Andrew of Gualdo

This is part 28 in a series on Daniel Farlati’s Illyricum Sacrum.

Andrew became Archbishop of Spalato around 1389 following the resignation of Hugolin. Prior to starting his episcopal career he had studied Law in Italy. Not long after his appointment, control of Spalato switched from Hungary to Bosnia, under king Tvrtko. Farlati describes Andrew as being on friendly terms with Tvrtko and his successor, Dabiša. He publishes a diploma alleged to be from Tvrtko, affirming the church held the same rights as they had under Louis I of Hungary.

Control of Spalato switched back to Hungary in 1395. Now under king Sigismund, Andrew was working to restore the diminished tithes of the dioceses and assert possession of the church’s terrirtorial claims. He petitioned the king for a survey of the church’s terrirtory, which was carried out by Bishop Ladislas of Knin. Ladislas’ report mentioned 15 areas, but Andrew was not satisfied. Ladislas had not been able to travel to to the regions, and had omitted many of the coastal islands. Andrew called for a more thorough survey, which produced in its report 90 areas.

In 1398, disagreement between the city council and the nobles of Spalato led to rebellion. Exiled nobiles fled to neighboring Trogir, which prompted the city to join the conflict in surpressing the council’s overthrow of nobiles. The council ultimately prevailed, and a peace treaty was signed between the two cities in 1401 by Andrew and Chrysogonus, the bishop of Trogir.

However, control of Spalato would again change hands from Sigismund to Ladislas of Naples. Andrew lost favor with the city council and by some accounts was chased out of the city by nobiles. According to the 16th century historian Luca Wadding, he was transferred and became bishop of Samaria.