At the Synod of Rome, convened in order to settle the conflict between the patriarchs of Aquileia and Grado, Pope John XIX condemns Patriarch Poppo’s invasion of Grado, revokes his earlier privilege according to which he was given ecclesiastical jurisdiction over the “island of Grado”, and confirms the metropolitan status of the Patriarchate of Grado.
Iohannesa episcopus servus servorum Dei.
Si mortalibus inevitabiliter non inmineretb accidens ex prothoplastic parentis vitio deficere, nulla penitusd ratio cogeret acta eorumdem servanda futuris seculis bona ad exemplum vel improbae ad cautelamf stilog inextricabilih commendarei, illaj minusk idoneum foretl auctores presentes inspicere et acta exequi exaratam. Sed quia, ut premissum est, primi parentis piaculo instantia veterorumn deficere cepit, providereo eorum invenit humanitas, ne secum deperirent gesta propria, ad informationem sequentium, si clara, velp ad evitationemq, sir obscura fuerint, debere adnotaris, ut ipsa adnotatiot innumeras etatesu superans significaret, quidv utile quidve gestum fuisset inutile et lucida indagatione verum aw falso in tempore opportunox secerneret. Quod si esty in secularibus negotiis id servari sancitumz, cautius et diligentius in ecclesiasticis est observandum, qui tanto tempestatem seculi exorrentaa quanto quiete perpetua ardent, tanto inquietudinem refugiunt mortalium quanto soli viventi Deo in secula seculorum placere desiderant.
Cuiusab rei gratia omnibus sancte Dei Ecclesieac filiisad notum esse volumus, quod inter Ursonem patriarcham Gradensem et Poponem Foroiuliensemae patriarcham, prohaf dolor, nostris temporibus zabuloag ventilante commotumah est et ad quod usque perductum.
Conspirante namque Veneticorum populo contra dominum suum ducem et prelibatum patriarcham fratrem suum, uterqueai post habitis dignitatibus et curis, queaj ad se pertinebant, alias se receptar(unt)ak, donec sopitis secularibus insolentiis quieteal ad sua repedare quivissentam, sicut postea rei probavitan eventusao.
Interea veroap antiquoaq zelo accensusar hostisas Foroiuliensisat patriarcha Popoau Gradensem civitatem adiitav, petens se recipi a civibus adiutorem confratrisaw sui patriarche Gradensis et amici sui ducis. Cui cum nollent acquiescereax per decem et octo suorum sacramenta firmavit, sicut referente Ursone patriarcha et quamplurimis Veneticorum nobilibusay ac tuncaz provincialium episcopis didicimus, quod ad salvam faciendam duci et fratri suo patriarche civitatem intraret.
Ubi, postquam intratum estba, oblitus sacramentorum gentilium morebb, ut de secularibus audivimus, quicquidbc in ecclesia inventum est, uncabd manu depredatusbe est, duorum monasteriorum sanctimonialesbf stupratebg ac violate a suis sunt neque monachis pepercitbh. Quinbi etiambj defunctorum corpora quietem desiderantia ebk propriis tumulisbl auferens ad civitatem suam inhonoratabm transtulit, reliquias minus tamen quam desiderabatbn similiter secum devexitbo, altaria confregitbp, thesauros abstulit, civitatem aliquibus patronis Gradensem licet destitutam munitambq suis relinquens. Cui non sufficiens hoc “apposuit iniquitatesbr super iniquitatesbs”1.
Nos suisbt legatisbu petiitbv poscens confirmationem omnium locorum suorum a nobis et nominatim Gradensis insulebw. Quibus cum responderemusbx, non sibi iuste et canonice ac per antiqua privilegia pertinere, dixerunt: “Non aliter eaby petit dominus nosterbz sibi confirmari, nisi quemadmodum per privilegia vestrorumca antecessorum suis antecessoribus et ecclesie sue confirmata est etcb sibi iuste et canonice pertinere videtur ac ipse probare potest et promittit.”
