Lodovico della Torre
Encyclopedia
Lodovico della Torre was Patriarch of Aquileia
from 1359 until 1365.
had included several patriarchs of Aquileia: his great-uncle Raimondo della Torre (1273–1299), and his distant cousins Pagano della Torre (1319–1332) and Gastone della Torre (1316–1318).
Lodovico started his career as a canon
in Aquileia
. He was then subsequently bishop of Trieste
, Oleno (Greece) and Koroneia
, where to he had been transferred in 1357. Between 1340 and 1350, he stayed for a while at the papal Court in Avignon
. He was again in Avignon, when he was appointed patriarch of Aquileia on May 10, 1359. A certain Benvenuto of Udine tried to prevent the appointment, claiming that the family della Torre had taken part in the murder of Patriarch Bertram of St. Genesius. He was not successful, but Lodovico seemed to have had many enemies in the patriarch before he arrived there.
One of his competitors, Pileo di Prata, was the candidate of the lord of Padua
, Francesco I da Carrara
, the second competitor, Paul Praunspeck von Jägendorf, was the candidate of the Hungarian king Louis I. Against all these powers, Lodovico had to fight very hard to be appointed, but with Pope Innocent VI
's support, he succeeded.
The new patriarch established diplomatic contacts inside and outside the Patriarchate. After a long time of peace, Rudolf of Habsburg
planned in July 1361 to attack Aquileia. He made an alliance with the emperor Charles IV
and declared war. Aquileia was conquered very fast, almost without fighting, and a peace contract was signed on September 12, 1361. Lodovico was forced to travel to Vienna
together with Rudolf's brother Frederick. Two other hostages accompanied the Patriarch: Francesco di Savorgnano and Simone di Valvasone. They managed to flee in the end of January 1362. Count Rudolf arrived in Vienna in February 1362. His territorial claims were immense and meant a total isolation for Aquileia. Political changes brought a slight modification of Rudolf's claims in favour of Aquileia. A treaty was signed on April 21, 1362 and Lodovico was set free. When he returned, he realised that his enemies, as for example the family di Spilimbergo, had gained strength. In September 1363, Habsburg troupes invaded the Patriarchate again. Because of a new alliance against the Habsburg power, Charles IV was interested in supporting Aquileia. There was yet another reason – the emperor was planning a channel between the Danube
and the Vltava
in order to simplify trade between Venice
and Prague.
After a long time of hesitation, Rudolf declared war again in June 1365. During the military preparation, Rudolf died on July 27, 1365 in Milan. Three days later, on July 30, Lodovico died in the castle of Soffumbergo after a short sickness. The general confusion was enormous. The Venetian Republic and the Pope spoke up for peace. There were just some skirmishes, and the patriarchate gained the upper hand. With the appointment of the next Patriarch, Marquard of Randeck
, the emperor’s candidate, the situation was stabilised.
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....
from 1359 until 1365.
Biography
His familyDella Torre
The Della Torre were an Italian noble family who rose to prominence in Lombardy during the 12th-14th centuries, until they held the seigniory of Milan before being ousted by the Visconti....
had included several patriarchs of Aquileia: his great-uncle Raimondo della Torre (1273–1299), and his distant cousins Pagano della Torre (1319–1332) and Gastone della Torre (1316–1318).
Lodovico started his career as a canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
in Aquileia
Aquileia
Aquileia is an ancient Roman city in what is now Italy, at the head of the Adriatic at the edge of the lagoons, about 10 km from the sea, on the river Natiso , the course of which has changed somewhat since Roman times...
. He was then subsequently bishop of Trieste
Trieste
Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of land lying between the Adriatic Sea and Italy's border with Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city...
, Oleno (Greece) and Koroneia
Koroneia
Koroneia may refer to:*two municipalities in Greece:**Koroneia, Thessaloniki**Koroneia, Boeotia*Lake Koronia, near Thessaloniki...
, where to he had been transferred in 1357. Between 1340 and 1350, he stayed for a while at the papal Court in Avignon
Avignon
Avignon is a French commune in southeastern France in the départment of the Vaucluse bordered by the left bank of the Rhône river. Of the 94,787 inhabitants of the city on 1 January 2010, 12 000 live in the ancient town centre surrounded by its medieval ramparts.Often referred to as the...
