Bishops of Biograd and Skradin
This is part 35 in a series on Daniel Farlati’s Illyricum Sacrum.
These are the bishops of Biograd na Moru, and later Skradin after the city was destroyed in 1225 and the population move there. Farkati develops his list in part from the work of Valerije Ponte, an Archdeacon in Zadar. Many of the entries are short, with some only known by name due to a single reference in a document.
Theodosius (~1056)
Mentioned in a diploma from Krešimir IV , which granted privileges to the recently established Monastery of St. John in Biograd. Other than a letter from Theodosius summarizing the contents of the diploma, little is known about him.
Dabro (~1066)
Mentioned in a 1066 diploma from Krešimir IV when granting privileges to a monastery in Zadar in 1066. Otherwise, his acts have been forgotten.
Theodosius II (~1069)
The Only mention of Theodosius II is in a 1069 diploma from Krešimir IV granting privileges to the monastery of St. Thomas in Biograd
Basilium (~1072)
Referred to only in the tables as “B”, Farlati assigns him the possible names Basilium, Bertrandum, or Banum. From Laurentius’ account, he was a the council of Zadar in 1072.
Praestantius (~1076)
The donation of a church in Pašman to the monastery of Saint John the Evangelist was contested by locals, but affirmed and upheld by Archbishop Lawrence and king Zvonimir. Farlati believes he attended a council in Spalato in 1075, and that Thomas the Archdeacon was mistake to say that it was Theodosius who attended.
Theodosius III (~1076)
Mentioned in a Diploma by Zvonimir granting privileges to a church in Spalato. Otherwise he is unknown.
Bonus (~1100)
Their true name has not been remembered. Some deeds are known. He took away the church in Pašman that Praestantius had given to the monastery of Saint John. A papal legate named Augustinus writes around this time that Bonus was sick and near death, and that Bonus reversed his decision.
N.N (~1115)
Another Bishop whose name is not known. Farlati publishes a letter from Ordelafo Faliero which confirms the privileges of the monastery of Saint John and mentions “the bishop of that city”.
The city was destroyed in 1125 when it was again under the occupation of Venice. The population and bishop migrated to Skradin.
Bishops of Skradin
Apart from two scant references to the bishops of Skradin (lt. Scardona) in the 6th and 9th centuries, the Bishopric does not become consistently documented until after the destruction of Biograd.
Lampridius (~1160)
He is mentioned in one of Stephen III’s diplomas. He had a dispute over jurisdiction of property used by the Knights Templar. The matter was resolved by Alexander III in the Templars favor.
Michael (~1178)
He was present at the Third Lateran Council, and appears to have remained bishop well after. Letter’s from Pope Celestine III and King Emeric mention him in the 1190s.
Bartholomaeus (~1200-1228)
Appointed by the Archbishop Bernard. Thomas the Archdeacon says he “had no small defect in character and knowledge. Bernard was reprimanded by Pope Innocent III for the appointment.
Nicolaus (~1228)
Originally a Canon in Spalato. Consecrated by Archbishop Guncellus.
Bartholomaeus II. (~1240)
Consecrated by Guncellus. Eventually resigning to a monastic life. Was noted as still living around 1267.
Joannes (~1280)
Thomas the Archdeacon writes he was elected Archbishop of Spalato after the death of Hugrin, but Pope Innocent IV chose Roger instead.
Andreas
He had previously worked in Zadar in the office of the Inquisition. A Dominican monastery was established in Skadrin during his time. Little else is known of his time as bishop.
Galvanus
He became bishop in 1281, but got in to trouble when it was discovered that he had left his monastic order without permission. What became of him afterwards is unknown.
Nicolaus II (~1285)
Other than a letter dated to 1293 from John IV, Archbishop of Spalato, little is known of him.
Damianus (~1304)
While Paul I Šubić was Ban of Croatia, he came to an agreement with him on taxes to be paid in lieu of forced labor. The diploma is dated to 1284 but Farlati corrects it to 1304.
