BARDONE di OPPERSHOFEN, saint. — Archbishop of Mainz, born around 980. A monk in the great abbey of Fulda, and subsequently abbot of several monasteries, he was appointed archbishop of Mainz by the emperor Conrad II, a see which he governed for twenty years (1031–51). He then became archchancellor of the Empire and papal legate for Germany, appointed by Leo IX. On 10 November 1056, in the presence of the emperor, empress, and court, he consecrated the cathedral of St Martin. In October 1049, before the emperor Henry III and Pope Leo, a great council was held at Mainz, in which B. took an active part. He died at Dornloh on 10 June 1051 and was buried in the cathedral he had consecrated. His feast is celebrated on 10 June.
BIBL.: Vulculdus, Vita B., in MGH, Scriptores, XI, pp. 313–342; Vita major (anonima), in Acta SS. Junii, II, Antwerp 1698, p. 299 ff.; F. Schneider, Der hl. B., Mainz 1871; H. Böhmer-C. Will, Regesten zur Geschichte der Mainzer Erbischöfe, I, Mainz 1877, p. 165 ff. Pier Fausto Palumbo