His auditis nec arbitrantes eum audere illuderecc Apostolice Sedi et maxime, quia novimus pro hac ratione Ursonem patriarcham a bone memorie domno Benedicto papa fratrecd nostroce Romamcf vocatum et venire non posset sub excusationecg imperialisch timoris, licet legatos suos mitteret, petitionibus suisci condescendentescj privilegium sibi dare filio nostro Petro diacono et cancellario precepimus. Sed et de insula Gradensi inseri iussimus, sicut audietis: “Preterea confirmamusck vobis insulam Gradensem cum suiscl pertinentiis, sicut iuste et canonice per antiqua privilegia vobis et ecclesie vestre pertinere dinoscitur et sicutcm tu ipse iuste probare omni tempore potes et promittis, ita ut secundum Deum tibi eam ordinare liceat.”
Quod totum in contrarium accidit, quia nec iuste sibi pertinere convictus estcn. Qui vocatus ad satisfactionemco de hoc Gradensi patriarche, sicut promisit, venire distulit nec secundum Deumcp dictamcq ordinavit insulam neque antiqua percr privilegia eam sibi pertinere, ut promiserat, ostendit. Privilegium, quod scriptum est, sub prefatacs conditionect manu nostra corroboratumcu, per suos remissumcv est nuncios.
Post eorum reversionem nondum expletocw triduo nuncius patriarche Gradensis supervenit flebilem nobis representanscx epistolam, quam cum legissemus magno merore affecti sumus. Sed recuperata spe ex eo, quod probarecy omni tempore iustitiam se habere promisitcz, nuncium nostrum Gregorium fide probatum et omnida eloquentia insignem ad utrumque misimus cum epistolis paterne vocantibus eos ad nostram synodumdb. Sed Popodc visis litteris commotus in tantum estdd, sicutde Gregorius retulit, quod nec etiam caput inclinaretdf, sed potiusdg tenorem privilegii denegaretdh. Et quia predictamdi Gradensem insulam haberet, querebaturdj, nec posse se venire ad nostram synodumdk nulla dignadl ratione interdicente profitebatur. Sed de tenore privilegii in eodem loco vinctusdm est mendacemdn essedo, quia exemplar demonstratum est a Gregorio. Cui revertenti iunxitdp se Urso patriarcha nos vocatus adiens. Quod cum cognovisset Popo Foroiuliensisdq patriarcha monachum quemdamdr legatum ad nos misitds nulla probabili ratione nec iusta defensione, ut promiseratdt, munitum. Quem cum retinere audito adventu Ursonis patriarche voluissemusdu, fugam arripuit. Veniens autem ante nos patriarcha Gradensis triduo flebiliterdv questus estdw.
Posteadx verody congregata synodo in ecclesia beati Silvestri infra nostrum palatiumdz residentibus nobiscum venerabilibus episcopis Petroea Pipernensieb, Benedicto Portuensi, Dominico Lavicanensi, Bosoneec Tiburtinensied, Reginerioee Nepinensief, Benedicto Cerensi, Dodone Nucerensi, Petro Prenestinensi, Iohanne Bledensi, Iohanne Ortensi,eg Azo, Amato seu Benedicto episcopis ac diaconibus, Benedicto archidiacono, Crescentioeh diacono, Petro diacono archicancellario, Crescentio et Rainarioei diaconibus et cardinalibusej, Stephanoek, Petro, Iohanne et alioel Iohanne seu ceterisem, tam episcopis quam presbiteris necnon diaconibus, quorum subtus manus ascripte esse subcernuntur.
Omnes res per ordinemen relate sunt atque privilegia antecessorum nostrorum, scilicet sanctissimi Pelagii2, Gregorii3 et Honorii4, Stephanieo/5, item Gregorii6, Leonis7, Sergii8, item Leonis9, Benedicti10, Adriani11, Bonifacii12, Romani13, Theodori14, Anastasii15, Iohannis16, Silvestri17, item Sergii18 ostensa, quorum imitantes quam plurima de eadem Gradensi sede instituta talem definitionemep promeruit, uteq privilegium confirmationis iudicio nostrorum episcoporum sibi suisque successoribus de eiusdem sedis stabilitate perpetualiter faceremus.
