Tedald was

archbishop of Milan The Archdiocese of Milan ( it, Arcidiocesi di Milano; la, Archidioecesis Mediolanensis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Italy which covers the areas of Milan, Monza, Lecco and Varese. It has l ...

(died in Milan on 25 May 1085) from 1075 to 1085.

Early life

Tedald was born into a noble family in Milan. He entered into the service of King

Henry IV of Germany Henry IV (german: Heinrich IV; 11 November 1050 – 7 August 1106) was Holy Roman Emperor from 1084 to 1105, King of Germany from 1054 to 1105, King of Italy and Burgundy from 1056 to 1105, and Duke of Bavaria from 1052 to 1054. He was the son o ...

who employed him in the royal chapel.

Archbishop

Henry IV made Tedald archbishop of Milan in 1075. When appointing Tedald to the archbishopric, Henry ignored his former decision about the appointment of another cleric,

Godfrey Godfrey may refer to: People * Godfrey (name), a given name and surname * Godfrey (comedian), American comedian, actor Places In the United States * Godfrey, Georgia, an unincorporated community * Godfrey, Illinois, a village * Godfrey, Kansas, an ...

, to the same see. The King also disregarded the claim of

Pope Gregory VII Pope Gregory VII ( la, Gregorius VII; 1015 – 25 May 1085), born Hildebrand of Sovana ( it, Ildebrando di Soana), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 22 April 1073 to his death in 1085. He is venerated as a saint ...

's candidate, Atto, to the archbishopric. The suffragan bishops consecrated Tedald archbishop. Tedald approached Pope Gregory, seeking the Pope's "friendship" in a letter, but the Pope was unwilling to acknowledge the royal investiture. On 8 December, Gregory forbade the Archbishop's suffragan bishops to consecrate Tedald and summoned Tedald to Rome to give an account of his appointment. The Pope regarded Tedald as a rebel and a renegade and accused him of claiming the see of the lawful archbishop, Atto. The Pope excommunicated Tedald at an unknown date. Henry IV made his three-year-old son, Conrad, his lieutenant in Italy before returning to Germany early in 1077. On the same occasion, the King appointed Tedald and Denis,

Bishop of Piacenza A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of Episcopal polity, authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or offic ...

, as his son's guardians. Tedald's excommunication was renewed at the Lenten synods of Rome in 1078, 1079 and 1080. Tedald was one of the nineteen Italian prelates to attend the synod that Henry IV held at Brixen on 25 June 1080. The assembled prelates declared that Pope Gregory VII's election had been invalid. Historian David J Hay has suggested Tedald was the leader of the coalition of Lombard bishops that defeated

Matilda of Tuscany Matilda of Tuscany ( it, Matilde di Canossa , la, Matilda, ; 1046 – 24 July 1115 or Matilda of Canossa after her ancestral castle of Canossa), also referred to as ("the Great Countess"), was a member of the House of Canossa (also known as th ...

at the battle of Volta Mantovana in October 1080. Tedald and his suffragans appointed one thousand knights to accompany King Henry to Rome in 1082. Tedald died in Milan on 25 May 1085 (on the same day as Pope Gregory VII).

References

Sources

* * * *{{cite book, last=Hay, first=David J., year=2008, title=The Military Leadership of Matilda da Canossa, publisher=Manchester University Press, isbn=978-0719073595 Archbishops of Milan Investiture Controversy