[10] Other bishops are: John (946), who restored the cathedral and embellished the tomb of St. Peter Chrysologus; Ridolfo (1146) and Enrico (1174), who suffered for their adherence to Pope Alexander III, Enrico laid the foundations of the present cathedral, finished in 1271 under Bishop Sinibaldo; Pietro Ondedei (1416), a distinguished canonist and theologian; the Dominican Gaspare Sighigelli (1450), learned and saintly; Girolamo Dandini (1546), formerly nuncio at Paris, founder of an orphan asylum; Francesco Guarini (1566), the founder of the seminary; Cardinal Filippo Antonio Gualterio (1702), founder of a mone frumentario to supply the poor peasant with seed; and Cardinal Giovanni Carlo Bandi (1752), who rebuilt the cathedral and the basilica of Valentinian.

The Battle of Lodi was fought on 10 May 1796, giving the general of the army of the French Republic, Napoleon Bonaparte, a claim to having routed Austrian forces.

At Spoleto, however, he received a plea from the French magistrates and Bonapartists in Imola to return, but after writing to the Pope, who pointed out that Chiaramonti had no way of controlling them, he continued on his journey to Rome.

On 17 February 1797, Napoleon and papal representatives signed the Treaty of Tolentino, in which the Pope surrendered Avignon, the Comtat Venaissin, and the Romagna.

On 18 October 1797 Bonaparte entered into the Treaty of Campo Formio with the Austrians, promising them in secret clauses the Republic of Venice; he was able to withdraw to Paris, and then set off on his eastern expedition.

In his Christmas message of 1797, therefore, Cardinal Chiaramonti faced impossible difficulties in attempting to calm the Imolese and to suggest a way through the political situation.

On the contrary, it exacts all the sublime virtues which are learned only in the school of Jesus Christ, and which, when religiously practised by you, will constitute your felicity, the glory and spirit of your republic.

Let virtue alone, which perfects man and directs him towards the supreme end, the highest and best of all, let this virtue alone, quickened by the natural lights and strengthened by the teachings of the Gospel, be the solid foundation of our democracy.The French army which was left behind, led by General Berthier, occupied Rome on 10 February 1798, and arrested the Pope on 20 February.

[13] Pope Pius VI died on 29 August 1799, in the fortress of Valence, a prisoner of the French Directory.

[14] After the Battle of Marengo on 14 June 1800, Imola again found itself under French occupation and incorporated into the Cisalpine Republic, and then into Napoleon's Kingdom of Italy (1805–1814).

In Article II, Imola, Reggio, Modena, and Carpi were assigned as suffragans of the diocese of Bologna.

[19] The bishops of Imola enjoyed the right to appoint, confirm, enthrone, and invest the Canons of the Cathedral Chapter, the Provosts, and the other prelates.

In the second half of the 12th century, under Bishops Rodulphus (1147–1168), Arardus, and Henricus (1173–1193), when the Castro S. Cassiani was in ruins, they moved to the village of Duccia.

In 1313 the financial situation of the church had so diminished due to wars and both internal and external strife that the full complement of Canons could not be maintained.

[28] Bishop Carolo Alidosi (1342–1353) presided over a general synod of prelates and clerics and the whole clergy of the city and diocese of Imola on 12 August 1346.

They heard complaints on the part of Fra Paulino da Urbino, O.P., against depredations against their convent and church of Saint Nicholas in Imola.

The synod took place in the Cathedral of Imola on 14 June 1538, under the presidency of Canon Girolamo Ferri, the Cardinal's Vicar General.

[30] Bishop Alessandro Musotti (1579–1607) held a diocesan synod on 22 August 1584; its Constitutions were published by order of Cardinal Donghi in 1659.