Quod et fecimus statuenteser apostolica censura sub divini iudicii obtestatione, ut nullies umquamet in tempore predictum Ursonem patriarcham ac successores eius de predicto Patriarchatu Gradensi sive de rebus ac possessionibus eiuseu inquietare aut molestare presumatev, sed potius sepius nominatum Patriarchatumew Gradensem cum sua integritate quietusex remota omniey contradictione ipse suiqueez successores perpetuis possideant temporibus, ita etiam ut absque suo suorumque successorum voluntario consensu nulli electionemfa suorum suffraganeorumfb facere liceat. Et quicquid ab eis iuxta normam canonicam pro commissafc sibi ecclesie cura prolatum fuerit, tam a suffraganeis sibi episcopis quamfd a clero etfe populo, custodiri precipimus.
Quiff vero hec, que a nobis pio intuitu promulgatafg suntfh, infringere autfi in aliquofj transgredi presumpserit, omnipotentis Dei incurrat et nostrofk anathemate confossus pereat, sed et cum diabolo perpetuo damnatusfl gemat.
Qui autem custos etfm observatorfn huius nostri apostolici privilegii extiterit, gratiam mereaturfo sanctissimefp Trinitatis et nostra benedictione fruatur ac in secula seculorum letetur.
Scriptum per manusfq Georgiifr scriniariifs sancte Romane ecclesie in mense decembrift, indictione octava.
(SC) (BV)fu
(SC)fv Ego Benedictus episcopus Portuensis interfui et subscripsi.
(SC) Ego Bosusfw episcopusfx sancte Tiburtinefy ecclesie subscripsi.
(SC) Egofz Petrus episcopusga Hostiensis subscripsi.
(SC) Egogb Dominicus episcopusgc Lavicanensis ecclesie subscripsi.
(SC) Egogd Benedictusge episcopusgf sancte Cerensis ecclesiegg subscripsi.
(SC) Egogh Iohannes episcopus sancte Ortanegi ecclesie subscripsi.
(SC) Egogj Ragyneriusgk episcopusgl sancte Nepesinegm ecclesiegn subscripsi.
(SC) Egogo Petrus episcopus sancte Pipernensisgp ecclesie subscripsi.
(SC) Egogq Benedictus episcopus de Porta Latina subscripsi.
(SC) Egogr Dodo episcopus Nucerensisgs subscripsi.
(SC) Egogt Azo episcopus Camerinensisgu subscripsi.
(SC) Egogv Iohannes episcopusgw sancte Bledane ecclesie subscripsi.
(SC) Egogx Amatusgy episcopusgz subscripsi.
(SC) Egoha Leohb episcopushc sancte Ficoclensishd ecclesiehe subscripsi.
(SC) Ego Monaldus episcopus sancte Ariminensis ecclesiehf ex iussione domini Iohannis papehg subscripsi.
(SC) Ego Berardus sancte Fulgiliensis ecclesie episcopus ex iussione domini Iohannis pape subscripsi.hh
(SC) Egohi Benedictus archidiaconus et vicedominushj subscripsi.
(SC) Egohk Petrus diaconus sancte Romane ecclesie et cancellarius sacri palatii subscripsi.
(SC) Egohl Crescentius diaconus subscripsi.
(SC) Egohm Rigineriushn diaconus subscripsi.
(SC) Egoho Crescentius diaconus subscripsihp.
(SC) Ego Stephanus cardinalis interfui.hq
(SC) Egohr Iohannes cardinalis titulohs sancti Marcelli interfui.
