The Roman Catholic Diocese of Dragonara (Latin: Dioecesis Dragonariensis) was a Roman Catholic diocese located in the town of Torremaggiore in the province of Foggia in the Apulia region of southeast Italy. It was established as a diocese ca. 1030. On 21 February 1580, the diocese was suppressed, and its territory and Catholic population were assigned to the Diocese of San Severo.
In 1968 the title of Bishop of Dragonara, though not the diocese itself, was revived as a titular See.
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History
The fortress of Draconaria (Dragonara), like Troia, Montecorvino, Civitate, Lesina, and Castel Fiorentino in the Capitanata area, was most likely erected by the catapan (Byzantine governor) Basilio Boioannes, not long after his victory over the Apulians in 1018.
A bishopric was established in Draconaria by c. 1030. Bishop Almeradus issued a document in favor of the monastery of S. Jacobus et S. Maria of Tremiti in February 1045, which he states was the 16th year of his episcopate.
On 12 July 1053, Pope Leo IX issued the bull "Cum Summae Apostolicae", in which he confirmed the privileges and possessions of the Church of Benevento for Archbishop Voldaricus. The list of properties did not include Draconara. In a bull, "Cum Summae Apostolicae", on 24 January 1058, Pope Stephen IX confirmed for Archbishop Vodalricus of Benevento the privileges and properties granted to the Church of Benevento by Pope Leo IX. These included some which had not appeared in the bull of Leo IX, including Draconara. Draconaria, it appears, became a suffragan bishopric of the archdiocese of Benevento between 1053 and 1058, probably on the latter date.
There was still a bishop of Dragonara in 1571, but he was noticed to be absent from the provincial council of Benevento in April 1571.
The new diocese of San Severo was established by Pope Gregory XIII on 9 March 1580, through the suppression of the diocese of Civitas. Its first bishop was appointed on 18 February 1581. In 1686, Cardinal Orsini addressed his first pastoral letter as Archbishop of Benevento addresses himself to the "Civitatem, et Draconariam unitas". In 1680, and again in 1693, the bishop of San Severo signed himself, "Ego Carolus Felix de Matta, episcopus Sancti Severi, Civitatensis et Dragoniensis."
Bishops
since 1400
Sede vacante (1438–1449)
Nicolaus Tartagli, O.Cist. (1 Aug 1438 - ? ) in commendam
Bartolommeo Tesseri (1449–1452)
Benedetto, O.S.A. (23 Jul 1451 Appointed - 1482 Died)
Sede vacante (1482–1519)
Jacobus Brunus de Severo (20 May 1519 Appointed - 1551 Died)
Alfonso de Valdecabras (21 Aug 1551 Appointed - 1554 Resigned)
Luis Suárez (1 Oct 1554 Appointed - )