Anselm of Lucca
Encyclopedia
Saint Anselm of Lucca called the Younger or Anselm II to distinguish him from his uncle, was an Italian bishop, a prominent figure in the Investiture Controversy
and in the fighting in Central Italy between the forces of Countess Matilda of Tuscany
, the papal champion, and those of Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor
.
Born in Milan
, Anselm was a nephew of Anselm of Lucca the Elder, who became Pope Alexander II
in 1061 and who designated Anselm to succeed him in his former position as Bishop of Lucca (1071) and sent him to Germany
advising him to take investiture from Emperor Henry IV. Alexander II, Anselm's brother or uncle, may have elevated him to the cardinalate ca. 1062.
Anselm went to Germany, but was loath to receive the insignia of spiritual power from a temporal
ruler and returned without investiture
. In 1073, Pope Gregory VII
, again appointed Anselm Bishop of Lucca, but advised him not to accept investure from Henry IV. For some reason, Anselm did so this time, but soon felt such remorse that he resigned his bishopric, and entered the Benedictine
Order at Padilirone, a Cluniac monastery near Mantua.
Gregory VII ordered him to return to Lucca, and he reluctantly obeyed, but continued to lead the life of a monk. In the years 1077–79, he accepted the transfer of several castles from Countess Matilda, in preparation for Henry's expected campaign, which was carried out in 1081–84. Meanwhile, he attempted to impose stricter monastic discipline upon the canons of his cathedral
. Most of the canons refused to submit to the onerous new regulations, were excommunicated as a result and expelled him from Lucca in 1081, with the help of Emperor Henry and Guibert, Antipope Clement III
, after the defeat of the great papal defender, the Countess Matilda of Tuscany
at the battle of Volta Mantovana (October 1080). Anselm fled first to the shelter of Moriana, an episcopal stronghold only a few miles up the Arno
from Lucca— accompanied by Bardo, a priest who later wrote his vita
—then retired to Canossa
as spiritual guide to Countess Matilda. Bishop Benzo of Alba, Henry IV's fiercely partisan supporter, tells with delight how Matilda and Anselm stripped the monasteries to send gold and silver to Gregory in Rome http://libraryautomation.com/valerieeads/matilda.html.
Some time later Pope Victor III
made him papal legate
to Lombardy
, with authorization to rule over all the dioceses which had been left without bishops due to the conflict between pope and emperor. His biographer Rangerius, who succeeded him as bishop of Lucca, ascribed to his prayers the rout of Matilda's forces and the other enemies of Gregory VII, which is why he is sometimes depicted in art as standing before an army in confusion.
Anselm was well versed in Scripture and wrote some important works attacking lay investiture and defending Pope Gregory against Antipope Guibert. He spent his last years assembling a collection of ecclesiastical law canons in 13 books, which formed the earliest of the collections of canons (Collectio canonum) supporting the Gregorian reform
s, which afterwards were incorporated into the well-known Decretum of the jurist Gratian
.
He died in Mantua on March 18, 1086, and is regarded as the patron saint
of that city. A life of Anselm was written by his successor, Bishop Rangerius.
Investiture Controversy
The Investiture Controversy or Investiture Contest was the most significant conflict between Church and state in medieval Europe. In the 11th and 12th centuries, a series of Popes challenged the authority of European monarchies over control of appointments, or investitures, of church officials such...
and in the fighting in Central Italy between the forces of Countess Matilda of Tuscany
Matilda of Tuscany
Matilda of Tuscany was an Italian noblewoman, the principal Italian supporter of Pope Gregory VII during the Investiture Controversy. She is one of the few medieval women to be remembered for her military accomplishments...
, the papal champion, and those of Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry IV was King of the Romans from 1056 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1084 until his forced abdication in 1105. He was the third emperor of the Salian dynasty and one of the most powerful and important figures of the 11th century...
.
Born in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, Anselm was a nephew of Anselm of Lucca the Elder, who became Pope Alexander II
Pope Alexander II
Pope Alexander II , born Anselmo da Baggio, was Pope from 1061 to 1073.He was born in Milan. As bishop of Lucca he had been an energetic coadjutor with Hildebrand of Sovana in endeavouring to suppress simony, and to enforce the celibacy of the clergy...
in 1061 and who designated Anselm to succeed him in his former position as Bishop of Lucca (1071) and sent him to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
advising him to take investiture from Emperor Henry IV. Alexander II, Anselm's brother or uncle, may have elevated him to the cardinalate ca. 1062.
Anselm went to Germany, but was loath to receive the insignia of spiritual power from a temporal
State (polity)
A state is an organized political community, living under a government. States may be sovereign and may enjoy a monopoly on the legal initiation of force and are not dependent on, or subject to any other power or state. Many states are federated states which participate in a federal union...
ruler and returned without investiture
Investiture
Investiture, from the Latin is a rather general term for the formal installation of an incumbent...
. In 1073, Pope Gregory VII
Pope Gregory VII
Pope St. Gregory VII , born Hildebrand of Sovana , was Pope from April 22, 1073, until his death. One of the great reforming popes, he is perhaps best known for the part he played in the Investiture Controversy, his dispute with Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor affirming the primacy of the papal...
