[4] Under the predecessors of Pope Honorius III (1216–1227)[vague] the bishops of the city became prince-bishops, first with the secular rights of counts, and later styled princes of Fermo.

Pope Boniface VIII entertained the idea of founding a university in Fermo, to rival that of Bologna, and actually issued the bull In supremae dignitatis on 16 January 1303.

[6] The loss of Jesuit support when the Society of Jesus was disbanded in 1773, dealt the university a serious blow both in quality and prestige, and it closed permanently in 1826, due to lack of funding.

[9] The castle at Ripatransone was erected in the early Middle Ages, and enlarged later by the bishops of Fermo, who had several conflicts with the people.

In 1571 Pope Pius V made it an episcopal see, and included in its jurisdiction a small portion of the diocese of Fermo.

The oppidum (town) of Ripatransone was promoted to the status of civitas (city), and the parish church of S. Benigno was made a cathedral.

[citation needed] The foundation stone of the present cathedral was laid by Archbishop Andrea Minucci (1779–1803), and the completed edifice was consecrated by him on 27 September 1797.

[14] In 1764, the Chapter of the cathedral, dedicated to the assumption of the body of the Virgin Mary into heaven, was composed of four dignities and sixteen Canons.

[23] Archbishop Filippo de Angelis (1842–1877) presided over a diocesan synod in 1845; in particular it legislated on the proper attitude of clergy toward children.