Although an
episcopal see of Alessano (
Latin: Alexanum) may date from around 700 AD or was probably established under
Norman rule around 900 AD, but the regular succession of its bishops began only in 1283 with a Giovanni from
Naples. Until the 16th century,
papal bulls regarding the bishopric called it either Alexanum or
Leuca. It was a
suffragan of the Metropolitan of
Otranto.
On 17 May 1518, it was suppressed, its territory being merged into the diocese of
Lecce under Bishop Giovanni Antonio Acquaviva d'Aragona, but it was restored on 3 June 1521.
Byzantine liturgical usages continued to be observed until abolished by Bishop Ercole Lamia (1578–1591).[3][4]
The existence of the residential see was ended by the papal bull De utiliori of 27 June 1818 of
Pope Pius VII, which assigned its territory to the then diocese of
Ugento.[5]
Giovanni Belardino Giannelli (1717.12.18 – death 1743)
Archbishop-Bishop Luigi d'Alessandro (1743.07.15 – 1754.09.16), previously Metropolitan Archbishop of
Santa Severina (Italy) (1731.05.07 – 1743.07.15); later Metropolitan Archbishop of
Bari–Canosa (Italy) (1754.09.16 – death 1770)
Dionigi Latomo (1754.12.16 – 1781)
Gaetano Paolo de Miceli,
Ardorini Missionaries (P.O.C.R.) (1792.02.27 – 1804.10.29); later Archbishop of
Rossano (Italy) (1804.10.29 – 1813.10.22)
1818 June 27: Suppressed to the Diocese of Ugento[2]
1968: Restored as Titular Episcopal See of Alessano[2]
It has had the following incumbents, of the lowest (episcopal) class, except the first and the latest (who were granted the Personal Title and rank of Archbishop) :
Titular Archbishop Tomás Alberto Clavel Méndez (1968.12.18 – 1978.02.21), as emeritate[clarification needed]; previously Bishop of
David (Panama) (1955.07.24 – 1964.03.03), President of Episcopal Conference of Panama (1964–1967), President of Episcopal Secretariat of Central America and Panama (1964–1971), Metropolitan Archbishop of
Panamá (Panama) (1964.03.03 – 1968.12.18)
^While
Cardinal-Deacon of
S. Maria in Cosmedin (1496.03? – 1519.01.21) and then Cardinal-Deacon of
S. Maria in Aquiroin commendam (1508.09.26 – 1517.05.25), Luigi d'Aragona was also
Apostolic Administrator of
Nardò (Italy) (1517.06.17 – 1519.01.21); previously Apostolic Administrator of
Lecce (Italy) (1498.12.10 – 1502.03.24), Apostolic Administrator of
Policastro (Italy) (1501 – 1504.04.22), Apostolic Administrator of
Aversa (Italy) (1501.03.10 – 1515.05.21), Apostolic Administrator of
Capaccio (Italy) (1503.01.20 – 1514.03.22), Apostolic Administrator of
Cava (Italy) (1511 – 1514.05.05), Apostolic Administrator of
Roman Catholic Diocese of Cádiz (Spain) (1511.02.10 – 1511.06.06), Apostolic Administrator of
León (Spain) (1511.06.06 – 1516.12.17), Apostolic Administrator of
Telese (Italy) (1515)
^While
Cardinal-Deacon of
S. Adriano al Foro (1517.07.06 – 1537.08.17), Trivulzio was also Apostolic Administrator of
Reggio Calabria (Italy) (1520.08.24 – 1520.10.01), Apostolic Administrator of
Roman Catholic Diocese of Bobbio (Italy) (1522.09.26 – 1524.05.27), Metropolitan Archbishop of above Reggio Calabria (Italy) (1523.10.01 – 1529), Apostolic Administrator of
Toulon (France) (1524.06.22 – 1535.06.07), Apostolic Administrator of
Le Puy-en-Velay (France) (1525.09.15 – 1525.10.08), Apostolic Administrator of
Avranches (France) (1526.05.02 – 1526.10.19)
Gulik, Guilelmus van; Konrad Eubel (1923). L. Schmitz-Kallenberg (ed.).
Hierarchia catholica medii aevi (in Latin). Vol. III (editio altera ed.). Münster: sumptibus et typis librariae Regensbergianae.