. He was again in Avignon, when he was appointed patriarch of Aquileia on May 10, 1359. A certain Benvenuto of Udine tried to prevent the appointment, claiming that the family della Torre had taken part in the murder of Patriarch Bertram of St. Genesius. He was not successful, but Lodovico seemed to have had many enemies in the patriarch before he arrived there.
One of his competitors, Pileo di Prata, was the candidate of the lord of Padua
Padua
Padua is a city and comune in the Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Padua and the economic and communications hub of the area. Padua's population is 212,500 . The city is sometimes included, with Venice and Treviso, in the Padua-Treviso-Venice Metropolitan Area, having...
, Francesco I da Carrara
Francesco I da Carrara
Francesco I da Carrara was Lord of Padua from 1350 to 1388.The son of the assassinated Giacomo II da Carrara, he succeeded him as lord of Padua by popular acclamation. In 1356 he was named imperial vicar by emperor Charles IV...
, the second competitor, Paul Praunspeck von Jägendorf, was the candidate of the Hungarian king Louis I. Against all these powers, Lodovico had to fight very hard to be appointed, but with Pope Innocent VI
Pope Innocent VI
Pope Innocent VI , born Étienne Aubert; his father was Adhemar Aubert seigneur de Montel-De-Gelas in Limousin province. His niece was Catherine Aubert, Dame de Boutheon, also the wife of Randon II baron de Joyeuse; she is La Fayette's ancestor...
's support, he succeeded.
The new patriarch established diplomatic contacts inside and outside the Patriarchate. After a long time of peace, Rudolf of Habsburg
Rudolf IV, Duke of Austria
Rudolf IV der Stifter was a scion of the House of Habsburg and Duke of Austria and Duke of Styria and Carinthia from 1358, as well as Count of Tyrol from 1363 and first Duke of Carniola from 1364 until his death...
planned in July 1361 to attack Aquileia. He made an alliance with the emperor Charles IV
Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles IV , born Wenceslaus , was the second king of Bohemia from the House of Luxembourg, and the first king of Bohemia to also become Holy Roman Emperor....
and declared war. Aquileia was conquered very fast, almost without fighting, and a peace contract was signed on September 12, 1361. Lodovico was forced to travel to Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
together with Rudolf's brother Frederick. Two other hostages accompanied the Patriarch: Francesco di Savorgnano and Simone di Valvasone. They managed to flee in the end of January 1362. Count Rudolf arrived in Vienna in February 1362. His territorial claims were immense and meant a total isolation for Aquileia. Political changes brought a slight modification of Rudolf's claims in favour of Aquileia. A treaty was signed on April 21, 1362 and Lodovico was set free. When he returned, he realised that his enemies, as for example the family di Spilimbergo, had gained strength. In September 1363, Habsburg troupes invaded the Patriarchate again. Because of a new alliance against the Habsburg power, Charles IV was interested in supporting Aquileia. There was yet another reason – the emperor was planning a channel between the Danube
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
and the Vltava
Vltava
The Vltava is the longest river in the Czech Republic, running north from its source in Šumava through Český Krumlov, České Budějovice, and Prague, merging with the Elbe at Mělník...
in order to simplify trade between Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
and Prague.
After a long time of hesitation, Rudolf declared war again in June 1365. During the military preparation, Rudolf died on July 27, 1365 in Milan. Three days later, on July 30, Lodovico died in the castle of Soffumbergo after a short sickness. The general confusion was enormous. The Venetian Republic and the Pope spoke up for peace. There were just some skirmishes, and the patriarchate gained the upper hand. With the appointment of the next Patriarch, Marquard of Randeck
Marquard of Randeck
Marquard of Randeck was Patriarch of Aquileia from 1365 until his death.-Biography:...
, the emperor’s candidate, the situation was stabilised.
External links
- http://www.sangiorgioinsieme.it/chronicon.html - Original Text of "Chronicon Spilimberghense"