Paulo Arbanensi Episcopo and Demetrio Arbanensi and other Albanian bishops and lords between the 12th and 15th century

Written by Petrit Latifi

The following article cites old publications between the 12th and 14th century regarding Albanian leaders and bishops and their letters to Pope Innocent III and the Papacy. The citations are not complete.

Master of Arbanensis Andreas Siunzi in 1441

“On the 13th of June, the master of Arbanensis was pronounced by the name Andreas Siunzi, 1441″; from another bride. On the 13th of September, lord Andreas Suinzi, bishop of Arbanensis, was consecrated in the church of Saint Mark of Venice”¹

Andreas prior Arbanensis of 1166

“But in 1153 the basileus Manuel Comnenus having confirmed their ancient privileges, the Albanians cease once again to be “Romaioi” or “Greci”. They reappear on the scene in 1166 with at their head a prior, Andreas prior Arbanensis…”²

Bishop Lazar of Albania (episcopus arbanensis) in 1166 in Kotor

“Two things are at stake here: 1) the personality of Bishop Lazar, who, according to M. he says – “allegedly” switched from the Greek to the Latin rite. Bishop Lazar of Albania (episcopus arbanensis) is mentioned in this document from Kotor on June 19, 1166. His name is mentioned a second time in another document on December 29, 1167.”³

Pope Innocent III writes to Dhimitri, prince of Arbëria

“Pope Innocent III writes to “the noble man Dhimtri, the prince of Arbëri (Arbanensi principi)”, who with his own letter requested from the Apostolic See a legate to exercise him in the purity of the faith and informs him that “Nicolas is temporarily sent to Arbëri , archdeacon of the Latins of Durrës and Arbëria…”⁴

Arbanian archon Gino (Albanian archon Gjini) and the Arban prince judge Demetrius (Dhimitri)⁵

“Let us turn to these Arbanian figures, and first of all to Demetrius, the younger brother of the Arbanian archon Gino, the first husband of the Serbian Comnena. From two letters of Innocent III written in 1208 and 1209, it is known that in the years mentioned here in Arbanus there was an independent ruler named Demetrius, who in the first of these letters addressed to him was called the Arbanian prince nobilis vir arbanensis princeps, and in the second nobilis vir judex Albanorum.”

“From the aforementioned papal letters we learn that the Arbanian prince and judge Demetrius in 1208 sought the favor of the pope. Innocent III joined the Roman Church together with the Bishop of Arbanon, Paulo arbanensi episcopo, and asked for a papal legate to be sent to Arbanon ad Arbanam. This, however, did not prevent him from confiscating the property in Arbanon, possessiones et alia bona, of the Drach Archdiocese, which had become Catholic after the conquest of Drach Durazzo by Venice in 1205, and from holding them in his hands.”

“We have no doubt that the independent Arbanon ruler Demetrius mentioned in the papal letters is the Demetrius mentioned in the letters of Chomatianus. Gino, the brother of the Arban archon, who married the daughter of the Serbian grand zhupan no earlier than 1204 and died no later than 1215. It is quite possible that the Arban bishop Paul, who was temporarily subordinated to Rome around 1208 together with the Arban prince Demetrius, is the same Croesus bishop who corresponded with D. Chomatian in 1216 on a matter concerning the widow and niece of the same undoubtedly prince Demetrius and who, judging by some expressions in Chomatian’s letter to him, occupied the Croesus diocese several years before 1216.”

Albanian bishops

“Martinus Episcopus Albanensis, Michael II Episcopus Albanensis, Laurus Episcopus Albanensis, Nicolaus Episcopus Albanensis, Episcops Albanensis, Dominicus Episcopus Albanensis, Andrea II Episcopus Albanensis, Joannes I and Joannes II Episcopus Albanensis, Andreas Episcopus Albanensis, Angelus Episcopus Albanensis, Johannes III Episcopus Albanensis, Jacobus Episcopus Albanensis, Ludovicus Episcopus Albanensis, Dominucus II Episcopus Albanensis, Joannes IV Episcopus Albanensis, Marcus Episcopus Albanensis.”⁶

Other Albanian bishops of Krujë, Durrës, Tivar, Vlorë and Arta and Ulqin

“Demetrius (Nesa), bishop of Arbanensis, ord. Minorum (before 1376-1391)⁷, Paulus, bishop of Arbanensis (Croensis) “Kruje”, (1208-1216), Michael, archbishop of Dyrrhachil “Durrës” (1116-1168), Michael, bishop of Alban (Arbanensis) (1295), Michael, archbishop of Antibar (1282-1293), formerly canon of Antibar “Tivar”, Nicholas, the Blue Elves, residing in Arta (1314- 1320), Matthew, bishop of Aulon “Vlorë”, (until 1330), Matthaeus, archbishop of Dyrrhachiensis “Durrës” (1320-1840), John the Bishop of Dulcin “Ulqin”.”⁸

