L'ordo maior della Chiesa di Milano (1166-1230)

The study starts with an analysis concerning European and Italian production about chapters of the cathedrals in the central centuries of Middle Ages. It points out the absence of recent studies about ordo maior Mediolanensis ecclesiae. Past and present researches are often based on works written by Enrico Cattaneo and Giorgio Giulini (XVIII century). These studies necessitate to be reread, considering the editions of the Atti degli arcivescovi e della curia arcivescovile by Maria Franca Baroni Chronological study's bounds are fixed by succession of important figures as archbishop of Milan (in 1166 become archbishop Galdino de la Sala, in 1230 dyes Enrico da Settala). The work begins with the analysis of a text known as Beroldus vetus, realized by a custos Mediolanensis ecclesiae in the early twenties of XII century. This book offers important suggestions about the chapter and its offices (with some interesting differences with canon law). The analisys of social origins of clergymen shows that major offices (arcidiaconus, arcipresbiter, presbyteri, diaconi, suddiaconi) were reserved for nobiles, instead lectores and their primicerius belonged to ordo minor (or decumanorum) also open to populares. The survey on cultural background of clergymen shows that in their signatures they often used terms like magister that testifies high level studies (perhaps not only in Milan). The work shows also that ordinarii didn't live experiences of common life but vita comune was only a term used to signify they lived in private apartments in the same palace. Archbishopric of Galdino de la Sala (1166-1176) had a central role in the history of Mediolanensis ecclesia between XII and XIII centuries. He supported the policy of pope Alexander III with the aid of a group of ordinarii. Galdino designated the archpriest Milone as bishop of Turin, presbiter Pietro da Bussero as archpriest of Santa Maria of Monte Velate, and Oberto da Terzago as archpriest of San Giovanni of Monza replacing the allies of Frederick I. Thanks to their extraordinary personality and political intelligence they became archbishops of Milan till the end of XII century. In 1196 Filippo da Lampugnano, who lived a strong dissent with pope Innocent III, was elected. This is, maybe, the cause of Filippo's release to archbishopric. At last the study analyses the figure of Enrico da Settala who was at the same time member of ordo maior and suddiaconus sanctae Romanae ecclesiae. He was chosen by Innocent III to become archbishop of Milan in 1213 after two years of vacant archiepiscopal see. The action of Enrico da Settala is a mirror of the political plain of Innocent III concerning central and northern Italy: for this reason the archbishop was protagonist of a clash with the commune of Milan. An appendix with 120 personal files of members of ordo maior Mediolanensis ecclesiae from 1166 to 1230 completes the work.