The Diocese of Dolia (Latin: Dioecesis Doliensis) was a Roman Catholic diocese, whose episcopal seat was located in the town of Dolianova in the Province of Cagliari in the Italian region Sardinia. Established in the 11th century, it was a suffragan (subordinate) of the metropolitan of Cagliari. The diocese was suppressed (abolished) in 1503 by Pope Julius II.
History
The modern town of Dolianova was formerly the seat of a diocese called Dolia (Doglia). The diocese was established before the year 1100; Bishop Virgilio is attested on 31 May 1089.Tola, Codex diplomaticus Sardiniae Vol. 1 (Turin: Regio typographeo 1861), pp. 160-161, no. 16. Mattei, p. 111. Cappelletti, p. 74.
Cathedral The earliest reference to the cathedral of S. Pantaleon occurs in a document of 1112. An inscription above the lateral door indicates that it was a gift of Bishop Pietro di Cili in 1261.G. Spano, "Antica cattedrale di San Pantaleo," , in: Bulletino archeologico Sardo Vol. 8, no. 7 (July 1862), p. 99. The medieval building was enlarged and renovated, and re-dedicated in 1289.Nicoletta Usai; Claudio Nonne, "L'antica cattedrale di San Pantaleo a Dolionova, , in: IV Ciclo di Studi Medievale. Atti del Convegno 4–5 giugnio 2018, Firenze (Firenze: NUME 2018), pp. 498, 501. The cathedral was staffed and administered by a corporation called the Chapter,C.D. Fonseca, "La cattedrale e il suo Capitolo. Analisi comparata in prospettiva storica, ecclesiologica e canonistica," , in: Annali di Studi Religiosi Vol. 4 (2003), pp. 215-235. which consisted of twelve canons, one of whom was the Dean.Cappelletti, p. 74.
In 1253, a general synod of the prelates of Sardinia was held at Santa Maria di Bonarcado, under the presidency of Archbishop Prospero of Torres, as papal legate. The bishop of Dolia, whose name is not recorded, attended.Martini, Storia ecclesiastica di Sardegna Vol. II (Cagliari 1840), p. 55.
Pope Innocent VI dealt a severe rebuke to the Chapter of the cathedral of S. Pantaleon in 1355. Following the death of Bishop Saladin, unaware or heedless of a papal decree reserving the appointment of the next bishop to the pope, the Chapter proceeded to conduct an election of Saladin's successor. They chose concorditer Fra Joannes de Bardaxino, who was also apparently unaware of the reservation; he obtained the license of his Franciscan Superior to accept the election, and only subsequently was told of the reservation. He immediately travelled to Avignon, where he related the whole business to the pope in consistory.Innocent VI immediately voided the election by the Chapter, ruling that no one except him had the right to make provision for the diocese on this occasion. After deliberation, however, he decided to appoint Fra Joannes de Bardaxino, and issued his ruling on 26 October 1355.Wadding, Annales Minorum 2nd ed. Vol. 8, p. 465, no. 44. No bishop of Dolia attended King Peter IV's first royal Court at Cagliari on 10 March 1355.Martini, Storia ecclesiastica di Sardegna II, pp. 177-178.
In 1358, during the uprisings in Sardinia against the Crown of Aragon, the archbishop of Torres (Sassari), who was serving as papal nuncio in Sardinia, and the bishops of Suelli and Dolia supported King Peter IV of Aragon in his efforts to use the taxes imposed on the church in Sardinia by Pope Innocent VI.Martini, Vol. II, pp. 175-177.
