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Rh and the Patriarch Polyeuktos tried to bring these Italian bishops under Constantinople and to make them use the Byzantine rite, John of Barum (951–978) refused to submit and kept a Latin (possibly the Roman) rite, recognizing the Pope as his Patriarch. Altogether the Byzantines had less success in Apulia than in Sicily and Calabria. Many of the inland cities of both Apulia and Calabria remained Latin, in some cases because they were held by the Lombards. Cusentia, Bisinianum, Cassanum, Anglona seem never to have used the Byzantine rite, nor to have acknowledged Constantinople as their Patriarchate. It was chiefly in the sea-board towns that the bishops became Byzantine. Rossanum had a Greek chapter and bishop, also Tricaricum.

The plan of the Byzantine Government was to erect archbishoprics and to shower honours on the clergy of Southern Italy and Sicily. In return it demanded that they should look to Constantinople as their Patriarchate and adopt its rite. The reason they give for this is always the same: the Pope is now in the hands of Barbarians; therefore he has lost his rights over these dioceses.

There are a number of Greek lists of provinces and sees (called τακτικά) drawn up between the reigns of Leo VI (the Wise, 886-911) and Andronikos II (Palaiologos, 1282–1328), which show the claim made by Constantinople during this time. It is difficult to date any of these exactly, because additions were made to them at various times. The first is dated 883, under Leo the Wise and Photius Patriarch. Among other provinces it names those of Illyricum, Sicily, and Calabria. "From the Roman diocese detached and now subject to the throne of Constantinople are these Metropolitans with the bishops under them: He of Thessalonica, he of Syracuse, he of Corinth, he of Rhegium, he of Nikopolis