Frati Predicatori e vescovi nelle città italiane (secoli XIII-XV) - FRIARS PREACHERS AND DOMINICANS BISHOPS IN ITALIAN CITIES (13TH -15TH CENTURIES)

Our essay reconstructs and analyses data concerning the appointment as bishops in Italian dioceses of men belonging to the Order of Friars Preachers, in the period between the papacies of Gregory IX (1227-1241) and Martin V (1417-1431). The data were collected by browsing Eubel’s Hierarchia catholica Medii Aevi and Kehr’s Italia Pontificia and, whenever possible, amended thanks mainly to other data coming from Gumbley’s Series praesulum praedicatorum. According to the series of data thus constituted, and to addenda analyzing various local realities and Dominican hagiographies, it is therefore suggested that the appointment of bishops drawn from the Dominican order answers the papal wish to put forward friars renowned as peacemakers in urban social conflicts, as well as inquisitors.