CARACCIOLO, LANDOLF

Franciscan theologian, Doctor collectivus; b. Naples, c. 1287; d. Amalfi, 1351. He studied arts, probably at the University of Naples, c. 1305 to 1310, and theology at the University of Paris, c. 1315, where he commented on the Sentences, c. 1322, and later became master. He returned to Naples, where he became minister provincial, 1324–25. In 1326 he was sent to Bologna as the legate of Robert of Naples. On Aug. 21, 1327, he was consecrated bishop of Castellammare, but was transferred on Sept. 20, 1331, to the See of Amalfi. From 1343 onward he was frequently entrusted with diplomatic missions by Queen Johanna I of Anjou (d. 1382), for which he was honored with the titles of Logotheta and Protonotarius of the Kingdom of Naples.

At least 35 MSS of his Commentary on the Sentences are known to be extant [Repertorium commentariorum in Sententias Petri Lombardi 1:n.514; V. Doucet, "Supplement," Archivum Franciscanum historicum 47 (1954) 58]. He also wrote Commentaria moralia in quatuor Evangelia (ed. Naples 1637), Postilla super Evangelia dominicalia (Florence MS Laurenziana, Plut. 8 dext. 12, fol. 5–98v), Sermones, Tractatus de arte sermocinandi (Cracow, Univ. Library MS 1295, fol. 294–808), and lost commentaries on Zacharias and on Hebrews (Repertorium biblicum medii aevi 3:nn. 5365–67). The Tractatus de Conceptione B. M. V. attributed to him is unauthentic, and the Extracta ex Landulphi de Immaculata Conceptione B. M. V. is a posthumous version of his doctrine (In 3 sent. 3).

peter of candia, later Alexander V, enumerated him with Francis of Meyronnes and Francis of Marchia as the most notable followers of duns scotus in the first half of the 14th century. Caracciolo himself declares that he follows the Subtle Doctor in many points: "Doctorem Subtilem ut plurimum sequimur" (Naples, Bibl. Naz. MSVII. C. 49). Nevertheless, in the same MS there are several marginal notations indicating that the doctrine proposed is contrary to that of Scotus: "Loquitur contra Scotum." Similarly an Assisi MS (Bibl. Munic. 199) of Peter of Candia's lectures contains a marginal note expressing amazement that Caracciolo should thus deviate from the Subtle Doctor, whom he always follows (fol. 13r).

In In 3 sent. 3 Caracciolo defends the immaculate conception in a way that suggests the doctrinal development between 1320 and 1325. Although he adopted many of the ideas and arguments in favor of the privilege from Scotus and william of ware and opposed the Dominican view proposed by john of naples, he is often too oratorical and lacking in critical judgment. More notable in his teaching are the "quinque regulae" for disputing with an opponent both from authority and from reason; in this he seems to have been influenced by the treatise Nondum erant abyssi of peter aureoli (ed. Quaracchi 1904, 78–94).

Caracciolo's writings notably influenced later theologians, such as Peter of Aquila, Alphonsus of Toledo (fl.1344), william of vaurouillon, St. bernardine of siena, John Vitalis (fl. 1390), Juan de torquemada, Ludovicus a Turre (fl. 1486), and Bernardine of Busti (fl.1490).

Bibliography: a. emmen, "Testimony of Landulf Caracciolo on Scotus' dispute in favour of the Immaculate Conception," Doctor Subtilis ('s Hertogenbosch, Netherlands 1946) 92–129. j. h. sbaralea, Supplementum et castigatio ad scriptores trium ordinum S. Francisci a Waddingo (Rome 1906–36) 3: 163–165. Hierarchia Catholica medii 1:84, 462. d. scaramuzzi, Il pensiero di Giovanni Duns Scoto nel Mezzogiorno d'Italia (Rome 1927) 67–75; "L'Immacolato Concepimento di Maria," Studi France-scani 28 (1931) 33–69. h. maisonneuve, Dictionnaire d'histoire et de géographie ecclésiastiques 11:980.

[a. emmen]