Fulcoald of Farfa
Encyclopedia
Fulcoald was the fourth Abbot of Farfa from 740. In 739 King Liutprand granted Farfa the right of freedom in abbatial elections, but we do not know if Fulcoald was the product of such a free election or not. Like his predecessor, Lucerius
, Fulcoald hailed from Aquitaine
, then in southern Francia. "With his abbacy, the quantity of our [historical] evidence dramatically increases [and d]evelopments in secular politics can now be seen to impinge on Farfa's land acquisitions." Fulcoald's abbacy can therefore be defined in terms of three objectives that are apparent in the surviving sources: (a) to extend its landholdings and secure its rights to its properties, (b) to promote a strict and disciplined monastic observance, and (c) to "steer as untroubled a course as possible through the choppy waters of Italian politics".
During the first decade of Fulcoald abbacy he cultivated a close relationship with Duke Lupo of Spoleto, who in turn was a close ally of King Ratchis
, a fact which seems to have greatly increased the abbey's patronage by the greater landowners of the Sabina
. The notitia (notice) of one of Lupo's judicial decisions in Farfa's favour survives, and we also have record of two disputes settled in the abbey's favour by the missi
of Ratchis. Among Lupo's grants to the abbey were large tracts of land and two small monasteries. A high standard of monastic observance was necessary to maintaining high levels of patronage. To this end Fulcoald sought and received a privilege of Duke Lupo prohibiting women from certain grounds in the vicinity of the abbey.
After Aistulf
usurped the throne in 751 he removed Lupo and took the region under his direct control. During his reign the patronage of Farfa dwindled. The king granted one estate—"two large tracts of upland pasture"—to Farfa, an estate later disputed with the dukes of Spoleto. Aistulf did not materially harm the abbey, however, in his first year confirming four diplomas from the dukes and another one “deperditum” (forever lost). During this period the abbey received only two gifts from non-royal donors. Despite the apparent loss of patronage the abbey sufferend, Aistulf's attitude towards Farfa "was not affected by Fulcoald's origins in the kingdom of his [Aistulf's] enemies."
An indication of Fulcoald's clout comes from an exchange of casale
s between the abbey and Bishop Teuto of Rieti in755. Two charters of exchange (cartae concambiationis) were drawn up, and the surviving one in Farfa's archives shows that the bishop made the exchange with Fulcoald directly and not the abbey.
It may also have been the abbot's clout which got his relative Wandelbert
elected to replace him. The Chronicon Farfense of Gregory of Catino
puts Fulcoald's death in 759. The latest reference to Fulcoald in a surviving charter is dated October 757. The anonymous Libellus constructionis Farfensis
gives his length of abbacy as nineteen years, which coupled with Gregory's catalogue of abbots, which begins Fulcoald's tenure in 740, suggests a date of 759 for his successor. The last mention of Fulcoald's predecessor, however, is June 739. His abbacy may therefore have begun any time after that and it ended some time after October 757.
Lucerius
Lucerius was the third Abbot of Farfa, succeeding Aunepert in 724 at the latest. He was originally from Provence and had been raised at Farfa by Thomas of Maurienne, the first abbot. Lucerius' abbacy was a period of growth and expansion on the part of the abbey. In his first year he received a...
, Fulcoald hailed from Aquitaine
Aquitaine
Aquitaine , archaic Guyenne/Guienne , is one of the 27 regions of France, in the south-western part of metropolitan France, along the Atlantic Ocean and the Pyrenees mountain range on the border with Spain. It comprises the 5 departments of Dordogne, :Lot et Garonne, :Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Landes...
, then in southern Francia. "With his abbacy, the quantity of our [historical] evidence dramatically increases [and d]evelopments in secular politics can now be seen to impinge on Farfa's land acquisitions." Fulcoald's abbacy can therefore be defined in terms of three objectives that are apparent in the surviving sources: (a) to extend its landholdings and secure its rights to its properties, (b) to promote a strict and disciplined monastic observance, and (c) to "steer as untroubled a course as possible through the choppy waters of Italian politics".
