Latin Bishopric of Argos


The Latin Bishopric of Argos is a former Latin Church episcopal see in the Argolid in southern Greece, formed with the establishment of the Crusader States, and suffragan to the Latin Archbishop of Corinth. For part of its history it totally supplanted the local Greek Orthodox episcopal administration and at other times existed in competition with it. At various times in its history it had no incumbent bishop. It was finally suppressed in 1715 and exists now as a Catholic titular see.

Frankish rule

Under Frankish Crusader rule, Argos was part of the Lordship of Argos and Nauplia, and became a Latin Church bishopric in 1212. It lasted as a residential see until Argos was taken by the Ottoman Empire in 1463, but would be revived under the second Venetian rule in 1686. In the meantime, the Venetians retained Nauplia until 1540, when it was lost in the Third Ottoman Venetian War. Until then, at least some of the nominal bishops of Argos resided at Nauplia; afterwards in Venice. The Orthodox bishop returned to Argos during this interval.
Known Latin bishops during this period were:;;
  1. John
  2. Bernard
  3. Nicholas
  4. Nicholas, Augustinian Order , previously Bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of Drivasto
  5. John
  6. Venturus
  7. Nicholas of Offida, Friars Minor , previously Bishop of Butrinto, Bishop of Belcastro
  8. James Petri
  9. Matthew
  10. Nicholas of Langres
  11. John
  12. Conrad Flader
  13. Secundus Nani
  14. Francesco Pavoni, previously Bishop of Kotor
  15. Bartholemew
  16. Mark de Carmello
  17. Mark Taruello
  18. William Militis
  19. Augustine, abbot of the Monastery of Saint Leonard, from 1499 coadjutor with right of succession with Tryphon Gabriel
  20. Tryphon Gabriel
  21. Paul Zabarella
  22. John, Dubious, it is possible that he should be listed as titular only
  23. Francis Tynemouth
  24. Jermoe de Sanctis
  25. Calixtus de Amadeis Doctor of both laws
  26. James Rota Suffragan to Padua; non-resident
  27. Gerard Busdragi
  28. Jerome William
  29. Leander Garuffi de Piis Was permitted by Pope Paul IV to be coadjutor with his brother, it is disputed whether he held a doctorate

    Venetian Rule

There was a Catholic church hierarchy in Argos and Nauplia at this time, which compelled the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Argos and Nauplia to relocate to the village of Merbaka, further east.
  1. ?

    Titular see

Today, Argos is listed by the Catholic Church as a titular see since the diocese was nominally restored as a Latin Catholic titular bishopric in the 17th century. It has been vacant for decades, having had the following incumbents, all of the fitting episcopal rank :
  1. Stanisław Udrzycki
  2. Louis du Chaine
  3. Franciszek Zajerski
  4. Stanisław Łoza
  5. Mikołaj Krasicki
  6. Maciej Bystram
  7. Bernardino della Chiesa, Friars Minor, Chinese missionary
  8. Polikarp Antoni Augustyn Marciejewski
  9. Bernardo Antonio De Riso, Benedictines
  10. Francesco Benassi
  11. Joaquim Arcoverde de Albuquerque Cavalcanti
  12. Antonio Valbonesi
  13. António Moutinho
  14. Andrea Caron
  15. Amando Agostino Bahlmann, O.F.M.
  16. Oreste Rauzi
  17. Bernardo Gerardo Hilhorst, Holy Ghost Fathers
  18. Johann Aloys Schneider