John Paul Adams, CSUN
john.p.adams@csun.edu
:
Johann M. Watterich, (editor), Pontificum Romanorum qui fuerunt inde ab exeunte saeculo IX usque ad finem saeculi XIII vitae ab aequalibus conscriptae Tomus II (Lipsiae 1862), pages 244-246 [Migne, Patrologiae 173, columns 1243-1245]:
Cum praefatus abbas de Claravalle, vir valde mirabilis et discretus, de foedere pacis et ecclesiae unitate cum nominato rege [Rogerio] confabularetur, assidue rex ipse cum abbate illo stabilivit, ut tres cardinales ex parte Innocentii Papae, qui eius interfuissent electioni ad regem ipsum venirent et tres ex parte Anacleti, et ordinem electionis utriusque regi ipsi insinuarent, deinde rex ipso ordine audito utriusque partis sanctiorem et iustiorem eligeret electionem et sic spiritu sancto favente ad pacis perveniret cum totius sui regni magnitudine firmamentum, quantum in sui arbitrio et scientia contineret. Cognoverat emin firmiterque crediderat, totius mundi Christicolas parti favere Innocentii et eius Pontificatum venerari; ipse vero solus cum regni sui latitudine discordabat. Continuo ad Innocentium Papam et Anacletum delegatum est et cursu rapido regis posito [l. petito] destinatur. Placuit itaque eis et consilio eorum firmato ex parte Innocentii Aimericus cancellarius et Girardus cardinalis [Gerardus Cacciamemici, Cardinal Priest of S. Croce in Gerusalemme], vir valde venerabilis, simul cum praedicto abbate [Bernardo] de Claravalle Salernum super huiusmodi electione ventilanda advenerunt. Ex parte vero Anacleti Matthaeus cancellarius et Petrus Pisanus cardinalis et cardinalis alius nomine Gregorius [there were three Gregories supporting Anacletus], similiter acceleravere.
Quibus ita congregatis rex ille, ut erat sagacis animi providique consilii, prius partem Innocentii quatriduo usque ad occasum mirabiliter et ultra quam credi potest, examinavit; sequenter autem Anacleti partem quatriduo similiter perscrutatus est. Studiose igitur et diligenter partibus utriusque electionis auditis rex ipse clerum omnem et populum civitatis Salernitanae congregari mandavit et episcopos et abbates monasteriorum, qui convenerant, et coram eis tamiter exorsus est:
Domini et fratres, credimus vestram non latere prudentiam, qua de re cardinales istos partis utriusque fecerim convocari; putavi etenim, quantum nostrae attinet virtuti, tali et tanto negotio finem imponere et iustitiae semitam evidenter sectari, sed quia miltis quaestionibus variisque responsionius animus noster impeditur, solus ego super hoc tanto negotio finem impendere nequeo. Unde si dominis istis cardinalibus videtur, ordinem utriusque scribant electionis et ab utraque parte unus mecum in Siciliam descendat cardinalis, ubi favente domino nativitatis Iesu Christi Salvatoris festivitatem celebraturi sumus ibique sapientes archiepiscopos, episcopos aliosque inveniemus prodentis animi viros, quorum consilio Anacleti partem usque modo sectatus sum: tunc enim ipsorum aliorumque sapientum consilio super hoc egotio divina inspirante clementia certissimum finem, quantum meae attinet potestati, imponemus.
Cardinalis ad haec Girardus respondit:
Sciatis revera, quoniam ex parte nostra ordinem partis nostrae nos omnes scribemus: audistis enim ex ore nostro seriem electionis, audistis omnia, quaecumque circa nos gesta sunt: cardinalem quidem mittemus Guidonem de Castello, virum et discretum, qui vobiscum, sicut petitis ad Siciliam veniat, deinde sicut sapientiae vestrae placuerit, perficiatis. Spiritus sanctus paraclitus cor vestrum illuminet et corde recto ad ecclesiam et veritatis lumen perducat.
Et his actis unusquisque ad propria remeavit. Altera die adveniente praedictus Girardus cardinalis cum suis reversus est; solus autem Guido praefatus cardinalis remansit cum rege profecturus, sic statutum est. Ex parte vero Anacleti similiter cardinalis alius destinatur. Quibus patratis, navigo parato, rex ipse ad Siciliam transfretavit.
