Ptolemy I of Tusculum
Encyclopedia
Ptolemy I (died 1126) was the count of Tusculum in the first quarter of the twelfth century. He was a son of Gregory III. Peter Pisanus, in his Vita Paschalis II refers to Ptolemy and the abbot of Farfa
as the allies of the emperor in the same way that the Saints Peter
and Paul
were the allies of the pope.
He supported the Pope Paschal II
and, in 1108, when the pope left for Benevento
, he was given command of the Campania
. Soon, Ptolemy, along with the Berald of Farfa (abbot of Farfa
) and Peter Colonna, rebelled against papal authority. The pope returned with troops from Richard II of Gaeta
and the rebels were unable to take control of Rome
.
In 1111, the Emperor Henry V imprisoned the pope and some of his cardinals in Rome and Robert I of Capua
sent 300 men to rescue the papal entourage. Ptolemy met the Capuan troops at Ferentino
and turned them back, however.
In March 1116, the Roman Prefect Peter died and Paschal appointed a son of Pier Leoni
as his replacement. The people revolted and appointed Peter, a great nephew of Ptolemy, instead. The pope was forced to flee to Albano
, but not before attempting to buy Ptolemy's loyalty with the grant of Ariccia
. The pope then turned on Rome and, in May, retook Trastevere
and the Fumone
fortress. His men captured the Prefect Peter. His relative imprisoned, Ptolemy turned on the pope once more and defeated his militia at Algidius and freed his nephew. This was the catalyst for more widespread revolt in the Campania and the Papal States
.
In Easter 1117, the emperor arrived and the pope fled. Ptolemy quickly did homage to the secular despot. He was confirmed in all the possessions of his grandfather the Consul Gregory. His power extended all the way to the Sabina. He held the port of Astura
, taken from the Roman church. He was called the dux et consul Romanorum or "Duke and Consul of the Romans" and formally "prince of Latium
." At this point, his son was also titled count and this younger Ptolemy
was given in marriage to Bertha, illegitimate daughter of Henry.
On 5 February 1105, after wars with Gaeta
, Ptolemy had confirmed by a treaty the safety of the Gaetan traders in his domains. Now, the wars with Gaeta were (temporarily) resumed.
Ptolemy and his nephew the prefect were holding the Castel Sant'Angelo
. Peter Colonna and Rainald Senebaldi turned to the pope's side and, soon after Christmas, Ptolemy and the rest of the imperialists in the Eternal City were forced to flee by the pope, who soon died.
Farfa
Farfa is an Italian name which can refer to:*A place name in the province of the Lazio in Italy, as:** Farfa River** Farfa ** Farfa Abbey, one of the main medieval abbeys in Italy* A personal name, as:...
as the allies of the emperor in the same way that the Saints Peter
Saint Peter
Saint Peter or Simon Peter was an early Christian leader, who is featured prominently in the New Testament Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. The son of John or of Jonah and from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee, his brother Andrew was also an apostle...
and Paul
Paul of Tarsus
Paul the Apostle , also known as Saul of Tarsus, is described in the Christian New Testament as one of the most influential early Christian missionaries, with the writings ascribed to him by the church forming a considerable portion of the New Testament...
were the allies of the pope.
He supported the 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...
and, in 1108, when the pope left for 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...
, he was given command of the 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...
. Soon, Ptolemy, along with the Berald of Farfa (abbot of Farfa
Abbey of Farfa
Farfa Abbey is a territorial abbey in northern Lazio, central Italy. It is one of the most famous abbeys of Europe. It belongs to the Benedictine Order and is located about 60 km from Rome, in the commune of Fara Sabina, not far from the Fara Sabina railway station.-History:A legend in the...
) and Peter Colonna, rebelled against papal authority. The pope returned with troops from Richard II of Gaeta
Richard II of Gaeta
Richard II was the consul and duke of Gaeta, ruling from 1104 or 1105 to his death.He conquered the duchy from his predecessor, William Blosseville, whom he exiled. He subsequently minted his own coinage as an independent prince.He lent troops to Pope Paschal II in 1108 to retake Rome...
and the rebels were unable to take control of 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...
.