Although an
episcopal see of Alessano (
Latin: Alexanum) may date from around 700 AD or was probably established under
Norman rule around 900 AD, but the regular succession of its bishops began only in 1283 with a Giovanni from
Naples. Until the 16th century,
papal bulls regarding the bishopric called it either Alexanum or
Leuca. It was a
suffragan of the Metropolitan of
Otranto.
On 17 May 1518, it was suppressed, its territory being merged into the diocese of
Lecce under Bishop Giovanni Antonio Acquaviva d'Aragona, but it was restored on 3 June 1521.
Byzantine liturgical usages continued to be observed until abolished by Bishop Ercole Lamia (1578–1591).[3][4]
The existence of the residential see was ended by the papal bull De utiliori of 27 June 1818 of
Pope Pius VII, which assigned its territory to the then diocese of
Ugento.[5]
Giovanni Belardino Giannelli (1717.12.18 – death 1743)
Archbishop-Bishop Luigi d'Alessandro (1743.07.15 – 1754.09.16), previously Metropolitan Archbishop of
Santa Severina (Italy) (1731.05.07 – 1743.07.15); later Metropolitan Archbishop of
Bari–Canosa (Italy) (1754.09.16 – death 1770)
Dionigi Latomo (1754.12.16 – 1781)
Gaetano Paolo de Miceli,
Ardorini Missionaries (P.O.C.R.) (1792.02.27 – 1804.10.29); later Archbishop of
Rossano (Italy) (1804.10.29 – 1813.10.22)
1818 June 27: Suppressed to the Diocese of Ugento[2]
1968: Restored as Titular Episcopal See of Alessano[2]
It has had the following incumbents, of the lowest (episcopal) class, except the first and the latest (who were granted the Personal Title and rank of Archbishop) :
Titular Archbishop Tomás Alberto Clavel Méndez (1968.12.18 – 1978.02.21), as emeritate[clarification needed]; previously Bishop of
David (Panama) (1955.07.24 – 1964.03.03), President of Episcopal Conference of Panama (1964–1967), President of Episcopal Secretariat of Central America and Panama (1964–1971), Metropolitan Archbishop of
Panamá (Panama) (1964.03.03 – 1968.12.18)
^While
Cardinal-Deacon of
S. Maria in Cosmedin (1496.03? – 1519.01.21) and then Cardinal-Deacon of
S. Maria in Aquiroin commendam (1508.09.26 – 1517.05.25), Luigi d'Aragona was also
Apostolic Administrator of
Nardò (Italy) (1517.06.17 – 1519.01.21); previously Apostolic Administrator of
Lecce (Italy) (1498.12.10 – 1502.03.24), Apostolic Administrator of
Policastro (Italy) (1501 – 1504.04.22), Apostolic Administrator of
Aversa (Italy) (1501.03.10 – 1515.05.21), Apostolic Administrator of
Capaccio (Italy) (1503.01.20 – 1514.03.22), Apostolic Administrator of
Cava (Italy) (1511 – 1514.05.05), Apostolic Administrator of
Roman Catholic Diocese of Cádiz (Spain) (1511.02.10 – 1511.06.06), Apostolic Administrator of
León (Spain) (1511.06.06 – 1516.12.17), Apostolic Administrator of
Telese (Italy) (1515)
^While
Cardinal-Deacon of
S. Adriano al Foro (1517.07.06 – 1537.08.17), Trivulzio was also Apostolic Administrator of
Reggio Calabria (Italy) (1520.08.24 – 1520.10.01), Apostolic Administrator of
Roman Catholic Diocese of Bobbio (Italy) (1522.09.26 – 1524.05.27), Metropolitan Archbishop of above Reggio Calabria (Italy) (1523.10.01 – 1529), Apostolic Administrator of
Toulon (France) (1524.06.22 – 1535.06.07), Apostolic Administrator of
Le Puy-en-Velay (France) (1525.09.15 – 1525.10.08), Apostolic Administrator of
Avranches (France) (1526.05.02 – 1526.10.19)
Gulik, Guilelmus van; Konrad Eubel (1923). L. Schmitz-Kallenberg (ed.).
Hierarchia catholica medii aevi (in Latin). Vol. III (editio altera ed.). Münster: sumptibus et typis librariae Regensbergianae.