Western schism Following the disruptive papal conclaves of 1378, the first of which was beset with fear and violence, governments had to choose which of the claimants to the papal throne they would support. King Peter IV of Aragon and Sardinia (1336–1387) chose to support neither claimant, stating that he was "indifferent."A. Ivars, "La “indiferencia” de Pedro IV de Aragón en el Gran Cisma de Occidente," , in: Archivo Ibero-Americano, vol. 29 (1928), pp. 21-97, 161-186. His uncertainty provided a legal pretext for sequestering the ecclesiastical funds due the papacy in the territories of the kingdom of Aragon, which were then used to finance royal projects, notably putting down the rebellion in Sardinia.Forci, Antonio & Sailis, Sergio (2019)' "Capitolo, vescovi, e vicari della Chiesa di Suelli all'epoca de Grande Scisma (1378-1417)," , in: Studi Ogliastrini vol. 15 (2019), pp. 12-46., at p. 15: "La sua neutralità è all’origine del provvedimento in base al quale, nell’incertezza di chi fosse il vero papa, tutti i tributi ecclesiastici raccolti nei regni della Corona d’Aragona e destinati sino ad allora alla Camera Apostolica restavano trattenu tidalla tesoreria regia in attesa, formalmente, di essere consegnati al legittimo destinatario ma in realtà utilizzati per altri scopi, come il finanziamento della guerra sardi contro i ribelli." His successors, John I (1387–1396) and Martin I (1396–1410), however, under the influence of the Cardinal of Aragon, Pedro de Luna, openly supported the Avignon Papacy; and when Pedro de Luna became Benedict XIII in 1394, he enjoyed the full support of the kings in governing the Church in Sardinia.Forci & Sailis, p. 16: "Anche il successore Martino I (1396-1410) appoggiò Benedetto XIII per gli stessi motivi di interesse che avevano spinto il fratello a legarsi all’antipapa: l’Aragona continuava infatti a perseguire la sua politica di espansione nel Mediterraneo e mirava al possesso completo di Sardegna e Sicilia, scossa dalla ribellione la prima, di visa in fazioni baronali la seconda."
None of the Sardinian bishops attended the Council of Pisa (1409), though Archbishop Primus of Torres (Sassari) and Bishop Francisco of Terralba were represented by a procurator.J.D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, , Vol. 27 (Venice: A. Zatta 1784), p. 340E. On 5 June 1409, the ouncil excommunicated and deposed both Benedict XIII and Gregory XII.Charles Joseph Hefele, Histoire des conciles, , Vol. VII, part 1 (Paris: Letouzey 1916), pp. 40-46. The Sardinian bishops, in any case, had more pressing problems. In his war of reconquest of Sicily King Martin I of Aragon and Sardinia had required troops from his vassals in Sardinia.A. Caldarella, "L’impresa di Martino I, re di Sicilia in Sardegna (a. 1408-1409)," , in: Atti della Accademia di Scienze, Lettere e Arti di Palermo, 4 serie, Vol. 14 (1954), pp. 64-65. When King Martin died on 31 May 1410, rebellion broke out, led by the notables of Arborea.M.T. Ferrer & I Mallol, "La guerra d’Arborea alla fine del XIV secolo," , in: G. Mele (ed.), I Giudicato locale, Atti del 1° di Arborea e Marchesato di Oristano. Proiezioni mediterranee e aspetti di storia: Convegno ISTAR (Oristano, 5-8 Dicembre 1997) (Oristano 2000)
In 1435, Pope Eugenius IV, who had embarked on a project to repair the damages caused by the Western Schism (1378–1417), appointed the Bishop of Dolia, Nicholas de Pinu, his Nuncio, Visitator, and Reformator, along with the archdeacon of Agrigento (Grirenti), to conduct a thorough assessment of the eccclesiastical institutions in Sardinia, and to correct whatever abuses he was able.Martini, Vol. II, p. 202.
In 1492, all Jews in Spain who had not converted to Christianity were expelled, and their property was confiscated. The orders applied to the island of Sardinia as well, and were enforced by the Viceroy, Juan Dusay. Synagogues were converted into Catholic churches, and were all named Santa Croce.Martini II, pp. 216-217.
