POPULONIA

POPULONIA. - Ancient Etruscan city (Pupluna) and ancient diocese on the promontory of Piombino near Porto Baratti; it was a Roman municipality but already in decline by the end of the republic and almost abandoned according to Rutilius Namatianus.

It was occupied by the Lombards and donated by Charlemagne to Hadrian I, but was destroyed in the 9th century and the see transferred to Cornia during the time of Nicholas I and Stephen V (886). Its bishops were first directly subject to the Holy See, then Innocent II in 1133 united the see of Populonia with the church of Pisa; subsequently the see of Massa Marittima was established (v.). Among its bishops are remembered: Atellus, present at the Synod of 501; Cerbonius, mentioned in 591 by St. Gregory (Dial., III, 11); Paul, who was legate of Nicholas I in Bulgaria; Alexander II in 1072 grants privileges, Gregory VII in 1074 gives jurisdiction over the island of Elba and sends as his legate to Sardinia Bishop William.