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Italy Ecclesiastical

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Monestary of Aguileia
The Abbess of Aquileia (Badessa del Monastero benedettino di Santa Maria extra muros di Aquileia), held temporal and secular authority over the territory and held semi episcopal authority.

Around 1181 Ermelinda

until after 1332 Franceschina della Torre
Daughter of Florimonte della Torre

Monestary of Brescia
The badessa del monastero di San Salvatore a Brescia held semi episcopal authority (Mitred Abbess)

751 Ansa

Monestary of Brindisi
It's privileges was confirmed by papal bulls 1099, 1119, 1124, 1159, 1191 and 1233

Around 1233 Audisia

Royal Convent of Saint Benedetto in Conversano (Reale monastero di San Benedetto di Conversano in Apulia)
The Cistercian monastery existed from before 889 and was placed under direct papal protection in 1110 and 1266 it was given to a group of Cistercian Nuns. The Abbess was both secular and temporal ruler of the territory and among others exercised, through a vicar, amost episcopal jurisdiction in the abbital fief of Castellana. Among the many privileges she enjoyed was that of appointing her own vicar-general through whom she governed her abbatial territory; that of selecting and approving confessors for the laity; and that of authorizing clerics to have the cure of souls in the churches under her jurisdiction. Every newly appointed Abbess of Conversano was likewise entitiled to receive the public "homage" of her clergy, - the ceremony of which was sufficiently elaborate. On the appointed day, the clergy, in a body repaired to the abbey; at the great gate of her monastery, the Abbess, with mitre and corsier, sat enthroned under a canopy, and as each member of the clergy passed before her, he made his obeisance, and kissed her hand, a practice which lasted until 1750, though it was modified in 1709, and the Abbess (Badesa) deprived of all her power of jurisdiction in 1806, when it was incorporated into the Diocese of Conversano

1266-70 Abbess Dameta Donna Paleologina
Her position as Abbess Nullius - or "Badesse Mitrate" was confirmed 1267 by Pope Clemente IV. Another version of her surname is Paleologo, and she might have been a member of the Byzantine Imperial Family.

1271-96 Isabella I
Confirmed as "Abbassa Nullius di San Benedetto in Conversano" by Pope Gregorio X in 1273, who also confirmed the direct papal protection. She was in dispute with Grand-Vicar Stefano of Conversano.

1296-1314 Adelina
Confirmed by Pope Bonifacio VIII in 1297. Conceded a piece of land to the lord of Polignano and had the privileges of the chapter confirmed several times.

1326-41 Maria d'Angiò
Abbess Maria d'Anjou was daughter of Philippe II de Taranto, Prince of Corfu, Morea, Albania, Duke of Athens and Valaccia, Vicar of the Kingdom of Sicilia and Despot of Romania, and his first wife  Thamar Komnene Dukaina, Despota of Epirus (1277-1311). After their divorce in 1309 he married Catherine II de Valois, titular Empress of Constantinople, Princess of Achaia.

1349-65 Costanza  I da Lecce

1365-77 Constanza II da Bari

1390-95 Francesca d'Angiò

1396-1446 Francesca d'Enghien
Sister of  Maria d’Enghien who was Countess of Lecce (1384-1414),  Princess of Tarento (1406-07) and married to King Ladislao of Napoli.

1447-70 Sancia Fungeta

1489-98 Marcella Orsini

1504-57 Abbess Beatrice Acquaviva d’Aragona
Daughter of Andrea Matteo III and his first wife, Isabella Piccolomini Todeschini. Her father was 8th Duke d Atri, Count di San Flaviano,Lord di Forcella, Sant’Omero, Torre di Tronto, Poggio Morello, Cordesca, Castelvecchio, etc. Duke di Teramo and Martina from 1481, until they were confiscated in 1496. The same year he became 15th Count di Conversano in succession to his mother Caterina Orsini del Balzo natural daughter of Giovanni Antonio Orsini, Principe di Taranto, who succeeded to the titles of, Contessa di Conversano, Signora di Casamassima, Turi, Casamassima, Bitetto, Gioa, Turi e Noci in 1456, which was confirmed in 1462. Beatrice was "Badessa del monastero di Santa Maria dell’Isola a Conversano".

1554-56 Caterina Acquaviva

1557 Abbess Barbara Acquaviva d’Aragona
Her italian title was, Badessa di Santa Maria dell’Isola a Conversano. She was daughter of Andrea Matteo III Acquaviva d’Aragona, Duke of Atri etc. (1457-1529),  and probably his second wife Caterina della Ratta, Countess di Caserta, Alessano e Sant’Agata (from 1488). Her italian title was, Badessa di Santa Maria dell’Isola a Conversano dal 1558

1569 Isabella II Acquaviva d’Aragona
In another list of Abbesses of the Chapter she listed as ruler in 1621. She was another member of the family of the Counts of Conversano.