Suppression The diocese's seat was vacant since the death of Bishop Pietro Ferrer in 1502.Ferrer died before 12 April 1502. Eubel, Hierarchia II, p. 145, note 8: "Quo mortuo eccl. Dolien. unitur cum Calaritan. 1502 Apr 12.". On 8 December 1503, after extensive consultations had taken place between King Ferdinand of Aragon and Sardinia, Isabella I of Castile, and Pope Alexander VI, and after discussions with members of the College of Cardinals (including Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere) and other interested parties,Julius II, "Aequum Reputamus" (p. 168, col. 2: "volens charissimi in Christo filii nostri, tunc sui, Ferdinandi regis et clarissimae in christo filiae nostrae, tunc suae, Elisabethae Regum Hispaniarum, et Sardiniae illustrium , id summopere, prout eidem Praedecessori nostro per eorum litteras significaverunt, desiderantium, votis annuere; habita super iis cum eisdem Fratribus suis deliberatione matura, et de ipsorum consilio...." and after additional consultations by Pope Julius II, the diocese of Dolia was suppressed, and its territory united to the archdiocese of Cagliari.Pasquale Tola, Codex diplomaticus Sardiniae Vol. 2 (Turin: e regio typographeo 1868) [Historiae patriae monvmenta, Volume 17], pp. 168-170, with note 3: "...Calaritanae Dolien., et Turritanae Sorren., et Plovacen., necnon Arborensi Sanctae Justae, et Othanensi Bisarquien., et Castren., nec non Usellensi Terralben. Ecclesias, ac eisdem de Alguer, et Ampuriensi de Castel Genoves Parrocchiales, ac Monasteria, nec non Sulcitanen. Ecclesiis Canonicatus ac Praebendas hujusmodi cum annexis, et omnibus juribus et pertinentiis suis authoritate Apostolica sub datum videlicet pridie Idus aprilis, Pontificatus sui anno decimo, perpetuo univit, annexit, et incorporavit." Martini, Storia ecclesiastica di Sardegna II, pp. 221-222.Giovanni Serra (2002), La diocesi di Dolia. Dal 1503 unita a Cagliari, , 2nd ed. Dolianova: Grafica del Parteolla 2002.
It was revived as a Catholic titular see by Pope Paul VI in 1969.Acta Apostolicae Sedis vol. 61 (1969), p. 274.
Bishops of Dolia
Virgilius ( 1089)Virgilius: Edmond Martène; Ursin Durand, Veterum scriptorum et monumentorum historicorum, dogmaticorum, moralium, amplissima collectio, Volume 1 (Paris: Montalant 1724), p. 524: Virgilius episcopus de Doila [sic!]" Benedictus ( 1112)On 2 May 1112, Bishop Benedict executed the documents granting the church of S. Maria de Archo to the monastery of S. Victor of Marseille, which had been promised by his predecessor, Bishop Virgilius. He subscribes himself "Benedictus gratia Dei Doliensis ecclesiae episcopus." The charter is confirmed by Gualfredus, Archbishop of Cagliari, Johannes Bishop of Barbaria, and Arnaldus Bishop of Sulci. Cappelletti, p. 74. M. Guérard, Cartulaire de l'abbaye de Saint-Victor de Marseille, , Vol. 2 (Paris C. Lahure 1857), pp. 465-466, no. 1007. Albertus ( 1114–1120)Albertus: Kehr, p. 417. A. Solmi, Archivio storico italiano Series 5 Volume 35 (Firenze 1905), p. 283, no. 2. ... Rudolfus ( 1163)Rudolfus: Cappelletti, p. 74. ... Gratianus Pizzolo ( 1217–1236)Graziano: Eubel I, p. 226. Petrus ( 1261)P(etrus) di Cili: Martini III, p. 368 with note 2. ... Orlandus, O.P. ( 1317) Gabriele, O.S.B. (1319–1342?)Dom Gabriel had been abbot of the monastery of Santa Maria de Pulsano (diocese of Siponto). His successor, Abbot Peter, was appointed to the vacancy caused by Gabriel's promotion on 25 November 1319, by Pope John XXII. Eubel I, p. 226. Francesco di Doglia (1326–1334)Antonio Forci, "L’episcopato di Saladinus Doliensis nella Sardegna regnicola del secolo XIV (1335-1355)," , in: RiMe. Rivista dell'Istituto di Storia dell'Europa Mediterranea (ISSN 2035-794X), Vol. 12 (Cagliari 2014), pp. 78-80. Saladino Pisanello (1342–1355)Antonio Forci, "L’episcopato di Saladinus Doliensis nella Sardegna regnicola del secolo XIV (1335-1355)," , in: RiMe. Rivista dell'Istituto di Storia dell'Europa Mediterranea (ISSN 2035-794X), Vol. 12 (Cagliari 2014), pp. 67-106. Giovanni de Bardaxino, O.F.M. (26 Oct 1355–1362?)Johannes de Bardaxinus: Luke Wadding, Annales Minorum, , editio secunda (ed. Joseph Maria Fonseca ab Ebora) Vol. VIII (Rome: Rocco Bernabò 1733), p. 465. no. xliv. Nicola Aleri (4 Apr 1362 – ) Juan (1366–1388)Juan (Giovanni) was the nephew of Canon Jaume Arnau, Vicar-general of the bishop of Majorca. He was also a canon of Dolia. He was appointed bishop of Dolia on 8 June 1366. Forci, "Fra Giovanni Formentera...", p. 40.