Worldwide Guide to Women in Leadership
Italy Ecclesiastical

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Royal Convent of Saint Benedetto in Conversano (Reale monastero di San Benedetto di Conversano)
The Cistercian monastery existed from before 889 and was placed under direct papal protection in 1110. The Abbess was both secular and temporal ruler of the territory and amont others Lady of Catellana. Among the many privileges she enjoyed was that of appointing her own vicar-general through whom she governed her abbatial territory; that of selecting and approving confessors for the laity; and that of authorizing clerics to have the cure of souls in the churches under her jurisdiction. Every newly appointed Abbess of Conversano was likewise entitiled to receive the public "homage" of her clergy, - the ceremony of which was sufficiently elaborate. On the appointed day, the clergy, in a body repaired to the abbey; at the great gate of her monastery, the Abbess, with mitre and corsier, sat enthroned under a canopy, and as each member of the clergy passed before her, he made his obeisance, and kissed her hand, a practice which lasted until 1750, though it was modified in 1709, and the Abbess (Badesa) deprived of all her power of jurisdiction in 1806, when it was incorporated into the Diocese of Conversano

From 1266 Abbess Dameta Donna Paleologina
She was the first of the "Badesse Mitrate". Perhaps a member of the Byzantine Imperial Family.

1271-96 Isabella
She was in dispute with Bishop Stefano.

1296-1315 Adelina

1326-41 Maria d'Angiò

1349-65 Costanza 

Until 1368 Abbess Maria d'Anjou
She was daughter of Philippe II de Taranto, Prince of Corfu, Morea, Albania, Duke of Athens and Valaccia, Vicar of the Kingdom of Sicilia and Despot of Romania, and his first wife   Thamar Komnene Dukaina, Despota of Epirus (1277-1311). After their divorce in 1309 he married Catherine II de Valois, titular Empress of Constantinople, Princess of Achaia.

13.....  Abbess N.N. d’Enghien
Sister of  Maria d’Enghien who was Countess of Lecce (1384-1414),  Princess of Tarento (1406-07) and married to King Ladislao of Napoli.

From 1514 Abbess Beatrice Acquaviva d’Aragon
She was daughter of Andrea Matteo III and his first wife, Isabella Piccolomini Todeschini. Her father was 8th Duke d Atri, Count di San Flaviano,Lord di Forcella, Sant’Omero, Torre di Tronto, Poggio Morello, Cordesca, Castelvecchio, etc. Duke di Teramo and Martina from 1481, until they were confiscated in 1496. The same year he became 15th Count di Conversano in succession to his mother Caterina Orsini del Balzo natural daughter of Giovanni Antonio Orsini, Principe di Taranto, who succeeded to the titles of, Contessa di Conversano, Signora di Casamassima, Turi, Casamassima, Bitetto, Gioa, Turi e Noci in 1456, which was confirmed in 1462. Beatrice was "Badessa del monastero di Santa Maria dell’Isola a Conversano".

From 1558 Abbess Barbara Acquaviva d’Aragona
Her italian title was, Badessa di Santa Maria dell’Isola a Conversano dal 1558. She was daughter of Andrea Matteo III Acquaviva d’Aragona, Duke of Atri etc. (1457-1529),  and probably his second wife Caterina della Ratta, Countess di Caserta, Alessano e Sant’Agata (from 1488). Her italian title was, Badessa di Santa Maria dell’Isola a Conversano dal 1558

Around 1576 Isabella Acquaviva d’Aragona
Another member of the family of the Counts of Conversano.

Around 1587 Vittoria Palagano

1612-14 Abbess Donata Acquaviva d’Aragona
Daughter of Don Giulio Antonio Acquaviva d’Aragona, 19th Count di Conversano, di San Flaviano e Castellana and created Duca di Noci in 1600, and Donna Caterina, Acquaviva d’Aragona, Heir to the Duchy di Nardò.

From 1614 Abbess Isabella Acquaviva d’Aragona
Sister of Donna Barbara, the Abbess from 1558.

Around 1694 Donna Tomasia Episcopi

Ca. 1711-24 Donna Giacoma Palmieri

1724-27 Donna Marcellina Capulli

1727-31 Donna Rosa Caporossi

From 1731 Donna Serafina Girondi

Around 1748-49 Donna Irena Margaritonda

Around 1759 Donna Floralba Maurelli

Around 1779-ca. 93 Donna Rosalba Noja (Noya)
In Italian her title was badessa dell'illustrissima signora donna.

Ca. 1767-73 Donna Cherubina Terami

Around 1791 Donna Giuditta Terami

Ca. 1800-09 Donna Aurora Accolti Gil
She was the first Abbess Nullius. (d. 1809-).

1817, 1820, 1860-80, 1896-99  Donna Rachele Bassi

1811, 14, 23, 38-40 Donna Maria Teresa Albanese

1826-27, 1829-30, 1833-36 (d. 1836) Donna Angelica Netti

1836-43 Eleonora Manuzzi
Reelected once.

1843-48 Luigia Netti
Reelected once.

1848-57 Teresa Farnarari
Reelected a couple of times for three year periods.

Around 1857 Donna Maria Longo
Reverend Donna

1881-96 Giuditta Picucci

1899 Giovanna Morelli

Last update 28.12.06