was a native of Aversa. He was appointed bishop of Termoli by Pope Innocent X in the consistory of 3 February 1653. He resigned the diocese 1662. He erected his own monument in Santa Prassede in Rome in 1684, and died in Rome in July 1696. Ughelli VIII, p. 378. Cappelletti XIX, p. 355. Gauchat IV, p. 334 with note 12.
^Maracchi died in Termoli in August 1676. Ritzler & Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica V, p. 376, note 2.
^Savo: Ritzler & Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica V, p. 376 with note 3.
^On 14 December 1705, Bishop Petirro was appointed Bishop of Pozzuoli by Pope Clement XI. He died in June 1709. Ritzler & Sefrin V, pp. 325 with note 9; 376 with note 5.
^Catalani: Ritzler & Sefrin V, p. 376 with note 6.
^Silvestri: Ritzler & Sefrin V, p. 376 with note 9.
^Pitella: Cappelletti XIX, p. 356. Ritzler & Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VI, p. 403 with note 2.
^Giannelli: Cappelletti XIX, p. 356. Ritzler & Sefrin VI, p. 403 with note 3.
^Bucarelli: Cappelletti XIX, p. 356. Ritzler & Sefrin VI, p. 403 with note 4.
^Toppi was born in Marigliano (diocese of Nola) in 1725. He became a Benedictine in 1741. He was secretary general of his congregation in 1769, and then Prior of the monastery of S. Benedict in Ariano, and then Abbot of the monastery of Ss. Salvator e Guglielmo in Goleta. He was Abbot General of his entire congregation in 1777, and then Abbot of the monastery of Monte Vergine. He was nominated bishop of Teramo by King Ferdinand IV on 15 February 1792, and confirmed by Pope Pius VI on 18 June 1792. He died c. 1800. Cappelletti XIX, p. 356. Ritzler & Sefrin VI, p. 403 with note 5.
^Bolognese was a native of Chieti, and a canon of the cathedral. He was nominated bishop of Termoli by Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies on 8 October 1818, and approved by Pope Pius VII on 29 March 1819. On 19 April 1822, Bishop Bolognese was confirmed by Pope Pius VII as Bishop of Andria. Cappelletti XIX, p. 357. Ritzler & Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VII, pp. 74, 366. Riccardo Loconte (1962), I vescovi di Andria (Tip. "Don Bosco" R. Esabon, 1962), p. 34.
^On 13 March 1826, Bishop Consiglio was confirmed as Bishop of Brindisi by Pope Leo XII. Ritzler & Sefrin VII, pp. 119, 366.
^A native of Lucato (diocese of Termoli), De Rubertis was a doctor of theology and also held the degree of Doctor in utroque iure. He had been rector of the seminary, and was archpriest of the collegiate church of S. Niccolò of Bari in Termoli. He was nominated bishop of Termoli by King Francis I of the Two Sicilies on 31 January 1827, and confirmed by Pope Leo XII on 9 April 1827. He was consecrated by Cardinal Francesco Bertazzoli at S. Pantaleone in Rome He died on 1 September 1845. Diario di Roma no. 32 (Roma: Cracas 1827), p. 2. D'Avino, p. 671, col. 2. Cappelletti XIX, p. 357.
^Ventura was a native of Bisceglia, and was a canon of the Collegiata de ' SS . Matteo é Niccolò. He held the degree of Doctor in utroque iure. He was nominated bishop of Termoli on 5 September 1846 by King Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies, and confirmed on 21 December 1846 by Pope Pius IX. On 20 April 1849, Bishop Ventura was confirmed as Archbishop of Amalfi. He died in 1862. Diario di Roma 22 dicembre (Roma: Cracas 1846), p. 1. Ritzler & Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VIII, pp. 92, 549.
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