Marco Antonio De Dominis

This is part 33 in a series on Daniel Farlati’s Illyricum Sacrum.

Marco Antonio de Dominis is perhaps the most prominent and controversial Archbishop to have held the title in Spalato. He is best known for abdicating to the Church of England, and attempting to return to Catholicism a few years later.

Marcus came from the noble de Dominis family, who had long been present on the island of Rab, Croatia. He was educated in Padua, and later taught Mathematics, Rhetoric, and Philosophy at schools in Padua, Verona and Brescia.

He became a bishop in 1600 in Senj, Croatia. Two years later, when the seat at Spalato opened up He successfully petitioned for himself to be appointed there. He would hold the title for 14 years before his abdication.

Despite his long tenure, Farlati finds little positive to say about his time in Spalato. He is depicted as a power hungry leader who is frequently in dispute with the local Vanons. He attempted to block the election of a new Canon,He quarreled over pensions. He argued with Martius Andreucci, the bishop of Trogir, over jursidiction. When matters were appealed to a higher power, Venice or Rome, The matters were ruled against his favor.

Marcus’ resentment and distate for the rulings started to creep in to his public sermons. During one sermon in which the criticisms were particularly harsh, a Canon stood up and shouted Mentiris in gutture!. “You Lie in your throat!”. Afterwards, the local chapter compiled a report of Marcus’ behaviors that could be considered heretical. When Marcus learned of the report, he traveled to Venice. He sent a letter denying he had been heretical, but that given the difficulties he had faced he would not return to Spalato. Six months later, he would coordinate his travel to England.

Farlati skips the events of his time and England. We know of them from other sources. He was made the Dean of Winsdor and published several anti-catholic writings. He aided Paolo Sarpi in publishing his history of the council of Trent. His most recognized works were scientific. Tractatus de radiis visus et lucis in vitris, perspectivis et iride, was one of the earliest works offering a scientific theory of the rainbow. A second work, Euripus, seu de fluxu et refluxu maris sententia, examined the nature of oceanic tides.

Upon the election of Pope Gregory XV in 1621, Marco recanted his anti-catholic writings and began negotiating a return to Rome. Gregory was receptive of him but died soon after he returned. The inquistion caught up with him, and he spent his remaining days in prison. After his death his body was dragged through the streets of Rome and then publicly burned.