Jordan, Archbishop of Milan
Encyclopedia
Jordan was the Archbishop of Milan from 1 January 1112 to his death on 4 October 1120. Born in Clivio
, he entered the church of Milan
young and was ordained a subdeacon
while serving under the Archbishop Grossolano
.
, in Provence, France, to continue his education, as was typical for Milanese youths of his day. He was recalled in 1111 by Olrico da Corte, the vicedominus, and ordained a presbyter
on 1 September by Ariald, Bishop of Genoa. The embattled Archbishop Grossolano travelled to the Holy Land
, leaving Guazzone Comino and Amizone da Sala in charge with Arderic, Bishop of Lodi, as his acting vicar
. On New Year's Day a council of equal numbers of supporters and opponents of the archbishop convened in his absence and, deposing him, elected Jordan to replace him. In February, Landulf, Bishop of Asti, consecrated the new archbishop to his post and, together with Ariald and Mainard, Bishop of Turin|Mainard of Turin, did homage to Jordan as his suffragans. Atto, Bishop of Acqui, and Arderic of Lodi refused to do homage to the new bishop and remained loyal to Grossolano. On 6 December, Mainard formally deposed Grossolano at the altar in S. Ambrogio. Jordan and Bernard, Bishop of Pavia, proclaimed a general peace throughout Lombardy
, of which Jordan was now the primate. He received the recognition of Pope Paschal II
, legitimising the irregularities of his election.
to that of Milan to be invalid and thus null. He was transferred back to Savona and Jordan was again confirmed as the legitimate Ambrosian pontiff.
) and under him Milan was a centre of anti-imperial feeling. His episcopate saw the citizens of Milan grow in power. In 1116, they began electing consuls, with all secular powers that had been theretofore reserved for the bishops. In a solemn ceremony at S. Tecla, Jordan even excommunicated the reigning emperor, Henry V
.
Jordan interfered extensively in his suffragan diocese. He deposed Armanno da Gavardo from Brescia
and made the elected Villanus, Bishop of Brescia|Villanus bishop there. He deposed Ugo da Noceto in Cremona
and raised Oberto da Dovara in his place. He intervened in the episcopal succession to Como
in 1118 and sparked a nine-year war between the cities of Milan and Como. In Spring 1120, he met the returning Pope Callistus II at Tortona
(the pope had been visiting France). Jordan died in the fall of 1120 and was buried in his basilica. He was succeeded by Olrico, who had first recalled him from Provence.
Clivio
Clivio is a comune in the Province of Varese in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 50 km northwest of Milan and about 10 km northeast of Varese, on the border with Switzerland...
, he entered the church of 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 ,...
young and was ordained a subdeacon
Subdeacon
-Subdeacons in the Orthodox Church:A subdeacon or hypodeacon is the highest of the minor orders of clergy in the Orthodox Church. This order is higher than the reader and lower than the deacon.-Canonical Discipline:...
while serving under the Archbishop Grossolano
Grossolano
Grossolanus, Grossolano, or Grosolano, born Peter, was the Archbishop of Milan from 1102 to 1112. He succeeded Anselm IV, who had made him vicar during his absence on the Crusade of 1101, and was succeeded by Jordan, who had been his subdeacon....
.
Jordan replaces Grossolano
He was appointed to Saint-GillesSaint-Gilles
Saint-Gilles is the name of several places, most of them named after Saint Giles.-Belgium:* Saint-Gilles is the French name for a municipality in the bilingual Brussels-Capital Region...
, in Provence, France, to continue his education, as was typical for Milanese youths of his day. He was recalled in 1111 by Olrico da Corte, the vicedominus, and ordained a presbyter
Presbyter
Presbyter in the New Testament refers to a leader in local Christian congregations, then a synonym of episkopos...
on 1 September by Ariald, Bishop of Genoa. The embattled Archbishop Grossolano travelled to the Holy Land
Holy Land
The Holy Land is a term which in Judaism refers to the Kingdom of Israel as defined in the Tanakh. For Jews, the Land's identifiction of being Holy is defined in Judaism by its differentiation from other lands by virtue of the practice of Judaism often possible only in the Land of Israel...
