BERTRAND OF AQUILEIA, ST.

Patriarch of Aquileia; b. probably at Château de Saint-Géniès near Montcuq, France, c. 1260; d. near Spilimbergo, Italy, June 6, 1350. By 1314 Bertrand was licensed in both civil and canon law, having studied at the University of Toulouse. There he was a professor for a time while also holding many benefices. In 1318 he became a pontifical chaplain and heard pleas at the Roman Rota under john xxii. He was employed also on diplomatic missions and was rewarded by nomination as patriarch of Aquileia on July 4, 1334. Bertrand immediately set about reconquering the lands and reestablishing the privileges of his patriarchate. He recaptured the town of Sacile and certain fortresses from the count of Goritz (Gorizia) and then successfully waged war with Venice. His increasing strength alarmed the city of Florence, which turned benedict xii against him, and the pope brought about an alliance between the Florentines and Venetians, causing Bertrand to lose the ground he had gained. In another attempt to stop the encroachment of the nobles on Church property and their intimidation of its officials, a provincial synod at Aquileia, meeting on April 25, 1339, decreed that grave punishments be meted out to those who threatened the life and liberty of prelates. Bertrand wanted the proscription renewed at the Synod of Padua in 1350, but the cardinal-legate, Guy of Boulogne (d. 1373), preferred to reconcile the patriarch with his enemies. He failed, however, and as Bertrand left the synod, his escort was attacked by the retainers of the count of Goritz, and he was mortally wounded. Many miracles were attributed to his intercession, and his cult was officially recognized by Pope clement viii on April 27, 1599.

Feast: June 6.

Bibliography: Bibliotheca hagiograpica latina antiquae et mediae aetatis (Brussels 1898–1901) 1:1301–03. g. mollat, Dictionnaire d'histoire et de géographie ecclésiastiques, ed. a. baudrillart et al. (Paris 1912) 8:1075–78. c. tournier, Le Bx. Bertrand de Saint-Géniès (Paris 1929). c. schmitt, Un Pape réformateur et un défenseur de l'unité de l'eglise: Benoît XII et l'Ordre des frères mineurs, 1334–1342 (Florence 1959) 241–243, 301–302. j. l. baudot and l. chaussin, Vies des saints et des bienhereux selon l'ordre du calendrier avec l'historique des fêtes (Paris 1935–56) 6:121–124. p. albers, Lexikon für Theologie und Kirche, ed. j. hofer and k. rahner (Freiburg 1957–65) 2:271.

[c. r. byerly]