Patriarch of Grado

This is a list of the Patriarchs of Grado (north-eastern Italy).[1][2]

Interior of the Basilica of Sant'Eufemia, Grado.

The patriarchate came into being when the schismatic Patriarch of Aquileia, Paulinus (557–569), moved to Grado in the mid 6th century. But in its reunion with Rome in 606, a rival office was set up in Old-Aquileia. Initially, the patriarchs in Grado claimed the title of Patriarch of Aquileia but in the early 700s it was officially changed to Patriarch of Grado. Old-Aquileia later entered communion with Rome but was able to keep its independence and title from Grado. Throughout their history, the patriarchs of Grado, with the support of Venice, fought military, politically, and ecclesiastically the patriarchs of Aquileia, who were supported by the Lombards, then the Carolingians and the Holy Roman Emperors.[3] The dispute between Grado and Aquileia was partially resolved in 1132 by Pope Innocent II, who restored many of the traditional episcopates to Aquileia, including the Diocese of Istria, while giving Grado the Venetian Lagoon, Split, and the Dalmatian islands of Arbe, Veglia and Ossero.[3] Adrian IV placed the Archdiocese of Zadar under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Grado, making it a true patriarchate with a metropolitan see under it, the only patriarchate of this kind in Western Europe besides Rome.[4] After 1349, the patriarch of Grado and his subordinates were chosen by the venetian Senate, and the names merely sent to Rome for confirmation.[3] In 1451, with the papal bull Regis aeterni, Nicholas V merged the see of Grado with Castello to form the Archdiocese of Venice. The Patriarch of Venice derived its patriarchal rank from Grado. Throughout its existence, the Patriarchate of Grado was tied to the rising and powerful city of Venice, which was in the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of Grado, rather than to the small city of Grado.[5] The Patriarchs often resided in the church of San Silvestro in Venice where they were officially 'visitors', since canon law did not allow them to reside permanently in territory of another diocese (Venice was part of the Diocese of Castello).[5]