Dux praeterea Rainulphus jam nominatus praefatum castellum Paludis viriliter obsedit, quod praeliis multis, et machinationibus quotidie expugnabat. Videns autem dux ipse castellum illud capere non posse, consilio habito, castellum illud dimisit, et in finibus Alifanis secessit; qui continuo civitatem illam, et munitionem castelli comprehendit, et suae obtinuit potestati.
Hoc anno Anacletus, qui sub nomine pontificatus advixit, septimo die stante mensis Januarii [January 25, 1138] mortuus est, qui sedit annis septem, et mensibus undecim, et diebus viginti duobus. Innocentius itaque pontifex continue viribus sumptis, et amicorum virtute accepta contra inimicos viriliter insilivit. Rossemannus igitur episcopus totius civitatis tintinnabula Beneventanae pulsare praecepit, mortem ipsius Anacleti significando.
Hoc anno praedictus imperator [Lotharus] cum ad imperium suum revertebatur, mortuus est in partibus Tusciae, et eo defuncto Corradus ad imperium unanimi voto sublimatus est.
Anno 1138 et novo anno pontificatus domini Innocentii secundi summi pontificis, mense Martio primae indictionis. Cum praedictus Anacletus mortuus esset, cardinales sui, consilio accepto a fratribus ipsius Anacleti, ad regem misit Rogerium ipsius Anacleti mortem significantes, ut si ei placeret, papam constituerent. Rex itaque ut domini papae Innocentii partem impediret, voluntati eorum assensit, et papam eligendi potestatem dedit; qui Roman reversi fautoribus eorum congregatis; medio mense Martio, Gregorium cardinalem papam sibi, et invasorem constituerunt, Victoremque eum vocaverunt. Sed Dei misericordia auxiliante, haeresis illa, et invasio pauco tempore regnavit. Diebus autem non multis evolutis, fratres praedicti Anacleti, tantam cognoscentes turbationem, in se reversi, Domino favente, cum praedicto domino Innocentio papa pacis firmamentum composuerunt, et ipsi, et omnes ejus adversarii ad ejus fidelitaqtem conversi sunt, et sceleratus ille, qui sub Victoris nomine apparuit, vestem et mitram deposuit, et ad voluntatem pontificis Innocentii pervenit. Sicque gaudio magno et gloria exsultationis tota Romana civitas exsultavit, et pontifex ipse Innocentius ad unitatem Ecclesiae et concordiam, auxiliante Domino, perducitur.
In September, 1136, the Emperor Lothar entered Italy at the request of Innocent II. Lothar had reached Benevento on May 23, 1137. Innocent II was prevented from entering the Anacletan stronghold of Benevento by his own fear (Gregorovius IV. 2, p. 436 n. 2), but he did celebrate mass at Pentecost in Bari on May 30 (Watterich, p. 227). The Emperor was at Amalfi on June 29, where, in early July, a plot of the German troops (allegedly instigated by King Roger) to assassinate Innocent and his cardinals was discovered. On July 7, Innocent demanded that the monks of Montecassino anathematize Pope Anacletus II (Petrus Casiniensis IV. 108, in Watterich, p. 228). This produced a crisis of authority and privilege between the monks and Innocent, and between the Emperor and Innocent; the crisis lasted until July 18. According to the Chronicon Casinense of Peter the Deacon (IV. 106) it was in July that Bernard of Clairvaux turned up in the south again and was immediately sent by Innocent II to Montecassino as a go-between.
In September the dispute over Montecassino reemerged; Abbot Raynaldus (of Florence), who had succeeded Abbot Senioret in February, was an adherent of Pope Anacletus, and both Emperor and Innocent claimed the right to depose him. (Petrus Diaconus, Chronicon IV. 107-118; columns 931-960). Innocent had to surrender to Lothar, and the Emperor's friend Wibald, abbot of Stabulo, was elected abbot in place of Raynaldus. On August 9, Salerno fell. On September 9, the Emperor, with Innocent still in his wake, turned north again, heading for Germany, leaving Duke Rainulph to consolidate the conquest (Watterich II, p. 237). On September 13, both Innocent and Lothar were at Montecassino, and Lothar announced that he would make a visit to the Monastery (Petrus Diaconus, Chronicon IV. 119-123; columns 960-965),. apparently to celebrate a complete triumph. But Innocent was forced to concede to the Emperor the right to confirm (ordinatio) the election of an abbot of Montecassino. Southern Italy now belonged to the Empire, it seemed. Immediately, however, King Roger of Sicily began the reconquest of his territory, which the Emperor Lothar had come south to wrench from his hands. The Emperor and Innocent II arrived in Tiburtine territory on October 3, 1137, where Innocent was left by the Emperor, who continued his journey north. Innocent finally reached Rome on November 1. On November 10, Abbot Wibald (Guibaldus) was forced to flee his monastery; King Roger had threatened to kill him if he ever caught him. The Emperor died at the age of 62 in an alpine hut at Breitenwang in Bavaria on December 3, 1137 (Gregorovius, p. 439).
