Gotebald
Encyclopedia
Gotebald was the Patriarch of Aquileia
during the middle of the eleventh century (1049–1063). He was originally a provost
from Speyer
(prepositus Nemetensis). During his reign, the century-old conflict between Old-Aquileia and Grado reached a climax.
Between 1050 and 1051, he supported the bishop of Treviso in a conflict, going so far as to falsify an imperial diploma.
In 1053, Pope Leo IX
declared Grado to be the true patriarchate, a Nova Aquileia and caput et metropolis of the Province of Venetia et Histria. Gotebald was relegated to being mere Forojuliensis episcopus. In response to this, Gotebald took up arms to defend the territorial integrity of his patriarchal diocese
. He refused to aid the papal reformers against simoniacs
. He did, however, have the friendship of Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor
, who even confirmed the false diploma. Gotebald and the emperor put pressure on Pope Victor II
to reverse the decision of Leo, but to no avail.
Henry continued to treat Gotebald with prestige nevertheless. On his deathbed (1056), the emperor called on Gotebald, Gebhard III of Regensburg
, and the pope to determine the regency
for his young son Henry IV
. Gotebald traveled to Germany in the years that followed and was confirmed as patriarch with supremacy over Grado by Henry IV.
Despite his lifelong conflict with the see
of Grado and the popes, he was not a poor clergyman. He enlarged the monasteries of his domain considerably before his death in 1063.
Patriarch of Aquileia
The Patriarch of Aquileia was an office in the Roman Catholic Church. During the Middle Ages the Patriarchate of Aquileia was a temporal state in Northern Italy. The Patriarchate of Aquileia as a church office was suppressed in 1752....
during the middle of the eleventh century (1049–1063). He was originally a provost
Provost (religion)
A provost is a senior official in a number of Christian churches.-Historical Development:The word praepositus was originally applied to any ecclesiastical ruler or dignitary...
from Speyer
Speyer
Speyer is a city of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany with approximately 50,000 inhabitants. Located beside the river Rhine, Speyer is 25 km south of Ludwigshafen and Mannheim. Founded by the Romans, it is one of Germany's oldest cities...
(prepositus Nemetensis). During his reign, the century-old conflict between Old-Aquileia and Grado reached a climax.
Between 1050 and 1051, he supported the bishop of Treviso in a conflict, going so far as to falsify an imperial diploma.
In 1053, Pope Leo IX
Pope Leo IX
Pope Saint Leo IX , born Bruno of Eguisheim-Dagsburg, was Pope from February 12, 1049 to his death. He was a German aristocrat and as well as being Pope was a powerful secular ruler of central Italy. He is regarded as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church, with the feast day of April 19...
declared Grado to be the true patriarchate, a Nova Aquileia and caput et metropolis of the Province of Venetia et Histria. Gotebald was relegated to being mere Forojuliensis episcopus. In response to this, Gotebald took up arms to defend the territorial integrity of his patriarchal diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
. He refused to aid the papal reformers against simoniacs
Simony
Simony is the act of paying for sacraments and consequently for holy offices or for positions in the hierarchy of a church, named after Simon Magus , who appears in the Acts of the Apostles 8:9-24...
. He did, however, have the friendship of Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry III , called the Black or the Pious, was a member of the Salian Dynasty of Holy Roman Emperors...
, who even confirmed the false diploma. Gotebald and the emperor put pressure on Pope Victor II
Pope Victor II
Pope Victor II , born Gebhard, Count of Calw, Tollenstein, and Hirschberg, was Pope from 1055 to 1057. He was one of a series of German reform Popes.-Life:...
to reverse the decision of Leo, but to no avail.
Henry continued to treat Gotebald with prestige nevertheless. On his deathbed (1056), the emperor called on Gotebald, Gebhard III of Regensburg
Gebhard III, Bishop of Regensburg
Gebhard III, called Gebhard of Franconia or von Hohenlohe, was the bishop of Regensburg from 1036 to 2 December 1060. He succeeded Gebhard II...
, and the pope to determine the regency
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
for his young son Henry IV
Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry IV was King of the Romans from 1056 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1084 until his forced abdication in 1105. He was the third emperor of the Salian dynasty and one of the most powerful and important figures of the 11th century...
. Gotebald traveled to Germany in the years that followed and was confirmed as patriarch with supremacy over Grado by Henry IV.
Despite his lifelong conflict with the see
Episcopal See
An episcopal see is, in the original sense, the official seat of a bishop. This seat, which is also referred to as the bishop's cathedra, is placed in the bishop's principal church, which is therefore called the bishop's cathedral...
of Grado and the popes, he was not a poor clergyman. He enlarged the monasteries of his domain considerably before his death in 1063.