Roman Catholic Diocese of Fiorentino

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Fiorentino, named after its see (Castel) Fiorentino (di Puglia), in the present 'commune' (municipality) of Torremaggiore, was a medieval Latin Rite bishopric (1059-1391) and remains a titular see.

The bishopric was probably established in the early eleventh century by the Italian catapan (Byzantine governor) Basilio Boioannes, like castel Firentino and several dioceses in the Capitanata era, as Byzantine ring opposing the expansionist Longobard duchy of Benevento. It was documented first in 1018, with the neighbouring bishoprics of Montecorvino, Dragonara (also in present Torremaggiore!), Civitate and Lesina.

It started as a suffragan of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, using its Greek rite, until Rome's Latin rite was introduced instead by the conquering (Catholic) Normans mid eleventh century. On 22 January 1055, Pope Victor II transferred those dioceses of the ex-Byzantine capitanate to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Benevento by papal bulla.

Its archeological site comprises a cathedral and one more of a dozen documented churches, including Santa Maria, San Cristoforo, San Giorgio and San Lorenzo, which had an archpriest; San Nicola, Santa Maria, San Donnino and Santissima Trinità, depending on the abbey of Torremaggiore; San Nicola and San Pietro; Santa Maria Coronata, which bishop Ramfredo conceded in 1205 to San Leonardo di Siponto; and San Leone, depending on the extramural monastery San Salvatore.

From the 14th century, the city was progressively abandoned, according to a 1313 Angevin chancellery document like other Capitanata cities, due to unhealthiness, tax burden and spoliation. The bishopric was suppressed in 1391 or (according to the source, formally?) after bishop Meglio's death in 1410, its territory merged into the Diocese of Lucera.

TO ELABORATE

The bishopric was nominally restored in 1968 as Latin Catholic titular bishopric of Fiorentino (Italian) / Florentinen(sis) (Latin adjective).

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Wikipedia