King Roger was back in possession of Salerno by November 22, 1137, when he issued a privilegium from the city (Baronius-Theiner, sub anno 1137, no. 12, p. 551). The debate before King Roger took place in December of 1137. The story is that the principal speaker in the cause of Innocent II was Abbot Bernard of Clairvaux—or so says an anonymous Cistercian chronicler (Annales Cistercienses, quoted in AA SS Augusti Tomus 4, p. 162). According to Falco, however, Bernard was only one of three partisans of Innocent who were appointed to conduct the debate (Falco, Chronicon, col. 1243). Bernard himself says in Epistle CXLIV: instantissima postulatione imperatoris, apostolicoque mandato, necnon Ecclesiae ac principum precibus flexi, dolentes et nolentes, debiles atque infirmi, et, ut verum fatear, pavidae mortis pallidam circumferentes imaginem, trahimur in Apuliam. This is taken to refer to a journey imposed on Bernard by Innocent II after the return to Rome on November 1 (Mann, pp. 52-53), but the mention of the Emperor and the choice of the verb trahimur suggests rather than he was dragged along by Lothar and Innocent as they went south to destroy Roger of Sicily in May (See AA SS Augusti Tomus 4, p. 161). Petrus Diaconus of Montecassino (IV. 107; Patrologiae Latinae 173, column 931) appears to refer to this summons, as Lothar was crossing the Alps. Bernard was sent south a second time by Innocent II, to dissuadere bellum, impedire congressus, instillare concordiam et pacis foedera sancire (Annales Cistercienses 8, quoted in AA SS Augusti Tomus 4, p. 162, column 2).
One of Bernard's hagiographers, Alanus [or Elanus], writes in his "Vita II Bernardi Abbatis Clarae-vallensis " Caput XXII. sec. 61: [Mabillon, 2453-2454; a very similar narrative, word for word but with more vituperation, is given by Ernaldus in his "Life of S. Bernard": Watterich II, 246-247] about the meeting at Salerno:
Post finem praelii Vir Dei a vullula ad quam declinaverat, venit Salernum; venit et Petrus Pisanus. Itaque stipata militibus curia, Rex utramque partem accersiri, et de causae suae rationibus eloqui jubet. Prior itaque Petrus electionem Petri Leonis domini sui canonicam probare contendit, et verba sua miltis legum et canonum assertionibus munire laborat. At vero Vir Dei non in sermone, sed in virtute regnum Dei esse intelligens, "Scio," inquit, "Petre, virum te sapientem et litteratum esse: et utinam sanior pars et honestiora te occupassent negotia; utinam te patronum causa justior obtineret: sine dubio enim rationabilia te allegantem nulla posset impedire facundia. Et nos quidem, tanquam indocti et minus eloquentes, si causa fidei non urgeret, institutum silentium teneremus. Nunc autem cogit nos charitas eloqui, quia tunicam Domini, quam in tempore passionis nec ethnicus praesumpsit scendere, nec Judaeus; fautore hoc domino, Petrus leonis lacerat et dirumpit. Una est fides, unus Dominus, unum Baptisma. Nos neque duos dominos, nec geminam fidem, nec duo baptismata novimus. Ut ab antiquis ordiar, una arca tempore diluvii fuit: in hac octo animae caeteris omnibus pereuntibus evaserunt, et quotquot extra arcam inventi sunt, perierunt. Arcam hanc typum habere Ecclesiae nemo est qui ambigat. Arca alia nuper fabricata est; et cum sint duae, alteram necesse est esse adulteram, et in profundum demergi. Arca, quam regit Petrus, si ex Deo est; necesse est ut arca quam regit Innocentius obruatur.Peribit ergo Orientalis Ecclesia, peribit Occidens totus, peribit Francia, peribit Germania, Iberi et Angli, et Barbara regna in profundum pelagi demergentur! Religio camaldulensis, et Cartusiensis, et Cluniacensis, et Cisterciensis, et Praemonstratensis, aliaque innumerabilia servorum et ancillarum Dei collegia necesse est ut sub uno turbine corruant in abyssum! Episcopos et abbates et reliquos Ecclesiae principes pelagus vorax excipiet! Solus ex principobus mundi arcam Petri intravit iste Rogerius, et caeteris omnibus enecatis solus ipse salvabitur! Absit ut totius mundi religio pereat; et ambitio Petri, cujus vita palam est qualis exstiterit, regnum coelorum obtineat." Ad haec verba tenens manum Petri, elevavit eum, et simul ipse surrexit, "Tutiorem," inquiens, " si mihi credas, intrabimus arcam." Et sicut jam pridem mente conceperat, salutatribus illum aggrediens monitus, cooperante gratia Dei, protinus persuasit ut ad Urbem rediens Innocentio papae reconciliaretur. Soluta concione venerabilis Abbs Romam revertitur, praedictum quoque Petrum Pisanum et quosdam alios reconciliat Ecclesiae, et Innocentio papae confoederat.