(SC) Egoht Iohannes cardinalis sancti Marci interfui.
a) D; Ioannes et undique sic T; Ioannes in litteris capitalibus D'; Ioannus et undique sic D''. b) imminar cum sign. abbr. supra ultimam litteram D''. c) DD''; prothoplastis T; protoplasti D'. d) DD''; pęnitus et saepe sic -e in -ę mutavit T. e) improbra DD'. f) cautellam D'D''. g) stillo D''. h) inestricabili D'D''. i) comendare D'. j) quia D'; etiam D''. k) illa minus] quia nimirium D; seq. iudeneum canc. T; etiam minens (lect. dub.) D''. l) om. et lineam horizontalem posuit D''. m) extracta DD'. n) subsignavit T. o) provida D; provide D'; prout de D''. p) om. D''. q) denigrationem D''. r) om. DD''. s) annotari D''. t) annotatio D''. u) DD'; aetates et saepe sic -e in -ae mutavere TD''. v) quod D''. w) an D. x) D'; oportuno TD. y) si est] et si D; si et D'D''. z) seq. est add. DD'D''. aa) exorent D''. ab) cui D. ac) ecclesię et saepe sic -e in -ę mutavit D''. ad) Ecclesie filiis] ecclesiis D'. ae) Foriulensem D'. af) D; proho T; proc D'; pro D''. ag) diabolo D; tabulo D''. ah) comotum D'. ai) ut et quod D; utrique D'D''. aj) om. D''. ak) receptar cum signo abbr. supra ultimam litteram D''; receptarunt ed. Zimmermann et Jasper; receptare TD'; recepitare D. al) ex qui etiam corr. al. man. in marg. T; quieti DD''; qui etiam D'. am) quissent D'. an) probare D''. ao) rei probavit eventus] reprobaverint D; rei probaverentur D'. ap) interea vero] batereano D; interea D''. aq) antiqui D''. ar) acensis D; accensis D'; accensi D''. as) hostibus D'. at) D; Foriuliensis et saepe sic TD''; Foriulensibus D'. au) papa D. av) DD'D''; adit T. aw) confratri D; comfratris D'. ax) adquiescere D''. ay) subsignavit T. az) ac tunc] actum est DD'D''. ba) intratum est] intraverit D'. bb) om. D''. bc) quidquid D'. bd) unica DD'. be) depredatum D. bf) sanctę moniales D''. bg) strupate D'D''. bh) om. D''. bi) quod DD'; om. D''. bj) et D''. bk) om. DD''. bl) tumulist D. bm) inhonorati D. bn) desiderabit D''. bo) decevta D''. bp) etiam fregit D'. bq) subsignavit T; monitam DD'D''. br) iniquitate D'. bs) iniquitate DD'D''. bt) nos suis] novos D''. bu) legatum D. bv) petunt D. bw) Gradensis insule] subsignavit T. bx) D'; respondere cum sign. abbr. T; responderetur DD''. by) eam DD''. bz) dominus noster] a n(ostro) iure D. ca) nostrorum D''. cb) ac D'. cc) inludere D'D''. cd) DD'D''; fratrem T. ce) DD'D''; om. T. cf) add. sup. l. T; om. DD'D''. cg) recusatione D. ch) imperiali D''. ci) eius DD'. cj) condescendimus DD'D''. ck) comfirmamus D'. cl) DD'D''; om. T. cm) sic D''. cn) convictus est] convicitur DD'; convenit D''. co) satisfaciendum DD'D''. cp) domini D''. cq) dictum D''. cr) om. D'. cs) prefacta D'. ct) est datione D''. cu) coroboratus D'; coroboratum D''. cv) emissum D; ei missum D'; amissum D''. cw) expleti per D. cx) representatis D''. cy) probari DD'D''. cz) promissit D'. da) comuni DD'D''. db) sinodum et saepe sic D'D''. dc) papa D. dd) in tantum est] DD'; hertatum est D''; om. et spatium vacuum rel. T. de) sic D''. df) inclinarent D. dg) sed potius] iter. D. dh) negaret DD'D''. di) DD''; perditam