Prince-bishops · Smaller communes and their contadi · as at first light, 1 January 1200

Volterra

The bishop of Volterra is the strongest churchman-lord in Tuscany on 1 January 1200.

Ildebrando Pannocchieschi rules the hill city of Volterra as its count, appointing its consuls by imperial grant of 1186, and he holds the silver of Montieri, then one of the chief silver sources of Europe, with a mint of his own since 1189. His castle at Berignone, the bishops' since 896, is their court, mint and refuge. Since 1197 he has led the Tuscan League.

The commune of Volterra is waiting its turn: in the 13th century it will strip the bishops of their temporal power.

Who holds it

Name
Ildebrando Pannocchieschi
Title
Bishop of Volterra, palatine count in Tuscany and prince of the Empire
Since
1185 (attested to December 1211)
Confidence
high

Son of Ranieri Pannocchia, of the Pannocchieschi lords of the Volterra and Siena uplands. He followed Frederick Barbarossa to Milan in 1185. In 1186 he was confirmed as palatine count in Tuscany and prince of the Empire, with the right to appoint Volterra's consuls; in 1189 he received the right to mint. In 1197 he was made captain of the Tuscan League, the towns' alliance against German rule. In 1201 he will be the first in Tuscany to bring Cistercians, to San Galgano.

He dies about 1211-12.

What it holds

  • Volterra: city lordship, with the right to appoint the consuls (1186)
  • Berignone: the bishops' castle since 896, used for justice, the mint and as a refuge
  • Montieri and its silver mines, the bishops' since 896 [a quarter of the castle and lands sold to Sienese merchants in 1181]
  • A mint (privilege of 1189)
  • Castles and villages of the diocese [list not pinned]

How it was acquired

Marquis Adalbert of Tuscany gave Berignone and Montieri to Bishop Alboin in 896. Bishop Guido (1042-61) strengthened the bishops' rule over the city and castles. Henry, Frederick Barbarossa's son, approved the bishop's government of the city; the privileges of 1186 and 1189 completed it.

How things stand that morning

At the height of episcopal power: Ildebrando rules the city, mints silver from Montieri and leads the Tuscan League.

Wealth

Montieri silver and the episcopal mint; rents of the diocese's castles.

Threats

  • The commune of Volterra
  • Sienese money and ambition at Montieri

Advocates and rivals

The commune of Volterra, which will fight the bishops through the 13th century; Sienese merchants and the commune of Siena at Montieri; the bishop's own Pannocchieschi kin.

Places of note

  • Rocca di Berignone: The bishops' castle, court and mint
  • Montieri: Silver mines of the bishops

Where the sources disagree

Evidence: Ildebrando's privileges and offices are dated; the full list of episcopal castles in 1200 is not.

On the map: Only the city and Montieri are drawn; the bishop's other castles are not pinned.

Sources and studies

  1. Ildebrando Pannocchieschi (it.wikipedia)
  2. Diocesi di Volterra (it.wikipedia)
  3. Diocese of Volterra (en.wikipedia)
  4. Montieri (it.wikipedia)
  5. Berignone, Rocca dei Vescovi (castellitoscani.com)

Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.