Albanian bishops of Shkodër, Pulati, and Ulqin

“… Arbanensis , Petrus bishop of Scuariensis , Joannes bishop of Polatinensis , Petrus bishop of Arvastinensis , Dominicus bishop of Soacinensis , Natalis bishop of Dulcinensis , Theodore of Sareanensis..”⁹

Arban (Albanian) bishop of 1199 and the Catholic council of Tivar

“… was accepted by the Orthodox, somewhat contradicted by other earlier Latin reports, which say that even around the end of the 12th century, namely in 1199, the Arban bishop, through his representative, participated in the Antibar Catholic Council. It seems to us that the contradiction indicated here will be eliminated by itself if we recall that the Antibar Council…”¹⁰

Demetrio Arbanensi and Paulo Arbanensi

“… Achridi 2 1208. From a letter of Pope Innocent III, “Epistolae Lib XI epist Nobili Demetrio Arbanensi principi”, it emerges that he and his subjects are Catholics and live among schismatic Greeks. Archdeacon Nicolaus of Durazzo is sent to him as legate, who is to go to Arbania and negotiate with Paulo Arbanensi episcopo… According to another letter from the same Pope, “ibid Liber XII epist 97, nobilis vir Demetrius judex Albanorum”, has seized church goods and Abbas Sti Petri de Lingrariza and Archi diacon Nicolaos are to urge him to hand them over … “¹¹

The Albanian ruler Dimitri Gino (Dhimiter Gjini) in 1204¹²

“… the Arbanian ruler Dimitri is Dimitri Gino, mentioned in the letters of Chomatian, the brother of the Arbanian archon, who married the daughter of the Serbian grand zhupan no earlier than 1204 and died no later than 1215. It is quite possible that …”

Papal letter to noble man Demetrius, prince of Arbanes and the Archdeacon of Durachiius (Durrës)

“TO THE NOBLE MAN DEMETRIUS PRINCE OF ARBANES. To him the archdeacon of Durachius is commended to the Lateran in Cal March Devotion and reverence towards the sacred… “¹³

Michael II Episcopus Albanensis.

“After the beginning of the fourteenth century, he came to rule this Church, to which the mandate of John XXII of Crojen, together with the Bishop of Arban, was imposed in 1317, as stated in book 2 and 1 of John XXII Manda both Crojen and Alban Bishops, in so far as they confirm in the Apostolic name the election made by the Chapter of the Dyrrhachian Church of the Archdeaconate. The church then being vacant, to which the said election, approved by authority and hitherto peacefully observed, pertains to the person of a certain Costa, considering that let the schismatics obtain possession of the temple in the said city of Dyrrbachien & the said Costa cannot approach the Apostolic See in order to obtain the effect of obtaining the said confirmation of the aforesaid elections…”¹⁴

Laurus Bishop of Albanese VII and Adam, bishop of Cathars (Kotor)

“LAURUS BISHOP OF ALBANESE VII known to us from the schedule of the consecration of the altar in the ede of St. George which he performed annually with Adam, Bishop of the Cathars, in the year 1350 Ra gusini & at the time of Peter Justinian, Count of Ragusini, by Fr. Laurus, Bishop of Alba, under the rule of James de Oftoni Alto Comitis Lagustæ under the year Dom 1350…”¹⁵

John of Lourlis is made bishop of the Order of Preachers of the Church of Arban (Albania)

“Beloved son John Lourlis, Elect of Arban, greetings, etc. Apostleship, etc. We took that turn to be specially reserved by deciding that from then on it would be null and void if otherwise over by whomsoever by any authority, knowingly or unknowingly, an attempt should be made. and it is not possible, by the reservation and the objections of the above-mentioned chalk, that the church itself should not be subjected to a far-off vacation, due to parental inconveniences and anxious studies after the deliberation which we had with our brethren concerning the appointment of a person of this kind to the same church, we have diligently declared to you of the order of the brethren of the Preachers, the matter established in the priesthood, the zeal of religion evident, the knowledge of letters, the life, and the honesty of manners, decent in spiritual provision, and in temporal circumspection, and other merits of manifold virtues, according to from reliable evidences we have perceived the signified, we have directed the eyes of our minds to you with all due meditation on your person for us and, to our brothers, because of the merits you have said, the same Arbanian church, on the advice of our brothers, we provide you with apostolic authority, and we predecease you as bishop and pastor to the care and administration of the Arbanian church itself, fully committing to you in spiritual and temporal matters in him who gives graces and bounties. firstly confident that the aforesaid Arbanian church under your happy rule will be guided successfully by the grace of your divine assistance and will receive a welcome growth in the same spiritual and temporal. Therefore the yoke of your lord is laid upon your shoulders with ready devotion.”¹⁶

References

Paulo Arbanensi Episcopo and Demetrio Arbanensi and other Albanian bishops and lords between the 12th and 15th century

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