T; per dictam D'. dj) querebat D'. dk) sinodum et saepe sic D. dl) DD'D''; om. T. dm) convictus D; est vinctus D'. dn) mendax D; mendare D'. do) vinctus est mendacem esse] mendare esse inventus est D''. dp) unitur D''. dq) DD''; Foriuliensis T; Forliviensis D'. dr) quendam D''. ds) missit D'. dt) promisserat D'. du) DD'D''; voluissem T. dv) flebilem D'; flebile D''. dw) questus est] questionem D'. dx) post D''. dy) autem D''. dz) DD'D''; pallatium et undique sic T. ea) seq. Piperstiensi canc. D. eb) Pipinensi D''. ec) Bossone D'D''. ed) Tyburtinensi D. ee) Reginario D; Raginario D'D''. ef) ex Nepensi corr. T; Nemphyensi DD'; Nephensi D''. eg) Dodone Nucerensi—Iohanne Ortensi] om. D''. eh) Cresentio et undique sic D''. ei) et Rainario] Ceramario DD'. ej) Rainario diaconibus et cardinalibus] cervinerio D''. ek) DD'D''; Stefano T et undique sic. el) et alio] falio D; et D''. em) ceteri D'D''. en) per ordinem] DD'D''; pro ordine T. eo) D'; Stefani TD. ep) DD''; diffinitionem TD'. eq) I D''. er) statuenti D''. es) sic TDD'D''; nullus em. Jasper. et) unquam D''. eu) eum D'; ei D''. ev) presumant D''. ew) DD'; patriarcham TD''. ex) DD'D''; quietam T. ey) T et sic ed. Zimermann; omnium DD'D'' et sic ed. Jasper. ez) ex suisque corr. T. fa) DD'D'; ellectionem T. fb) suffraganeorum et saepe sic D'. fc) sic TDD'D''; commisse ed. Zimmermann et Jasper. fd) ex quamque corr. T; quamque DD'D'' et sic ed. Jasper. fe) de D''. ff) ex quod corr. T; quod D''. fg) sic TD; promulgate ed. Zimmermann et Jasper. fh) promulgata sunt] promulgatas D'D''. fi) om. D; vel D'D''. fj) in aliquo] mala quo D''. fk) nostra D'. fl) perpetuo damnatus] dampnatus perpetuo DD'; damnatus perpetuo D''. fm) de de D''. fn) observatur D''. fo) seq. et add. D. fp) sancte D'D''. fq) per manus] permansisse D''. fr) Gregorii D. fs) scrinanarii D''. ft) decembrio DD'D''. fu) om. D''. fv) DD'; omnia signa crucis om. TD''. fw) Bossus D'. fx) om. D'. fy) Tyburtine D. fz) om. D'D''. ga) om. D''. gb) om. DD'D''. gc) sancte D''. gd) om. DD'. ge) Dominicus D''. gf) DD'D''; om. T. gg) seq. episcopus add. T. gh) om. DD'D''. gi) sic TDD'D''; Ortensis ed. Zimmermann et Jasper. gj) om. DD'D''. gk) Raginerius DD'D''. gl) DD''; om. TD'. gm) Nemphesine DD''; Nephesine D'. gn) seq. episcopus add. T. go) om. DD'D''. gp) Pypernensis DD''. gq) om. DD''. gr) om. DD'D''. gs) Nucerinus D'. gt) om. DD'D''. gu) sancte Camerine ecclesie DD'D''. gv) om. DD'D''. gw) om. D. gx) om. DD'D''. gy) D et sic ed. Jasper; Almatius et sic ed. Zimmermann T. gz) DD'; om. T. ha) om. DD'. hb) episcopus subscripsi—Ego Leo] om. D''. hc) D; om. TD'. hd) Sicodensis D; Ficoclensis D'; Ficodensis D''. he) seq. episcopus add. T. hf) sancte Ariminensis ecclesie] DD'D'' et sic ed. Jasper; Ariminensis T et sic ed. Zimmermann. hg) DD'D''.; pappę et saepe pappa T. hh) Ego Berardus—pape subscripsi] DD'; om. TD''. hi) om. DD'D''. hj) vicecancellarius D. hk) om. DD'D''. hl) om. DD'D''. hm) om. DD'D''. hn) Raginerius DD'D''. ho) om. DD'D''. hp) Crescentius diaconus subscripsi] DD'D''; om. T. hq) des. D''. hr) om. DD'. hs) tituli D'. ht) om. DD'.
