Arnulf III ( Italian: ''Arnolfo di Porta Argentea'' or ''di Porta Orientale''

Landolfo Iuniore Landulf of Saint Paul (floruit 1077–1137), called Landulf Junior to distinguish him from Landulf Senior, was a Milanese historian whose life is known entirely from his main work, the ''Historia Mediolanensis''. He presents a unique and important ...

, ''Historia''. He makes Arnulf descended from a family of local captains.) (died 1097) was the Archbishop of Milan from his election on 6 December 1093 to his death in 1097. He succeeded Anselm III only two days after his death. Along with Anselm III and Anselm IV, he was one of a trio of successive archbishops of Milan to side with pope against emperor in the late 11th and early 12th century. Though his election had been valid, he was invested by

Conrad II Conrad II ( – 4 June 1039), also known as and , was the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire from 1027 until his death in 1039. The first of a succession of four Salian emperors, who reigned for one century until 1125, Conrad ruled the kingdoms ...

, but the papal legate declared him a

simoniac Simony () is the act of selling church offices and roles or sacred things. It is named after Simon Magus, who is described in the Acts of the Apostles as having offered two disciples of Jesus payment in exchange for their empowering him to im ...

and deposed him. Consequently, he was never consecrated. Arnulf went into a brief retirement of penance at the

Abbey of San Pietro al Monte The Abbey of San Pietro al Monte is an small medieval monastic complex mostly dating to the 11th century, in Lombard Romanesque style, on a hill outside the town of Civate, province of Lecco, in northern Italy. Founded in 796 as a small hermi ...

at Civate, where Anselm III had gone for a similar reason during his episcopate. After his brief sojourn there, he was reconciled with

Pope Urban II Pope Urban II ( la, Urbanus II; – 29 July 1099), otherwise known as Odo of Châtillon or Otho de Lagery, was the head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 12 March 1088 to his death. He is best known for convening th ...

and received the pallium. According to Pandulf of Pisa, this was the moment of his consecration. Bernold of Constance places his consecration in March 1095. It was performed by three great bishops of the

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

Gregorian Reform: Thimo of Salzburg,

Odalric of Passau Ulrich (), is a German given name, derived from Old High German ''Uodalrich'', ''Odalric''. It is composed of the elements '' uodal-'' meaning "(noble) heritage" and ''-rich'' meaning "rich, powerful". Attested from the 8th century as the name of Al ...

, and

Gebhard III of Constance Gebhard III (''c.'' 1040 – 12 November 1110) was Bishop of Constance and defender of papal rights against imperial encroachments during the Investiture Controversy. Biography He was a son of Berthold II, Duke of Carinthia, and a brother of Ber ...

. Arnulf himself became an enthusiastic reformer and opponent of the

Emperor Henry IV Henry IV (german: Heinrich IV; 11 November 1050 – 7 August 1106) was Holy Roman Emperor from 1084 to 1105, King of Germany from 1054 to 1105, King of Italy and Burgundy from 1056 to 1105, and Duke of Bavaria from 1052 to 1054. He was the son ...

. He participated in the Council of Piacenza. From 6 to 26 May that same year (1095), the pope was present at Milan for the transferral of the relics of Erlembald to S. Dionigi. In 1096, the pope preached the First Crusade at S. Tecla in Milanese territory. Only two of Arnulf's acts as bishop survive and he is buried in the Abbey of San Pietro al Monte at Civate. His exile or burial there probably prompted a burst of artistic activity, with

fresco Fresco (plural ''frescos'' or ''frescoes'') is a technique of mural painting executed upon freshly laid ("wet") lime plaster. Water is used as the vehicle for the dry-powder pigment to merge with the plaster, and with the setting of the plaste ...

s and sculptures that remain unusually intact.

Notes

Sources

*Landolfo Iuniore di San Paolo. ''Historia Mediolanensis''. *Ghisalberti, Alberto M. ''Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani: III Ammirato – Arcoleo''. Rome, 1961. {{DEFAULTSORT:Arnulf Iii 1097 deaths 11th-century births 11th-century Italian Roman Catholic archbishops Archbishops of Milan Burials in Lombardy