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 TARAZONA

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TARAZONA

namely, that Tarasius tolerated and encouraged simony, because those bishops who had given money to obtain their positions were only commanded by him to do a year's penance and were permitted to retain their offices. The patriarch defended himself in writing against this accusation which he denied in toto; moreover, he issued a severe synodal letter against Simonists. The monks, however, were not satisfied; they maintained their accusations and also attacked the Council of 787. At a later date Theo- dore of Studium, who took part in these disputes, changed his opinion of Tarasius, and also of the Sec- ond Council of NicEea, the oecumenical character of which he acknowledged. Many serious difficulties still existed in regard to Western Europe. There were also fresh disputes in Constantinople when the Em- peror Constantine VI put aside his lawful wife and wished to marry Theodata, a relative of Abbot Theo- dore of Studium. Tarasius positively refused to perform the second marriage and expressed his displeas- ure at the conduct of the priest Joseph who had mar- ried the emperor. The zealous monks, whose leaders were the Abbots Plato of Saccudium and Theodore of Studium, accused the patriarch of weakness, because he took no further steps against the emperor. They refused to have Church fellowship any longer with Tarasius, and were, consequently, violently perse- cuted by the emperor who, however, also treated the patriarch harshly. After Irene had dethroned Con- stantine in 797, Tarasius deposed the priest Joseph and peace was once more restored between the patri- arch and the monks. (See Theodore of Studium). In 802 Tarasius crowned as emperor Nicephorus, who had overthrown Irene, an act that greatly dissatisfied the populace. The patriarch had nothing to do with the intrigues of the Court. His life was ascetic and simple, he checked the luxury of the clergy, preached with great zeal, and was very benevolent to the poor. After his death he was venerated as a saint. His name is also placed in the Roman Martyrology under the date of 25 February.

Ignatius Diaconus, Vita S. Tarasii, ed. Heikel (Helsing- fors, 1891); Hebgenrother, Pholius, I (Ratisbon, 1867), 264-61; Hergenrother-Kirsch, Kxrchengesch., II. 25 sq.

J. P. KlHSCH.

Tarazona, Diocese of (Turiasonensis), com- prises the Spanish provinces of Saragossa, Soria, Navarre, and Logrono. The city of Tarazona has a population of 8650, and is situated on a commanding point, surrounded by a beautiful open plain, through which the River Queiles flows. Turiaso was one of the principal towns of the ancient Celtiberian prov- ince, and within the confines of the diocese are found many very ancient cities: Bilbilis (Calatayud); Aquie Bilbilitanorum (Alhama); Atacum (Ateca); Augustobriga (Muro); Boverca (Buvierca); Bursao (Borja); Cascantura (Cascante); Gracuris (Corella); Mon6briga (Mun^brega) ; and Vergegium (Verdejo). Pliny numbers Tarazona among the principal cities of the Celtiberians, and its inhabitants had the privi- leges of citizenship. Its coat of arms bore the motto "Tubal-Cain built me and Hercules rebuilt me". Nothing definite is known of the origin of Christianity in Tarazona. Owing to its proximity to Saragossa it is supposed that it was visited at an early date by the disciples of St. James, but until the fifth century there is no reliable mention of a bishop of Tarazona. The chronicler Idatius names Leo and says that he lived in 449; the chronological list of bishops gives St. Prudentius, but the history of this saint is not positively known. The Tarazona Bre- viary gives 390 as the date, but other sources place him as late as the ninth century. Idatius says that Leo was killed in an uprising led by a certain Basilius where the Baganda> took refuge in the cathedral, and in which a great number were killed.

St. Gaudiosus, a former monk of the Monastery of

Asanense and a disciple of St. Victorian, was bishop in 530. He worked against the Arians, and died in his native city, Escoron. His remains were translated to the Monastery of Asanense, and King Sancho Ramirez had them removed to Montearag6n. St. Braulio, in his life of St. Emilianus, speaks of a Didymus, Bishop of Tarazona. A Bishop Stephen assisted at the Third Council of Toledo and at the Council of Saragossa; Floridius, at that of Gundemar (611); Elpisius, at the Fourth and Fifth Council of Toledo; Antherius (683) sent a deacon to r?present him at the Thirteenth Council of Toledo; and Xepo- tianus assisted at the fifteenth and seventeenth. He seems to have been the last bishop of the Visigothic epoch. When the Moors took Tarazona they were able to hold it for a long time on account of its forti- fied position near the Moncaya, between the Douro and the Ebro. The names of its Mozarabic bishops have not come down to us, although it is very prob- able there were such; on the other hand we know of the Mozarabic saints, St. Attilanus, Bishop of Zamora and St. liiigo of Calatayud. Alfonso I the Warrior (H Balallador) took possession of Tarazona in 1119, and named Miguel Cornel the bishop. Alfonso VII, in an effort to get possession of Tarazona, intruded a certain de Bujedo into the see; but de Bujedo re- pented shortly afterwards, restored the see to its rightful owner, Miguel, and retired to the Monastery of Valpuesta. The Council of Burgos, which was con- vened in 1139, and was presided over by the legate Guido, took from the jurisdiction of Tarazona most of the towns of Soria, but bestowed in its place the Archdeaconry of Calatayud.

Miguel was the real restorer of the see. He governed for thirty-three years, and established the chapters of Tarazona, Calatayud, and Tudela, under the Rule of St. Augustine. In his time also were founded the Monasteries of Fitero and Veruela. Three bishops of the name of Frontin succeeded him : Juan (1173-94); Garcia, who was present at the battle of Las Navas, and Garcia II, the counsellor of Jaime the Conqueror {el Conquistador). In a species of national council held at Tarazona, the marriage of Jaime to Leonor of Castile was declared null on account of the relationship existing between them. The Franciscans, Mercedarians, Dominicans, and Trinitarians, and the Cistercian and Poor Clare nuns were established in the diocese at this time. Miguel Jimenez de LTrrea, bishop from 1309 to 1316, was pro- tected by Jaime II, and during the time of Pedro Perez Calvillo the war between Pedro IV the Cere- monious (cl Ceremonioso) and Pedro the Cruel of Castile took place. Tarazona was laid waste and its cathedral desecrated by the Castilians. The episcopal palace was burned, and la Zuda, sometimes also called Alcdzar de Hercules, the palace of the Arab governors, was taken to replace it.

The following bishops are also worthy of special mention: Jorje Bardaji (1443-64), son of an Ara- gonese magistrate; Cardinal Pedro Ferriz, favourite of Paul II and Sixtus IV; Guillen Ramon de Moncada; Pedro Cerbuna, founder of the seminary and of the University of Saragossa (1585-97); Jer6nimo Cas- tellon y Salas, last Inquisitor-General of Spain (1815-35). The Church of the Magdalen was the ancient cathedral, but the Moors, objecting to its prominent position, compelled them to use a church on the outskirts of the town. In the records left by Miguel this was variously called Santa Maria de la Hidria, de la Vega, or de la Huerta, on account of its position. It was endowed by Teresa Cajal, mother of Pedro de Atarc5s and wife of Borja, and had been commenced in 1152. Architecturally it is a combina- tion of Byzantine and Gothic, with a high portico en- trance and a high brick-trimmed tower. The centre nave with its pointed arches rises above the side aisles and merges into a spacious transept. In the