Philip of Viana
Encyclopedia
Philip of Viana was the Archbishop of Palermo from 31 January 1477, when he received papal approval from Sixtus IV
, to his renunciation of his see
in 1485.
He was the illegitimate son of Charles, Prince of Viana, and his mistress, Brianda de Vaca. He was born in the diocese of Pamplona
in 1449 or 1450, for he was twenty seven years old when he was elected to the Palermitan diocese. He was approved as archbishop while away from the city of Palermo
, so he sent two vicar
s to administer the diocese in his place. These were rejected by the senate of Palermo and after much conflict and negotiation, he nominated a Sicilian canon to the post of vicar. When he was also appointed Grand Chancellor
, the senate likewise refused to recognise him as he was not of Sicilian birth. His episcopal election was contested to the pope on the basis of irregularities, but John of Cardona installed him in his see on 9 January 1479.
Throughout his episcopate, Philip expanded his territory and control. In 1481, San Giovanni degli Eremiti
was granted to the archdiocese. But after all the trouble of getting himself installed in his see, he renounced it in 1485 in order to become the Grand Master of the Order of Montesa
and fight the Reconquista
in Spain. This he did, dying in war with Granada
in 1488.
Pope Sixtus IV
Pope Sixtus IV , born Francesco della Rovere, was Pope from 1471 to 1484. His accomplishments as Pope included the establishment of the Sistine Chapel; the group of artists that he brought together introduced the Early Renaissance into Rome with the first masterpiece of the city's new artistic age,...
, to his renunciation of his see
Episcopal See
An episcopal see is, in the original sense, the official seat of a bishop. This seat, which is also referred to as the bishop's cathedra, is placed in the bishop's principal church, which is therefore called the bishop's cathedral...
in 1485.
He was the illegitimate son of Charles, Prince of Viana, and his mistress, Brianda de Vaca. He was born in the diocese of Pamplona
Pamplona
Pamplona is the historial capital city of Navarre, in Spain, and of the former kingdom of Navarre.The city is famous worldwide for the San Fermín festival, from July 6 to 14, in which the running of the bulls is one of the main attractions...
in 1449 or 1450, for he was twenty seven years old when he was elected to the Palermitan diocese. He was approved as archbishop while away from the city of Palermo
Palermo
Palermo is a city in Southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. The city is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,700 years old...
, so he sent two 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...
s to administer the diocese in his place. These were rejected by the senate of Palermo and after much conflict and negotiation, he nominated a Sicilian canon to the post of vicar. When he was also appointed Grand Chancellor
Chancellor
Chancellor is the title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the Cancellarii of Roman courts of justice—ushers who sat at the cancelli or lattice work screens of a basilica or law court, which separated the judge and counsel from the...
, the senate likewise refused to recognise him as he was not of Sicilian birth. His episcopal election was contested to the pope on the basis of irregularities, but John of Cardona installed him in his see on 9 January 1479.
Throughout his episcopate, Philip expanded his territory and control. In 1481, San Giovanni degli Eremiti
San Giovanni degli Eremiti
San Giovanni degli Eremiti is a church in Palermo, southern Italy, near the Palazzo dei Normanni.-History:The church's origins date to the 6th century. Later, after the Islamic conquest of Sicily, it was converted into a mosque...
was granted to the archdiocese. But after all the trouble of getting himself installed in his see, he renounced it in 1485 in order to become the Grand Master of the Order of Montesa
Order of Montesa
The Order of Montesa is a Christian military order, territorially limited to the Kingdom of Aragon.-Templar background:The Templars had been received with enthusiasm in Aragon from their foundation in 1128...
and fight the Reconquista
Reconquista
The Reconquista was a period of almost 800 years in the Middle Ages during which several Christian kingdoms succeeded in retaking the Muslim-controlled areas of the Iberian Peninsula broadly known as Al-Andalus...
in Spain. This he did, dying in war with Granada
Granada
Granada is a city and the capital of the province of Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Granada is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, at the confluence of three rivers, the Beiro, the Darro and the Genil. It sits at an elevation of 738 metres above sea...
in 1488.