, again appointed Anselm Bishop of Lucca, but advised him not to accept investure from Henry IV. For some reason, Anselm did so this time, but soon felt such remorse that he resigned his bishopric, and entered the Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
Order at Padilirone, a Cluniac monastery near Mantua.
Gregory VII ordered him to return to Lucca, and he reluctantly obeyed, but continued to lead the life of a monk. In the years 1077–79, he accepted the transfer of several castles from Countess Matilda, in preparation for Henry's expected campaign, which was carried out in 1081–84. Meanwhile, he attempted to impose stricter monastic discipline upon the canons of his cathedral
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
. Most of the canons refused to submit to the onerous new regulations, were excommunicated as a result and expelled him from Lucca in 1081, with the help of Emperor Henry and Guibert, Antipope Clement III
Antipope Clement III
Guibert or Wibert of Ravenna was a cleric made antipope in 1080 due to perceived abuses of Pope Gregory VII during the Investiture Controversy, a title that lasted to his death....
, after the defeat of the great papal defender, the Countess Matilda of Tuscany
Matilda of Tuscany
Matilda of Tuscany was an Italian noblewoman, the principal Italian supporter of Pope Gregory VII during the Investiture Controversy. She is one of the few medieval women to be remembered for her military accomplishments...
at the battle of Volta Mantovana (October 1080). Anselm fled first to the shelter of Moriana, an episcopal stronghold only a few miles up the Arno
Arno
The Arno is a river in the Tuscany region of Italy. It is the most important river of central Italy after the Tiber.- Source and route :The river originates on Mount Falterona in the Casentino area of the Apennines, and initially takes a southward curve...
from Lucca— accompanied by Bardo, a priest who later wrote his vita
Biography
A biography is a detailed description or account of someone's life. More than a list of basic facts , biography also portrays the subject's experience of those events...
—then retired to Canossa
Canossa
Canossa is a comune and castle town in Emilia-Romagna, famous as the site where Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV did penance in 1077, standing three days bare-headed in the snow, in order to reverse his excommunication by Pope Gregory VII...
as spiritual guide to Countess Matilda. Bishop Benzo of Alba, Henry IV's fiercely partisan supporter, tells with delight how Matilda and Anselm stripped the monasteries to send gold and silver to Gregory in Rome http://libraryautomation.com/valerieeads/matilda.html.
Some time later Pope Victor III
Pope Victor III
Pope Blessed Victor III , born Daufer , Latinised Dauferius, was the Pope as the successor of Pope Gregory VII, yet his pontificate is far less impressive in history than his time as Desiderius, the great Abbot of Monte Cassino.-Early life and abbacy:He was born in 1026 or 1027 of a non-regnant...
made him papal legate
Papal legate
A papal legate – from the Latin, authentic Roman title Legatus – is a personal representative of the pope to foreign nations, or to some part of the Catholic Church. He is empowered on matters of Catholic Faith and for the settlement of ecclesiastical matters....
to Lombardy
Lombardy
Lombardy is one of the 20 regions of Italy. The capital is Milan. One-sixth of Italy's population lives in Lombardy and about one fifth of Italy's GDP is produced in this region, making it the most populous and richest region in the country and one of the richest in the whole of Europe...
, with authorization to rule over all the dioceses which had been left without bishops due to the conflict between pope and emperor. His biographer Rangerius, who succeeded him as bishop of Lucca, ascribed to his prayers the rout of Matilda's forces and the other enemies of Gregory VII, which is why he is sometimes depicted in art as standing before an army in confusion.
Anselm was well versed in Scripture and wrote some important works attacking lay investiture and defending Pope Gregory against Antipope Guibert. He spent his last years assembling a collection of ecclesiastical law canons in 13 books, which formed the earliest of the collections of canons (Collectio canonum) supporting the Gregorian reform
Gregorian Reform
The Gregorian Reforms were a series of reforms initiated by Pope Gregory VII and the circle he formed in the papal curia, circa 1050–80, which dealt with the moral integrity and independence of the clergy...
s, which afterwards were incorporated into the well-known Decretum of the jurist Gratian
Gratian (jurist)
Gratian, was a 12th century canon lawyer from Bologna. He is sometimes incorrectly referred to as Franciscus Gratianus, Johannes Gratianus, or Giovanni Graziano. The dates of his birth and death are unknown....
.
He died in Mantua on March 18, 1086, and is regarded as the patron saint
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
of that city. A life of Anselm was written by his successor, Bishop Rangerius.
External links
- Saint Anselm of Lucca the Younger
- Catholic Encyclopedia: St Anselm of Lucca, the Younger
- Projekt PseudoIsidor: Die Sammlung Anselms von Lucca (in German)
- Matilda of Tuscany: material concerning Anselm of Lucca
- ÖkumenischesHeiligenlexikon: Anselm II von Lucca (in German)
- Sant'Anselmo a Mantova (Italian)