, leaving Guazzone Comino and Amizone da Sala in charge with Arderic, Bishop of Lodi, as his acting vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
. On New Year's Day a council of equal numbers of supporters and opponents of the archbishop convened in his absence and, deposing him, elected Jordan to replace him. In February, Landulf, Bishop of Asti, consecrated the new archbishop to his post and, together with Ariald and Mainard, Bishop of Turin|Mainard of Turin, did homage to Jordan as his suffragans. Atto, Bishop of Acqui, and Arderic of Lodi refused to do homage to the new bishop and remained loyal to Grossolano. On 6 December, Mainard formally deposed Grossolano at the altar in S. Ambrogio. Jordan and Bernard, Bishop of Pavia, proclaimed a general peace throughout 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...
, of which Jordan was now the primate. He received the recognition of Pope Paschal II
Pope Paschal II
Pope Paschal II , born Ranierius, was Pope from August 13, 1099, until his death. A monk of the Cluniac order, he was created cardinal priest of the Titulus S...
, legitimising the irregularities of his election.
Grossolano returns
In August 1113, Grossolano returned from his pilgrimage. Tensions were raised in the city of Milan, where the old archbishop still had some supporters. Finally, on 11 March 1116, Paschal declared Grossolano's transferral from the see of SavonaSavona
Savona is a seaport and comune in the northern Italian region of Liguria, capital of the Province of Savona, in the Riviera di Ponente on the Mediterranean Sea....
to that of Milan to be invalid and thus null. He was transferred back to Savona and Jordan was again confirmed as the legitimate Ambrosian pontiff.
Milan
Jordan was a staunch papist (later GuelphGuelphs and Ghibellines
The Guelphs and Ghibellines were factions supporting the Pope and the Holy Roman Emperor, respectively, in central and northern Italy. During the 12th and 13th centuries, the split between these two parties was a particularly important aspect of the internal policy of the Italian city-states...
) and under him Milan was a centre of anti-imperial feeling. His episcopate saw the citizens of Milan grow in power. In 1116, they began electing consuls, with all secular powers that had been theretofore reserved for the bishops. In a solemn ceremony at S. Tecla, Jordan even excommunicated the reigning emperor, Henry V
Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry V was King of Germany and Holy Roman Emperor , the fourth and last ruler of the Salian dynasty. Henry's reign coincided with the final phase of the great Investiture Controversy, which had pitted pope against emperor...
.
Jordan interfered extensively in his suffragan diocese. He deposed Armanno da Gavardo from Brescia
Brescia
Brescia is a city and comune in the region of Lombardy in northern Italy. It is situated at the foot of the Alps, between the Mella and the Naviglio, with a population of around 197,000. It is the second largest city in Lombardy, after the capital, Milan...
and made the elected Villanus, Bishop of Brescia|Villanus bishop there. He deposed Ugo da Noceto in Cremona
Cremona
Cremona is a city and comune in northern Italy, situated in Lombardy, on the left bank of the Po River in the middle of the Pianura Padana . It is the capital of the province of Cremona and the seat of the local City and Province governments...
and raised Oberto da Dovara in his place. He intervened in the episcopal succession to Como
Como
Como is a city and comune in Lombardy, Italy.It is the administrative capital of the Province of Como....
in 1118 and sparked a nine-year war between the cities of Milan and Como. In Spring 1120, he met the returning Pope Callistus II at Tortona
Tortona
Tortona is a comune of Piemonte, in the Province of Alessandria, Italy. Tortona is sited on the right bank of the Scrivia between the plain of Marengo and the foothills of the Ligurian Apennines.-History:...
(the pope had been visiting France). Jordan died in the fall of 1120 and was buried in his basilica. He was succeeded by Olrico, who had first recalled him from Provence.
Sources
- Landulf Iuniore di San Paolorem. Historia Mediolanensis.
- Caravale, Mario (ed). Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani: LV Ginammi – Giovanni da Crema. RomeRomeRome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, 2000.