During the first decade of Fulcoald abbacy he cultivated a close relationship with Duke Lupo of Spoleto, who in turn was a close ally of King Ratchis
Ratchis
Ratchis was the Duke of Friuli and King of the Lombards . His father was Duke Pemmo. His Roman wife was Tassia. He ruled in peace until he besieged, for reasons unknown, Perugia. Pope Zachary convinced him to lift the siege and he abdicated and entered, with his family, the abbey of Montecassino...
, a fact which seems to have greatly increased the abbey's patronage by the greater landowners of the Sabina
Sabina
Sabina, the region in the Sabine Hills of Latium named for the Sabines, is the ancient territory that today is still identified mainly with the North-Eastern Province of Rome and the Province of Rieti, Lazio.-History:...
. The notitia (notice) of one of Lupo's judicial decisions in Farfa's favour survives, and we also have record of two disputes settled in the abbey's favour by the missi
Missus dominicus
A missus dominicus , Latin for "envoy[s] of the lord [ruler]", also known in Dutch as Zendgraaf , meaning "sent Graf", was an official commissioned by the Frankish king or Holy Roman Emperor to supervise the administration, mainly of justice, in parts of his dominions too far for frequent personal...
of Ratchis. Among Lupo's grants to the abbey were large tracts of land and two small monasteries. A high standard of monastic observance was necessary to maintaining high levels of patronage. To this end Fulcoald sought and received a privilege of Duke Lupo prohibiting women from certain grounds in the vicinity of the abbey.
After Aistulf
Aistulf
Aistulf was the Duke of Friuli from 744, King of Lombards from 749, and Duke of Spoleto from 751. His father was the Duke Pemmo.After his brother Ratchis became king, Aistulf succeeded him in Friuli. He succeeded him later as king when Ratchis abdicated to a monastery...
usurped the throne in 751 he removed Lupo and took the region under his direct control. During his reign the patronage of Farfa dwindled. The king granted one estate—"two large tracts of upland pasture"—to Farfa, an estate later disputed with the dukes of Spoleto. Aistulf did not materially harm the abbey, however, in his first year confirming four diplomas from the dukes and another one “deperditum” (forever lost). During this period the abbey received only two gifts from non-royal donors. Despite the apparent loss of patronage the abbey sufferend, Aistulf's attitude towards Farfa "was not affected by Fulcoald's origins in the kingdom of his [Aistulf's] enemies."
An indication of Fulcoald's clout comes from an exchange of casale
Casale
Casale, Italian from the late Latin casalis for an isolated house, or group of houses, in the countryside, may refer to:-People:*Gerald Casale musician*Giovanni Casale , an Italian judoka*Giuseppe Casale Italian bishop...
s between the abbey and Bishop Teuto of Rieti in755. Two charters of exchange (cartae concambiationis) were drawn up, and the surviving one in Farfa's archives shows that the bishop made the exchange with Fulcoald directly and not the abbey.
It may also have been the abbot's clout which got his relative Wandelbert
Wandelbert of Farfa
Wandelbert was the Abbot of Farfa sometime between 757 and 761, one of a series of abbots from Aquitaine. His abbacy coincided with a troubled period in the abbey's history and the stormy reign of Duke Gisulf of Spoleto, who seems to have brought some stability to the abbey by the time of his...
elected to replace him. The Chronicon Farfense of Gregory of Catino
Gregory of Catino
Gregory of Catino was a monk of the Abbey of Farfa and "one of the most accomplished monastic historians of his age." Gregory died shortly after 1130, possibly in 1133....
puts Fulcoald's death in 759. The latest reference to Fulcoald in a surviving charter is dated October 757. The anonymous Libellus constructionis Farfensis
Libellus constructionis Farfensis
The Libellus constructionis Farfensis , often referred to simply as the Constructio in context, is a written history of the Abbey of Farfa from its foundation by Thomas of Maurienne circa 700 until the death of Abbot Hilderic in 857. It is about the "construction" of a powerful abbey with vast...
gives his length of abbacy as nineteen years, which coupled with Gregory's catalogue of abbots, which begins Fulcoald's tenure in 740, suggests a date of 759 for his successor. The last mention of Fulcoald's predecessor, however, is June 739. His abbacy may therefore have begun any time after that and it ended some time after October 757.