Pełka (archbishop of Gniezno)

(Redirected from Fulko I)

Pełka or Fulko (died April 5, 1258, in Łęczyca) was the Archbishop of Gniezno, Poland in 1232–1258.[1]

His Excellency

Pełka
Archbishop of Gniezno
ChurchRoman Catholic
ArchdioceseGniezno
Installed1232
Term ended1258
PredecessorWincenty Niałek
SuccessorJanusz z Tarnowa
Personal details
Bornunknown
Died5 April 1258
Coat of armsPełka's coat of arms

Neither the date nor place of his birth are known, although he was probably born in Lesser Poland. The 14th-century historian Jan Długosz claimed that he was from the knightly Lis family. Shortly after his birth his father joined the priesthood, which led to rumors about his illegitimate birth. But a commission appointed by Pope Honorius III dismissed these claims.

The date of Pełka' consecration as Archbishop of Gniezno is sometimes given as 26 June 1235.[2][3] As Archbishop, Pełka continued the reforms initiated by Henryk Kietlicz and supported a centralised monarchy rather than the fragmented state.[4] He continued the role of arbitrator between the Piast claimants to the throne. In 1234, he was an arbitrator in a dispute between Henry the Bearded and Wladyslaw Odonic of Wielkopolskie.

Pełka, like his predecessor Henryk Kietlicz, was also a defender of Church rights.[1] He supported Thomas I, Bishop of Wrocław, in his dispute with Henry the Bearded.

He was involved in church politics. In 1238, Pope Gregory IX allowed the wearing of the cross metropolitan and he probably participated in the 1245 deliberations of the Council of Lyon and in 1253 he consecrated the first bishop of Lithuania, Dominican friar Wit (Vitas). He also oversaw the canonization of Stanislaus of Szczepanów in 1253.

In 1256, the Holy See confirmed metropolis status to Gniezno.

Pełka died April 5, 1258, in Łęczyca and was buried in the Gniezno Cathedral.[1] A commission was appointed by Pope Innocent IV to examine the life of Pełka with a view to canonisation.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Pelka lub Fulko Archdiocese of Gniezno
  2. ^ Hierarchia Catholica Medii et Recentioris Aevi, Volume 1, Page 265
  3. ^ Pełka Lis Archbishop
  4. ^ Sebastian Piotr Bartos, Negotiations of Power in a Medieval Society: Ecclesiastical Authority and Secular Rulership in Little Poland, 1177--1320, ProQuest, 2008 page 42
Religious titles
Preceded by Archbishop of Gniezno
ca. 1232 – 1258
Succeeded by


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