Nicolaus III (~1319)
Joannes Lucius finds only one reference to him in the tables of Trogir, otherwise unknown.
Paullinus (~1320)
Galeazzo Gualdo Priorato in Vite et Azzioni di Personaggi militari et politici (1674) says he came from the noble Draskovich family.
Galeazzo puts the year at 1311, but Farlati suggests 1319 is more correct.
According to Micha Madius: He opposed the Cruelty of Mladen II Šubić of Bribir and was put to death.
Ivan Tomko Mrnavic rather grandoisly says that his death was the reason for King Charles coming to Dalmatia and ultimately pushing Mladen out.
Andreas II (~1325)
Surnamed Musculus. Madius writes that with the support of Venice, Trogir and Šibenik sacked Skradi in opposition to Mladen. The bishop’s seat sat vacant for several years before Andreas, from Eger, Hungary was appointed around 1325. The tables from that church also documented his appointment. He appears as a legal witness to a document by the Archbishop of Spalato Dominic in 1332. He attended a Provincial council in Spalato in 1344. Farlati believes he lived until at least 1356.
Michael II (~1358)
Mentioned only in a diploma from King Lewis of Hungary around the year 1358. Otherwise Unknown.
Guillelmus (~1361)
Consecrated in 1361. Two years later he was transferred to Capri.
Michael III (~1363)
He was present at a general assembly held by King Louis of Hungary in 1378, and appears as a witness in a document as late as 1388.
Franciscus (~1393)
Farlati publishes a letter from Francis where he confirms a priest to a church in Bribir, Croatia.
Petramustus (~1410)
Transferred from another Diocese, Possibly Eger, Hungary. During this time, King Sigismund transferred jurisdiction of Skradin to Šibenik, but the city soon came under Venetian control. Petramustus died around 1417.
Nicolaus IV (~1417)
Transferred possibly from Moldova (lt. Episcopus Ceretenen). He died just a few months after arriving in Skradin.
Petrus (1418)
He served two years before being transferred to the diocese of Castro di Puglia (lt. Castrensis)
Georgius elected (1420)
He previously served at Tomislavgrad, Bosnia and then Hvar, Croatia. He regretted being transferred to Skradin and asked Rome to go back to Hvar. Skradin was without a Bishop for six years.
Nicolaus V (~1426)
Presided 2 years. Otherwise unknown.
Joannes II. (~1428)
From the Monastery of St. Mary in Brescia, Italy. He served 3 years before dying.
Jacobus (~1431)
Said to have been part of the nobile Martinussio family (lt. Gente Martinusia). What is written about him has been lost.
Felix (~1444)
Earliest mention ~1444. Along with The bishop of Zadar and bishop of Nin, he was to hear the appeal of Paschal Gradonicus, who was excommunicated for association with the Bosnian Church. He wrote from Spalato that his business here would not permit him to leave the city to hear the case. He remained bishop until his death in 1460.
Jacobus II (1460)
A venetian from the Bragaden family. When he arrived in Skradin he found a certain Alexander was already claiming to be bishop, but he quickly abandoned the post by threat of Rome. Jacobus served 3 years before being transferred to Nin.
Alexander (1463)
Farlati says this is the same Alexander who had governed without authorization before Jacobus’ arrival. He seems to have been in good standing to have been reconsidered after Jacobus’ transfer. He remained bishop until 1479.
Petrus de Marco (1479)
He was from the order of the Friars Minor. In 1479 he received a letter from Pope Sixtus concerning a priest named Stephen. Trapped in Ottoman Territory, Stephen conspired with his part to kill a turkish guard and escape. After making it back to Hungary he was again imprisoned and made to swear an oath not to seek legal action against his imprisoners. Sixtus asked Petrus to verify the story and absolve Stephen of wrongdoing. Petrus ruled another 10 years before his death.
Archangelus (1491)
He was from the noble de Varicassis family of Zadar. He was well learned and held a local synod to educate his diocese on Christian morals. A certain priest named Thomas from Bribir objected to the bishop’s authority is his region. His continued disruption resulted in the bishop excommunicating him.
