Pataria of Milan

Pataria Of Milan.

Among the Lombard clergy simony, concubinage, and marriage of priests were very common. Accordingly the changes introduced by Hildebrand met with most strenuous resistance from them. The opposition was headed by archbishop Guido of Milan, whom Henry III had, in 1046, appointed to that diocese. Guido was supported by the nobility and clergy. But two deacons, Ariald and Landulf Cotta, organized a conspiracy among the common people, which their opponents, by way of derision, designated pataria, paterini (i.e. blackguards). The papal party adopted this name, and began a warfare against married priests, which for thirty years led to continual scenes of violence and bloodshed. See Giesebrecht, Deutsche Gesch. vol. 3, pt. i; Hefele, Conciliengesch. vol. 4 and 5; Lea, Hist. of Sacerdotal Celibacy; Alzog (Romans Cath.), Kirchengesch. Baxmann, Gesch. der Politik der Papste, vol. 2.