Editing Matilda of Tuscany (section)

=== Patronage of churches and hospitals ===
After the discovery of contemporary diplomas, Elke Goez refuted the widespread notion that the Margravine had given churches and monasteries rich gifts at all times of her life. Very few donations were initially made.<ref name=goez1995a/>{{sfn|Goez|2012|p=100}} Already one year after the death of her mother, Matilda lost influence on the inner-city monasteries in Tuscany and thus an important pillar of her rule.<ref name=goez1995a/>

The issuing of deeds for monasteries concentrated on convents that were located in Matilda's immediate sphere of influence in northern and central Italy or Lorraine. The main exception to this was [[Monte Cassino|Montecassino]].<ref name=goez1999/> Among the most important of her numerous donations to monasteries and churches were those to [[Fonte Avellana]], [[Farfa Abbey|Farfa]], Montecassino, Vallombrosa, [[Territorial Abbey of Nonantola|Nonantola]], and Polirone.{{sfn|Piva|2006|p=139}} In this way she secured the financing of the old church buildings. She often stipulated that the proceeds from the donated land should be used to build churches in the center of the episcopal cities. This money was an important contribution to the funds for the expansion and decoration of the churches of [[Mantua Cathedral|San Pietro in Mantua]], [[Modena Cathedral|Santa Maria Assunta e San Geminiano of Modena]], [[Parma Cathedral|Santa Maria Assunta of Parma]], [[Lucca Cathedral|San Martino of Lucca]], [[Pisa Cathedral|Santa Maria Assunta of Pisa]], and [[Volterra Cathedral|Santa Maria Assunta of Volterra]].{{sfn|Goez|Goez|1998|loc=n° 114, 115}}{{sfn|Spike|2014|p=19}}

Matilda supported the construction of Pisa Cathedral with several donations (in 1083, 1100, and 1103). Her name should be permanently associated with the cathedral building project.{{sfn|Goez|2012|p=186}} They released Nonantola from paying [[tithe]]s to the Bishop of Modena; the funds thus freed up could be used for the monastery buildings.{{sfn|Piva|2006|p=140}}<ref>Fulvio Zuliani, ''L'abbazia di Nonantola''. (in Italian) In: Costanza Segre Montel, Fulvio Zuliani (ed.): ''La pittura nell'abbazia di Nonantola, un refettorio affrescato di etä romanica''. Nonantola 1991, pp. 5–28.</ref> In Modena, with her participation, she secured the continued construction of the cathedral. Matilda acted as mediator in the dispute between cathedral [[Canon (priest)|canon]]s and citizens about the remains of [[Geminianus|Saint Geminianus]]. The festive consecration could take place in 1106, with the ''Relatio fundationis cathedralis Mutinae'' recording these processes. Matilda is presented as a political authority: she is present with an army, gives support, recommends receiving the pope, and reappears for the ordination, during which she dedicates immeasurable gifts to the patron.{{sfn|Piva|2006|p=140}}

Numerous examples show that Matilda made donations to bishops who were loyal to the Gregorian reforms. In May 1109 she gave land in the area of Ferrara to the Gregorian Bishop Landolfo of Ferrara in [[San Cesario sul Panaro]] and in June of the same year possessions in the vicinity of [[Ficarolo]]. The Bishop Wido of Ferrara, however, was hostile to Pope Gregory VII and had written ''De scismate Hildebrandi'' against him. The siege of Ferrara undertaken by Matilda in 1101 led to the expulsion of the schismatic bishop.<ref name="Goez3"/>{{sfn|Spike|2014|p=14}}

On the other hand, nothing is known of Matilda's sponsorship of nunneries. Their only relevant intervention concerned the Benedictine nuns of San Sisto of Piacenza, whom they chased out of the monastery for their immoral behavior and replaced with monks.<ref>Paolo Golinelli, [https://www.mgh-bibliothek.de/dokumente/b/b072402.pdf "Nonostante le fonti: Matilde di Canossa donna"]. (in Italian) In: Berardo Pio (ed.): ''Scritti di Storia Medievale offerti a Maria Consiglia De Matteis''. Spoleto 2011, p. 266.</ref>{{sfn|Goez|Goez|1998|p=450}}

Matilda founded and sponsored numerous hospitals to care for the poor and pilgrims. For the hospitals, she selected municipal institutions and important Apennine passes. The welfare institutions not only fulfilled charitable tasks, but were also important for the legitimation and consolidation of the margravial rule.{{sfn|Golinelli|2015a|pp=61–73}}<ref>Renzo Zagnoni "Gli ospitali dei Canossa", pp. 310–323 in [[#g1994|Golinelli 1994]]</ref>

Some churches traditionally said to have been founded by Matilda include: Sant'Andrea Apostolo of Vitriola in [[Montefiorino]] ([[Province of Modena|Modena]]);<ref>[http://www.provincia.modena.it/page.asp?IDCategoria=305&IDSezione=7180&ID=69399 ''Provincia di Modena. Chiesa Sant'Andrea Apostolo di Vitriola''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206225709/http://www.provincia.modena.it/page.asp?IDCategoria=305&IDSezione=7180&ID=69399 |date=2015-02-06 }} [retrieved 13 April 2015].</ref> Sant'Anselmo in Pieve di Coriano (Province of Mantua); San Giovanni Decollato in [[Pescarolo ed Uniti]] ([[Province of Cremona|Cremona]]);<ref>[http://www.rup.cr.it/comune/view_monumenti.do?idComune=39 ''Comune di Pescarolo ed Uniti. Pieve di San Giovanni Decollato''] [retrieved 13 April 2015].</ref> Santa Maria Assunta in [[Monteveglio]] ([[Province of Bologna|Bologna]]); San Martino in Barisano near [[Forlì]]; San Zeno in [[Cerea]] ([[Province of Verona|Verona]]), and San Salvaro in [[Legnago]] ([[Verona]]).