The Italian Catholic Diocese of Gubbio () is in the province of Perugia, in Umbria, central Italy. History The earliest known Bishop of Gubbio is Decentius, though a letter of Pope Innocent I notes that he had predecessors. Gregory the Great (590–604) entrusted to Bishop Gaudiosus of Gubbio the spiritual care of Tadinum, about a mile from the modern Gualdo, which had been long without a bishop of its own. In the eighth century Gubbio became part of the Patrimony of St. Peter, together with the duchy of Spoleto. Arsenius of Gubbio (855) together with Nicholas of Anagni, opposed the election of Pope Benedict III. It was often at war with Perugia, and its victory in 1151 over Perugia and ten other towns is famous. St. Ubald, bishop of the city, directed the campaign. Gubbio favoured the Ghibelline party; however, in 1260 the Guelphs surprised the town, and drove out the Ghibellines; who returned again in 1300 under the leadership of Uguccione della Faggiola, and Federico I da Montefeltro, whereupon Pope Boniface VIII sent his nephew Napoleone Orsini who drove them out once more. Giovanni Gabrielli, lord of Gubbio, was expelled by Cardinal Albornoz (1354) and the town handed over to a pontifical vicar. In 1381, however, the bishop, Gabriele Gabrielli, succeeded in being appointed pontifical vicar and again, lord of Gubbio. Other bishops of Gubbio were Rudolph Gabrielli (1061), honoured for his sanctity by Peter Damian; Alessandro Sperelli (1644), author of many learned works, who restored the cathedral. Schism of 1159–1179 The bishopric of Theobaldus Balbi, O.S.B. (1160–1179) was unfortunately a time of great upheaval in the Church. The papal conclave of September 1159 had produced two popes, and a schism. The majority of cardinals elected Cardinal Rolando Bandinelli, who called himself Pope Alexander III; a minority stood by Cardinal Octavianus de' Monticelli, who called himself Pope Victor IV. Victor was a friend and adherent of the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa. While Bishop Theobaldus professed obedience to Pope Alexander, Frederick appointed as Bishop of Gubbio the Abbot of the monastery of S. Donnato, Abbot Bonactus (Bonnato). The schism thus enveloped the diocese of Gubbio. A grant to the Church of Gubbio by the Emperor Frederick, dated 8 November 1163, indicates that the Ghibellines were in full control of the city and that Bonactus was bishop-elect. Bishop Theobaldus had retreated to the monastery of Fonte Avellina, where he had been Prior