This version of the Debate at Salerno is, of course, completely at odds with Falco's narrative. King Roger (according to Falco) wanted to hear a debate concerning the events of the double elections of 1130, not an exhortation to get into the right metaphorical boat before he was drowned. Speakers were to be chosen who had participated in each election. The Cistercian Annalist states that Bernard of Clairvaux had been sent south by Innocent to dissuadere bellum, impedire congressus, instillare concordiam et pacis foedera sancire (Annales Cistercienses, quoted in AA SS Augusti Tomus 4, p. 162, column 2). There is nothing about Bernard being a debater against the supporters of Anacletus II, and, of course, Bernard knew nothing about the double election. The hagiographer, in fact, inverts the importance of the members of the embassy in terms of King Roger's purpose. Cardinal Gerard spoke on behalf of Innocent, and he spoke first, not Petrus Pisanus (as the hagiographer would want it). The speeches were extensive, and the King listened carefully to arguments about the validity of each election. At the end King Roger reserved judgment to himself, until he had returned from his planned expedition to Sicily. He asked both sides to send a representative with him on the journey, and the meeting broke up without a dramatic resolution. The narration of the monk Alanus [and Ernaldus] shows no knowledge of the situation and makes not a single reference to the facts of either case. The dramatic "conversion" of Cardinal Petrus Pisanus on the spot is not historical. In fact Alanus' entire narrative has to be dismissed as fiction. Bernard's mission was a failure. The Cistercian Annalist knew that the reconciliation between Petrus and Innocent took place in the new year (Annales Cistercienses 8, quoted in AA SS Augusti Tomus 4, p. 164 column 2):
Initium anni auspicetur nobis Bernardus reversus Romam, et, reconciliato Ecclesiae Petro Pisano, Anacletus deficiens, vix prius a suix desertus quam a se ipso! quippe semel assuetus pontificalibus, animam maluit perdere, quam nomen pseudo pontificis. Singula qua ratione gesta sunt, nonnulla etiam per menses diesque penicillo antiquorum describamus. Regressum Sancti ad Urbem per hoc tempus, atque item reconciliationem Petri Pisani, auctor Vitae illius his paucis tradidit....
But the acceptance of Falco's narrative requires the rejection of a number of sources which paint a picture of the heroism of Bernard of Clairvaux; indeed, his role in the events leading to the end of the schism is much reduced. Vacandard (p. 20) attributes his failure to "le caractère vague et incohérent de son mandat."
Joannes Mabillon (editor), Sancti Bernardi Abbatis Clarae-vallensis Opera Omnia Volumen Secundum, pars altera (Parisiis 1839). "Sancti Bernardi Vita et Res Gestae libris septem comprehensae", columns 2089-2510.
Acta Sanctorum, Mensis Augusti Tomus Quartus (ed. Joannes Pinius et Guilielmus Cuperus) (Antwerp 1739), pp. 256-368.
Petrus Diaconus, Chronicon Casiniense Liber IV, in J.-P. Mighe (editor) Patrologiae Latinae Cursus Completus Tomus CLXXIII (1854), columns 813-990.
Horace K. Mann, The Lives of the Popes in the Middle Ages Volume IX. 1130-1159 (London 1914), 34-66.
Elphège Vacandard, Vie de Saint Bernard abbé de Clairvaux Tome II 3rd edition (Paris 1902) 1-25.
John Paul Adams, CSUN
john.p.adams@csun.edu