Archangelis led the church in Skradin until his death in 1502.
Nicolaus VI (1502)
Said to have come from the Martinussio family, but also referred to as Nicolaus Mauritius Rogosita, he was originally an Archpriest in Klis, and later a Canon in Knin, before transferring to Skradin. He lead the church for 17 years, of which is remembered a few regional legal disputes and not much more.
Toma Niger (1519)
A native of Spalato who eventually became appointed a Vicar. He traveled with Bernard Zanne to the Fifth Lateran Council. He was acquainted with Marko Marulić whose work he praised. In 1514 he became a legate for Petar Berislavić. In 1519 he was in Rome to appealing to Leo X for support against the Turks. He was made bishop of Skradin and Peter soon after died in Battle. Skradin fell to the Turks in 1523, and Toma was transferred to Trogir.
Joannes III (1524)
Previously bishop of Svač (lt. Episcopus Suaciensis). He presided of the city seven years before transferring to Krk. He retained the jurisdiction of Skradin and Krk until his death in 1549. Afterwards, jurisdiction was transferred to Daniel Vocatius, who oversaw Duvno, Skradin and Makarska. All three cities were under Turkish control. He managed them for 33 years.
Antonius (1613)
Anthony of Požega (lt. De Posega) who was administering the church in Bosnia, took responsibility for Skradin while it was still under Turkish control. He died in 1625.
Thomas II (1625)
Thomas Ivković (lt. Juvcovich). he served similarly to his predecessor, administering both Skadrin and parts of Bosnia while under Turkish rule. He served until 1642.
Pavao Posilović (1642)
Pavao Posilović, from Glamaz, Bosnia. He was elected bishop of Skradin in 1642. He was in Rome in 1645 at the outbreak of the Cretan War, preventing his return. During this time he translated the popular Italian work Fiore di virtù into Croatian. Skradin was devastated by the war. In 1652, he was transferred to the diocese of Duvno. Afterwards the Area was administered by Marijan Lišnjić, the bishop of Makarska. Skradin returned to Venetian rule in 1864. Marijan died in 1686. His successor Nikola Bijanković continued administrative duties afterwards.
Gregorius (1698)
From the civalella family in Zadar. He describes the conditions of Skradin following its recapture by the Venetians in a letter to Rome. He writes that the Cathedral was in ruins, and the city that used to support thousands of people now has a population of just 200 He was bishop until his death in 1713.
Joannes elected 1714
A native of Skradin. From the Vidovich (Vidović) family. When Bosnian and Orthodox refugees attempted to build a church in Skradin, he asked Venice to intervene. An edict was passed preventing the church from being built. Joannes was soon after transferred to Trogir in 1716.
Matthaeus (1717)
Of the Spalatan Joannicia family. He was an Archdeacon in Spalato before his election. The Byzantines were still attempting to build a church and had influenced the Provveditore Generale Angelo Emo (not to be confused with the naval officer Angelo Emo, a relative of his, born in 1731) to write to Matthaeus about it. Matthaeus rejected the proposal. He writes that the Diocese in his time had about 2,400 Catholics and 1800 Orthodox Christians. Matthaeus died in 1720.
Nicolaus VII (1721)
From the Thomas family on the island of Brač. He dedicated much of his time attempting to restoring the town Cathedral, but was hindered by lack of funds. He died in 1731.
Vincentius (1733)
Vincenzo Dominico Bragadin, Born in Venice to the Patrician Bragaden family. In his time the Cathedral was completed. In 1752 He was transferred to the diocese of Chiogga, Italy.
Antonius II (1754)
From the Serbian Bečić family, Antonius was born in the coastal town of Budva, Montenegro. He became bishop in 1754 and was transferred to Hvar in 1759.
Dominicus (1759)
Elected in 1759, he died of an illness in 1766.
Stephanus Antonius (1766)
The son of Patrician Batholomew Trivisani and current bishop at the time of this work’s publication.