Oddone Frangipane
Encyclopedia
Oddone Frangipane was the son of Leo and grandson of Cencio II
of the Frangipani family
. He had another brother named Cencio. During the middle of the twelfth century, he was the most influential aristocrat
in Rome
. His career began sometime around 1130. He supported the legitimate popes and opposed the Ghibellines and their Senate
.
His family acquired the fortress of Tusculum
from Ptolemy II
somehow before December 1152, when he sold his rights over Tusculum to Pope Eugene III
. In 1155, he acted on behalf of Adrian IV in negotiations with Frederick Barbarossa. In 1156, he was at Benevento
to accept the submission of William I of Sicily
to the pope. This submission resulted in the confirmation of the Treaty of Benevento
. After the papal election of 7 September 1159, Oddone wrote to Louis VII of France
exhorting him to support Alexander III
. When Alexander was arrested by supporters of the imperialist Antipope Victor IV
, it was Oddone who freed him and sent to safety in Campania
.
Oddone took over the military leadership of the city of Rome during the absence of Alexander and even afterwards. His son Leo was captured in battle with the emperor's troops in 1167 and he himself led the largest army of Roman citizens since the days of the Roman Empire
into battle at Monte Porzio
, where he was defeated by Christian I, Archbishop of Mainz
.
In the spring of 1170, Oddone remarried to a woman named Eudoxia, a Byzantine princess
. He had a son by her named Emanuele. He died some time not long after.
Cencio II Frangipane
Cencius II or Cencio II Frangipane was the son of either of Cencio I or of John, a brother of one Leo. He was the principal representative of the Frangipani family of Rome in the early twelfth century....
of the Frangipani family
Frangipani family
The Frangipani or Frangipane is a princely family with roots in Ancient Rome. The family was powerful as a Roman patrician clan in the Middle Ages. The family was typically Guelff in sympathy and thus often bravely supported the papacy...
. He had another brother named Cencio. During the middle of the twelfth century, he was the most influential aristocrat
Aristocracy (class)
The aristocracy are people considered to be in the highest social class in a society which has or once had a political system of Aristocracy. Aristocrats possess hereditary titles granted by a monarch, which once granted them feudal or legal privileges, or deriving, as in Ancient Greece and India,...
in Rome
Rome
Rome 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...
. His career began sometime around 1130. He supported the legitimate popes and opposed the Ghibellines and their Senate
Commune of Rome
The Commune of Rome was an attempt to establish a government like the old Roman Republic in opposition to the temporal power of the higher nobles and the popes beginning in 1144...
.
His family acquired the fortress of Tusculum
Tusculum
Tusculum is a ruined Roman city in the Alban Hills, in the Latium region of Italy.-Location:Tusculum is one of the largest Roman cities in Alban Hills. The ruins of Tusculum are located on Tuscolo hill—more specifically on the northern edge of the outer crater ring of the Alban volcano...
from Ptolemy II
Ptolemy II of Tusculum
Ptolemy II was the count of Tusculum and consul of the Romans from 1126 to his death...
somehow before December 1152, when he sold his rights over Tusculum to Pope Eugene III
Pope Eugene III
Pope Blessed Eugene III , born Bernardo da Pisa, was Pope from 1145 to 1153. He was the first Cistercian to become Pope.-Early life:...
. In 1155, he acted on behalf of Adrian IV in negotiations with Frederick Barbarossa. In 1156, he was at Benevento
Benevento
Benevento is a town and comune of Campania, Italy, capital of the province of Benevento, 50 km northeast of Naples. It is situated on a hill 130 m above sea-level at the confluence of the Calore Irpino and Sabato...
to accept the submission of William I of Sicily
William I of Sicily
William I , called the Bad or the Wicked, was the second king of Sicily, ruling from his father's death in 1154 to his own...
to the pope. This submission resulted in the confirmation of the Treaty of Benevento
Treaty of Benevento
The Treaty of Benevento was an important treaty between the papacy of Adrian IV and the Norman Kingdom of Sicily. After years of turbulent relations, the popes finally settled down to a peace with the Hauteville kings....
. After the papal election of 7 September 1159, Oddone wrote to Louis VII of France
Louis VII of France
Louis VII was King of France, the son and successor of Louis VI . He ruled from 1137 until his death. He was a member of the House of Capet. His reign was dominated by feudal struggles , and saw the beginning of the long rivalry between France and England...
exhorting him to support Alexander III
Pope Alexander III
Pope Alexander III , born Rolando of Siena, was Pope from 1159 to 1181. He is noted in history for laying the foundation stone for the Notre Dame de Paris.-Church career:...
. When Alexander was arrested by supporters of the imperialist Antipope Victor IV
Antipope Victor IV
Antipope Victor IV may refer to:* Antipope Victor IV * Antipope Victor IV...
, it was Oddone who freed him and sent to safety in Campania
Campania
Campania is a region in southern Italy. The region has a population of around 5.8 million people, making it the second-most-populous region of Italy; its total area of 13,590 km² makes it the most densely populated region in the country...
.
Oddone took over the military leadership of the city of Rome during the absence of Alexander and even afterwards. His son Leo was captured in battle with the emperor's troops in 1167 and he himself led the largest army of Roman citizens since the days of the Roman Empire
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
into battle at Monte Porzio
Battle of Monte Porzio
The Battle of Monte Porzio was fought on 29 May 1167 between the Holy Roman Empire and the Commune of Rome...
, where he was defeated by Christian I, Archbishop of Mainz
Christian I, Archbishop of Mainz
Christian I was a German nobleman and diplomat. He was count of Buch, archbishop of Mainz , and archchancellor of Germany .-Biography:Christian was of the family of Beichlingen....
.
In the spring of 1170, Oddone remarried to a woman named Eudoxia, a Byzantine princess
Byzantine aristocracy and bureaucracy
The Byzantine Empire had a complex system of aristocracy and bureaucracy, which was inherited from the Roman Empire. At the apex of the pyramid stood the Emperor, sole ruler and divinely ordained, but beneath him a multitude of officials and court functionaries operated the administrative...
. He had a son by her named Emanuele. He died some time not long after.
Sources
- Caravale, Mario (ed). Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani: L Francesco I Sforza – Gabbi. Rome, 1998.
- Gregorovius, FerdinandFerdinand GregoroviusFerdinand Gregorovius was a German historian who specialized in the medieval history of Rome. He is best known for Wanderjahre in Italien, his account of the walks he took through Italy in the 1850s, and the monumental Die Geschichte der Stadt Rom im Mittelalter , a classic for Medieval and early...
. Rome in the Middle Ages Vol. II. trans. Annie Hamilton. 1905.