1) Vulg., Psalm. 68, 28.
2) Reference to doc. 579_PPG.
3) Reference to a document that survives only in regesto in Andrea Dandolo's Chronica per extensum descripta (ed. Pastorello, p. 88).
4) Reference to doc. 628_HPE.
5) Reference to doc. 768_SI.
6) Reference to doc. 731_SR.
7) Reference to doc. 803_PG.
8) Reference to doc. 844_SA.
9) Reference to doc. 852_PG.
10) Reference to doc. 858_PG.
11) Reference to a document that survives only in regesto in Andrea Dandolo's Chronica per extensum descripta (ed. Pastorello, p. 160).
12) Reference to a document that survives only in regesto in Andrea Dandolo's Chronica per extensum descripta (ed. Pastorello, p. 165).
13) Reference to a document that survives only in regesto in Andrea Dandolo's Chronica per extensum descripta (ed. Pastorello, p. 166).
14) Reference to a document that survives only in regesto in Andrea Dandolo's Chronica per extensum descripta (ed. Pastorello, p. 166).
15) Reference to a document that survives only in regesto in Andrea Dandolo's Chronica per extensum descripta (ed. Pastorello, p. 168).
16) Reference to documents that survive only in regesto in Andrea Dandolo's Chronica per extensum descripta (ed. Pastorello, pp. 170, 175, 177, 178).
17) Reference to a document that survives only in regesto in Andrea Dandolo's Chronica per extensum descripta (ed. Pastorello, p. 201).
18) Reference to a document that survives only in regesto in Andrea Dandolo's Chronica per extensum descripta (ed. Pastorello, p. 203).
“Huius tempore denuo Pepo Aquilegiensis patriarcha hostiliter Gradum advenit, asserens se coadiuctorem venire Ursii patriarche et Octonis ducis, et hoc cum XII sacramentalibus adfirmavit. Et sic civitatem invasit, bonisque plurimis preter quam sanctorum reliquias quas invenire non potuit ipsam expoliavit et demum concremavit. Et a Iohanne papa, dicens Gradensem sedem de iure sibi fore subiectam, si sic erat, de subiectione ipsius confirmationem obtinuit; quod Ursus exaudiens ad papam perexit, et ostensis iuribus suis, ipso Pepone contumaciter absente, in generali sinodo ipsius privilegium adnulatum fuit, et insuper declaratum metropolitanam sedem exemptam in Grado esse debere.” – Andrea Dandolo, Chronica brevis, ed. Pastorello, RIS, ser. 2, 12/1 (Bologna 1958), pp. 361–362.
See also narrative accounts edited in doc. 1024_IG regarding Poppo’s invasion of Grado.
The 1024 Synod of Rome marks an important turning point in the fateful conflict between the patriarchs of Grado and Aquileia. Aiming to capitalize on his conquest of Grado, Patriarch Poppo of Aquileia petitioned the new pope, John XIX, to issue a privilege to the Patriarchate of Aquileia, confirming the lawful ecclesiastical possession of the “island of Grado”, thereby officially ending the conflict between the two patriarchs in Aquileian favor (see doc. 1024_IG). This John XIX’s privilege to Patriarch Poppo is not preserved, but it is mentioned in the hereby edited document, where a line from the confirmation charter is cited verbatim (“Preterea confirmamus vobis insulam Gradensem cum suis pertinentiis, sicut iuste et canonice per antiqua privilegia vobis et ecclesie vestre pertinere dinoscitur et sicut tu ipse iuste probare omni tempore potes et promittis, ita ut secundum Deum tibi eam ordinare liceat”).
However, the pope was wise enough to condition the validity of this privilege on Poppo showing him the old privileges of his Church which would confirm his metropolitan jurisdiction over Grado. Since Poppo never delivered such documents, the pope had the right to withdraw the privilege.
