of Ancona–Osimo. Cathedral and chapter The cathedral of Ancona suffered considerable damage in World War I, when the Austrian navy bombarded the port of Ancona in May 1915. In 816, the Emperor Louis the Pious held a council at Aix, at which it was ordered that Canons and Canonesses live together according to a set of rules (canons, regulae). In the Roman synod of Pope Eugene II of November 826, it was ordered that Canons live together in a cloister next to the church. In 876, the Council of Pavia decreed in Canon X that the bishops should enclose the Canons: uti episcopi in civitatibus suis proximum ecclesiae claustrum instituant, in quo ipsi cum clero secundum canonicam regulam Deo militent, et sacerdotes suos ad hoc constringant, ut ecclesiam non relinquant et alibi habitare praesumant. The earliest history of the Chapter of S. Cyriaco is without documentation. In 1179, however, Pope Alexander III issued a bull, confirming the Archdeacon and his colleagues in the Chapter all the rights, privileges and property which they possessed. In the bull he mentions their right to offerings made at certain altars in the cathedral, which had been granted by Bishops Transbertus, Marcellinus and Bernardus. The Chapter was therefore in existence by the very end of the 11th century. Bishop Gerardus fixed the maximum number of Canons in the cathedral Chapter at twelve. He then obtained a bull from Pope Honorius III in 1224 which confirmed his action. From early times there were three dignities: the Archdeacon, the Archpriest, and the Primicerius. In 1622, the Chapter of the Cathedral of S. Cyriaco was composed of two dignities and twelve Canons. In 1710, in addition to the twelve Canons, there were four dignities: these included the Primicerius, the Archdeacon, and the Archpriest. In 1746, there were three dignities. The Collegiate Church of S. Maria della Piazza in Ancona was also served by a Chapter, composed of a Provost and six Canons. Synods A diocesan synod was an irregularly held, but important, meeting of the bishop of a diocese and his clergy. Its purpose was (1) to proclaim generally the various decrees already issued by the bishop; (2) to discuss and ratify measures on which the bishop chose to consult with his clergy; (3) to publish statutes and decrees of the diocesan synod, of the provincial synod, and of the Holy See. Bishop Luigi Galli (1622–1657) presided over