In 1111, the Emperor Henry V imprisoned the pope and some of his cardinals in Rome and Robert I of Capua
Robert I of Capua
Robert I , count of Aversa and prince of Capua from 1106, on the death of his elder and heirless brother Richard, was the second eldest son of Jordan I of Capua and Gaitelgrima, daughter of Guaimar IV of Salerno....
sent 300 men to rescue the papal entourage. Ptolemy met the Capuan troops at Ferentino
Ferentino
Ferentino is a town and comune in Italy, in the province of Frosinone, Lazio, 65 km southeast of Rome.It is situated on a hill 400 m above sea-level, in the Monti Ernici area.-History:...
and turned them back, however.
In March 1116, the Roman Prefect Peter died and Paschal appointed a son of Pier Leoni
Pier Leoni
Pier Leoni was the son of the Jewish convert Leo de Benedicto and founder of the great and important medieval Roman family of the Pierleoni. He was called the Jewish Crassus by Gregorovius....
as his replacement. The people revolted and appointed Peter, a great nephew of Ptolemy, instead. The pope was forced to flee to Albano
Albano Laziale
Albano Laziale is a comune in the province of Rome, on the Alban Hills, in Latium, central Italy. It is also a suburb of Rome, which is 25 km distant. It is bounded by other communes of Castel Gandolfo, Rocca di Papa, Ariccia and Ardea. Located in the Castelli Romani area of Lazio...
, but not before attempting to buy Ptolemy's loyalty with the grant of Ariccia
Ariccia
Ariccia is a town and comune in the Province of Rome, central Italy. It is in the Alban Hills of the Lazio region and could be considered an extension of Rome's southeastern suburbs...
. The pope then turned on Rome and, in May, retook Trastevere
Trastevere
Trastevere is rione XIII of Rome, on the west bank of the Tiber, south of Vatican City. Its name comes from the Latin trans Tiberim, meaning literally "beyond the Tiber". The correct pronunciation is "tras-TEH-ve-ray", with the accent on the second syllable. Its logo is a golden head of a lion on a...
and the Fumone
Fumone
Fumone is a comune in the Province of Frosinone in the Italian region of Lazio, located about 70 km southeast of Rome and about 12 km northwest of Frosinone.-Main sights:...
fortress. His men captured the Prefect Peter. His relative imprisoned, Ptolemy turned on the pope once more and defeated his militia at Algidius and freed his nephew. This was the catalyst for more widespread revolt in the Campania and the Papal States
Papal States
The Papal State, State of the Church, or Pontifical States were among the major historical states of Italy from roughly the 6th century until the Italian peninsula was unified in 1861 by the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia .The Papal States comprised territories under...
.
In Easter 1117, the emperor arrived and the pope fled. Ptolemy quickly did homage to the secular despot. He was confirmed in all the possessions of his grandfather the Consul Gregory. His power extended all the way to the Sabina. He held the port of Astura
Astura
Astura could refer to:*Torre Astura, a former island of Lazio, Italy, containing Roman villas*Esla River, a river of Spain known to the Romans as Astura...
, taken from the Roman church. He was called the dux et consul Romanorum or "Duke and Consul of the Romans" and formally "prince of Latium
Latium
Lazio is one of the 20 administrative regions of Italy, situated in the central peninsular section of the country. With about 5.7 million residents and a GDP of more than 170 billion euros, Lazio is the third most populated and the second richest region of Italy...
." At this point, his son was also titled count and this younger Ptolemy
Ptolemy II of Tusculum
Ptolemy II was the count of Tusculum and consul of the Romans from 1126 to his death...
was given in marriage to Bertha, illegitimate daughter of Henry.
On 5 February 1105, after wars with Gaeta
Gaeta
Gaeta is a city and comune in the province of Latina, in Lazio, central Italy. Set on a promontory stretching towards the Gulf of Gaeta, it is 120 km from Rome and 80 km from Naples....
, Ptolemy had confirmed by a treaty the safety of the Gaetan traders in his domains. Now, the wars with Gaeta were (temporarily) resumed.
Ptolemy and his nephew the prefect were holding the Castel Sant'Angelo
Castel Sant'Angelo
The Mausoleum of Hadrian, usually known as the Castel Sant'Angelo, is a towering cylindrical building in Parco Adriano, Rome, Italy. It was initially commissioned by the Roman Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself and his family...
. Peter Colonna and Rainald Senebaldi turned to the pope's side and, soon after Christmas, Ptolemy and the rest of the imperialists in the Eternal City were forced to flee by the pope, who soon died.
Sources
- 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. IV Part 1. 1905. - Lexikon des Mittelalters: Ptolemaeus (Tolomeo) I. Graf von Tusculum.