Poppo’s conquest of Grado was short-lived. Soon after the invasion and ransacking of Grado, the Venetian forces, led by the brothers Orseolo (Doge Otto and Urso, the patriarch of Grado), reconquered the city and re-established Venetian authority (see doc. 1024_IG for details). Soon thereafter, Patriarch Urso sent his envoys to the pope, lamenting over Poppo’s invasion of Grado and petitioning for a privilege recognizing the metropolitan status and jurisdictions of his Patriarchate. The pope decided to convene a Synod in Rome to discuss the matter and he invited both patriarchs to attend. Patriarch Poppo did not show up; instead, he sent a monk who lacked proper credentials and who fled from Rome before Patriarch Urso arrived with his retinue.
Urso, however, arrived with numerous papal privileges in order to clearly prove that his is a metropolitan church and not a mere “parish” subjected to the patriarchs of Aquileia. Among the cited privileges are the documents issued by popes Pelagius II (579–590), Gregory I (590–604), Honorius I (625–638), Gregory III (731–741), Stephen III (768–772), Leo III (795–816), Sergius II (844–847), Leo IV (847–855), Benedict III (855–858), Hadrian III (884–885), Boniface VI (896), Roman (897), Theodore II (897), Anastasius III, (911–913), John X (914–928), John XII (955–964), Sylvester II (999–1003) and Sergius IV (1009–1012). The majority of these papal documents issued to the patriarchs of Grado are nowadays lost, but they are referenced by Andrea Dandolo in his Chronica per extensum descripta, where the documents are characterized as the official conferrals of pallium, a symbol of the metropolitan status of its conferee.
The issue of Pope Pelagius II’s privilege remains open. The text of the document, in the form in which it survives today (see doc. 579_PPG), is indubitably a forgery. However, the forged charter features the passage “etiam Istrię metropolim”, depicting the metropolitan jurisdictions of the Patriarchate of Grado as extending over all Istrian bishoprics. Since there is no mention of Grado’s metropolitan jurisdictions in Istria in the hereby edited 1024 acts of the Synod of Rome, Cessi (cited above) concluded that this particular part was not yet interpolated in the forged Pelagius II’s privilege. However, according to Rando (cited above), the forgery, including the passage regarding Istria, could be completed already at this point, its aim being the confirmation of Grado’s metropolitan jurisdiction over all the Istrian bishoprics. If one follows Rando’s interpretation, then Pope John XIX indeed played a wise diplomatic game: he confirmed the metropolitan status of the Patriarchate of Grado, but cunningly left out any mention of Istrian bishoprics whatsoever, the proverbial elephant in the room.
In the end, Urso was successful in his main endeavor – the Synod of Rome recognized the metropolitan status of the Patriarchate of Grado. Two important caveats need to be stressed. First, as mentioned above, the synod and the pope did not recognize Grado’s metropolitan jurisdictions over Istrian bishoprics, the apple of discord. Second, Poppo’s earlier privilege was not fully revoked; only the part concerning the jurisdiction over the “island of Grado” was withdrawn. In essence, as Herrmann (cited above) inferred, the Synod of Rome restored the status quo ante invasionem. Consequently, Sagulo’s interpretation (cited above), that Pope John XIX wanted to clearly communicate to the newly elected Roman king (Conrad II) that the papacy would not blindly support the imperial cause, and he did that by “sacrificing” Poppo, the “imperial favorite” in the conflict between the two patriarchates, seems far-fetched, especially when bearing in mind that Poppo suffered no repercussions for his invasion and that he, in essence, did not lose any of his de facto jurisdictions.
Grado’s victory was, however, short-lived. Already in 1027, Patriarch Poppo joined with the reigning monarch of the Holy Roman Empire, Conrad II, and pressed the very Pope John XIX to reconsider his stance regarding the fateful conflict between the two patriarchs. The newly convened Synod of Rome of 1027 recognized Aquileia as the sole metropolitan church, with Grado merely being a subjected “parish” (see doc. 1027_SR). Grado may have won the battle in 1024, but the war was far from over.
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