Around 1583 Vittoria Palagano

1612-14 Abbess Donata Acquaviva d’Aragona
Another list of Abbesses lists her as ruler 1637-38. Daughter of Don Giulio Antonio Acquaviva d’Aragona, 19th Count di Conversano, di San Flaviano e Castellana and created Duca di Noci in 1600, and Donna Caterina Acquaviva d’Aragona, Heiress to the Duchy di Nardò.

1617-34 Abbess Caterina Acquaviva d’Aragona
Also listed as ruler in 1624-30. Sister of Donna Barbara, the Abbess from 1558.

1638-44 Barbara Tarsi

1643-53 Girolama Indelli
In the alternative list of Abbesses her reign ends 1644.

1649 Antonia Acquavia d'Aragona
Listed in an alternative list of Abbesses of the chapter.

1653-65 Cesaria Indelli
In the alternative list of Abbesses her first reign ends 1656 and her second lasted 1660-62.

1658-70 Marianna Acquavia d'Aragona
In the alternative list, she is listed as ruler 165..-56 and 1671-72 and 1675.

1670/71 Faustina Sforza
In the alternative list of Abbesses she is listed as ruler 1663-70, 1675 and 1683.

1671-75 Maria Acquavia d'Aragona

1675-95 Guiseppina Cedrella
Alternative reign 1679-80.

1685 Gabriela Therami
Listed as ruler in the alternative list of abbesses.

1695-99 Isabella Tommasa Acquavia d'Aragona
Alternative rule until 1705

1699-1711 Giacoma Palmieri

1706-08 Onofria Tarsi
Elected in the presence of Bishop of Monopoli.

1711 Giuditta Pascale
Listed in the alternative list of Abbesses.

Until 1720 Luigia Tarsia

1720 and 30 Daniela La Forza
Also Prioress.

1723 Berardina Accolti

1724-27 Marcellina Capulli

1727 Cesaria Therami

1727-30 Rosa Caporossi
Ferdinanda Pascal was elected in November 1730 but reonuced.

1731-32 Serafina Girondi

1734-35 Rosa Caporossi

1738-40 Giuseppa Bassi

1743-59 Irene Margaritonte

1759/63 Floralba Maurelli

1773 Vincenza Martucci

Around 1779-circa 93 Rosalba Noja (Noya)
In Italian her title was badessa dell'illustrissima signora donna.

Around 1781 and 1786 Cherubina Therami
Listed as ruler in the alternative list of abbesses 1689.

1782-86 Fedele Renna

Around 1791 Giuditta Terami

1801-09 Aurora Accolti Gil
She was the first Abbess Nullius. (d. 1809-).

1817, 1820, 1860-80, 1896-99 Rachele Bassi

1811, 14, 23, 38-40 Maria Teresa Albanese

1826-27, 1829-30, 1833-36 Angelica Netti
(d. 1836).

1836-43 Eleonora Manuzzi
Reelected once.

1843-48 Luigia Netti
Reelected once.

1848-57 Teresa Farnarari
Reelected a couple of times for three year periods.

Around 1857 Maria Longo
Reverend Donna

1881-96 Giuditta Picucci

1899 Giovanna Morelli

Monestary of Fucecchio (Clarissan convent of Sant’Andrea at Fucecchio)
1258 Pope Alexander IV granted the Vallombrosan Abbey Nullius of Gucchio to the Poor Clares of Gattaiola at Lucca, who, iving the land to the Franciscan monks to take care of it, but maintened the spiritual jurisdiction, reserving the right to appoint the ecclesiastical benefices of the former Abbey. The abbess maintained the right to be called "Bishopess" (episcopessa) and maintained it until 1622, when the diocese of San Miniato was founded. After the removal of the Franciscan monks in 1783, awing to the reforms of Grand Duke Leopold of Austria, the monastery was transformed in a conservatory and went under Clarisses'rule.

........

1531-32 Margherita di Domenico Ghetti
Sister of the Renaissance Painter, Bartolomeo di Zanobi Ghetti (d. 1536), who worked in France and Italy and amon others decorated the Abbey Church.

.......

Monestary of Goleto
Founded in 1085 by Saint Guglielmo as a doubble monastery. In 1506 Pope Giulio II issued a decree supressing the chapter, which took place by the death of the last Abbess in 1515. The abbess held semi episcopal authority and was ruler of the feudal territories surrounding the Abbey.

.....

Around 1152 Febronia
Built a famous tower to protect the Abbey and its surrounding territory from the attacking Longobards.

....Marina I

....Marina II

....Agnese dei Principi Filomarin

....Scolastica

Last update 31.01.09