Matthew of Ajello
Matheus from Salerno ( Salerno *, † July 21, 1193 in Palermo), often incorrectly called by Aiello was a leading official of the Norman royal court in Sicily under William I., Wilhelm II and Tancred, who ascended by the notary to the Chancellor. The chosen spelling of the name follows the autograph documents.
Family
He came from a resident in the territory of Salerno family, who probably belonged to the urban elite. His mother died Marocta 1173, his father Nicolaus August 6, the year is not known. His brother Constantine was abbot of Holy Trinity di Venosa, his brother John Bishop of Catania ( † 1168 in an earthquake ), his brother Roger magister iudex in Sorrento.
The first woman Sica died, in 1171, the second, Iudicta, on 25 June 1180th The directed against Tancred and his followers polemics of Peter of Eboli, he is referred to as bigamus ( bigamist ).
His son Nicholas was Archbishop of Salerno from 1182 to 1221. His son Richard is detectable as a military leader and his father's deputy in the service of King Tancred.
Career
Whether Matheus completed his training at a school affiliated with the court, is uncertain. As the Beneventan elements betrayed in his handwriting, he learned the letter already in his homeland. As an attorney, he is detected in the King Law Firm from 1154 to 1160 are missing for the following years appropriate documentary evidence. The charter of King William to the Treaty of Benevento with Adrian IV was written by him. 1166 he acted as magister notarius and thus already in a managerial position, which corresponded to the function of the Vice-Chancellor. As Vice- Chancellor ( vicecancellarius ) it is occupied since December 1169. This office he held for two decades.
As a close associate of Admiral Maio he was involved and imprisoned in his overthrow. Since the riots, the acts of the firm were in disarray, he was released because he was able to only one on the basis of his experience, to reorganize the material and to supplement missing. William I. provisions in his will the Elect of Syracuse, Richard Palmer, and Matheus as a counselor for the regency, which should be under the direction of Queen Margaret.
The Queen Dowager tried soon to get rid of the familiars of her late husband and brought a relative, Stephen of Perche, in the land, they appointed Chancellor and his election as Archbishop of Palermo promoted it. Stephan ran into opposition from the "national" groups, whose leaders alongside Richard and Matheus Gentilis the Bishop of Agrigento belonged.
The leadership among the familiars could be the educator Wilhelm II, Walter of Palermo, secure, who was ordained in September 1169 as Archbishop of Palermo. Walter and Matheus were the constants in Familiarenkollegium, which is occupied in changing human composition in the dates of the diplomas. The tension between the two protagonists is rarely so clearly seen as in the case of the foundation of Monreale, in which Matheus strongly supported the king against the resistance of the archbishop. While Walter drove forward the marriage project for Konstanze, Matheus was among the skeptical opponents.
After the death of William II Matheus ran the survey Tancred of Lecce king. In recognition he received in 1191 the title of Chancellor ( Cancellarius ).
Foundations
- For the Cathedral of San Matteo to Salerno
- Santa Maria de Latinis or del Cancelliere in Palermo (foundation of a convent )
- Donations at S. Salvatore di Messina (prayer fraternization )
- S. Trinità (La Magione) - Cistercian monastery to 1191 ( inception )
Facilities his foundations he used Casalia that had been given him by the kings William I or William II. Therefore, the royal consent to the transfer was necessary. In addition to Latin, he also promoted the Greek rite: Santa Maria de Latinis was obliged to entertain a Greek priest in a chapel belonging to the monastery. Securing the memoria of the family was a main motive for promoting the Cathedral of Salerno and the nunnery in Palermo.