Bishops of Krbava, 1185-1457

This is part 37 in a series on Daniel Farlati’s Illyricum Sacrum.

The Diocese was established for the mountainous region northwest of Spalato by bishop Peter VII in 1185 and approved by Pope Urban III.

Matthaeus (1185)

Thomas the Archdeacon writes that he was a canon of the church in Spalato. He was requested by the clergy of the province who came to the council in 1185. He was bishop for 40 years. The acts described of him are local in nature. He is listed as a witness to a charter by Duke Andrew in 1198, and judged a disputed between the clergies of Trogir and Šibenik.

Martin (~1224)

Mentioned in the Catalogue of A Cuthei as being consecrated by the Spalatan Bishop Guncellus. He held the title for 15 years but otherwise is unknown.

Saracenus (1240)

Farlati says Sarcenus was a relative of Count Domald of Sidraga. He was sent by the Spalatan Bishop John V to investigate disputes happening in the church at Trogir. Otherwise his acts are not remembered. How Long Saracenus was bishop is not known.

Holy House in Trsat

According to legend, the House where the Virgin Mary was born miraculously transported to the town of Trsat, Croatia in 1291. The local ruler Nikola Frankopan (lt. Nicolaus Frangipanius) Sent men to Galilee to investigate. The men reported that they had seen the site, observed evidence of its recent removal, and took measurements that matched the house in Trsat. The house became a pilgrimage site with several miracles attributed to it. In 1294, the House was again miraculously transported to Loreto, Italy¹. Nikola built a shrine at the site that it stood, which has been expanded over the years and is now a church. To this day the house is still in Loreto, in the Basilica della Santa Casa.

Peter (1300)

Mentioned in 1 papal document by Pope John XXII, otherwise unknown.

Bonifacius (1332)

Mentioned in the same papal document as a successor to Peter. King Charles of Hungary passed through nearby Modruš in 1333 on his way to Naples. Little else is remembered of his time as Bishop.

Radoslavus (~1340)

He was of the Franciscan order. In 1341 he granted a 40 day indulgence to the those who attended the churches of Saint Mary and the Archangel Michael in the town of Senj.

Valentinus (1350)

He was involved in a dispute over which diocese could collect Tithes in Lika and Bužane with Chysogonus, Bishop of Rab. He initially prevailed with King Louis of Hungary issuing a decree with his right to the tithes, but it was later revoked. Farlati thinks he lived no later than 1359.

Ladislavus (1360)

Mentioned in a charter by King Louis of Hungary in 1360. In 1367, another charter by Louis lists the bishop’s seat as vacant.

Peter II (1370)

Mentioned in a charter by King Louis of Hungary in 1373. Otherwise unknown.

Thomas (~1379)

Mentioned in a charter by King Louis of Hungary in 1379. Otherwise unknown.

Nicolaus (~1388)

He was witness to King Sigismund of Hungary when he confirmed the privileges of Spalato in 1388. Paulli de Paullis writes that he came to Zadar in 1393 to arbitrate a dispute between John, Count of Senj. A letter from Pope Boniface IX telling the bishops of Senj and Krbava not to stop the franciscans from begging may have been been addressed to Nicolaus. What became of Nicolaus is unknown.

Geminianus (1410)

Appointed by Pope John XXIII. In 1411 The Ban of Croatia Pavle II Kurjaković donated a large amount of land in the diocese to the Hospital of St. Mary Magdalene. Around the same time. Count Nikola IV Frankopan erected a monastery for Pauline Fathers in Crikvenica. A letter written to King Sigismund in December 1412 reports the see of Krbava as vacant.

Peter III (1418)

Peter de Zeth, an archdeacon of the church at Zagreb. He was appointed bishop in 1418 and presided 15 years.

Vitus (1431)

Originally from The island of Korčula. He was Appointed by Pope Eugenius IV in 1431. Count Martin Frankopan, descendant of Nikola Frankopan, expanded the shrine at Trsat, Building a church and monastery at the site where the Holy house appeared. Having no children of his own, he donated his estate to the church. Vitus presided 18 years. He donated funds to the restoration of St. Mark’s Cathedral in Korčula, which included commissioning a stone pulpit. The Bishop Andreas Canevellus in gratitude carved Vitus’ family coat of arms in to the pulpit. Vitus died around 1457.

Francis (1457)

The last bishop of Krbava before the see was transferred to Modruš. He worked with Stephen Frankopan to petition Pope Pius II to elevate the privileges of the Marian shrine in Modruš. Pius II granted a seven year indulgence to those who visited the shrine during a Marian feast and contributed to its upkeep. Francis found the diocese of krbava depleted of funds and its estated stolen by nobles. Pius issued a thread of anathema if the lands and tithes were not returned. Little could be done to enforce this however. Pius permitted Francis to seek outside benefices in order to supplement his income

The Episcopal See was transferred to Modruš around 1460. The official reason cited was the Ottoman invasion, but Farlati suggests it was more to do with the lost estates in krbava, and Francis’ good relationship with the Frankopan family in Modruš.