[1][2] The city and territory of Carpi belonged originally to the Countess Matilda (1046–1115), from whom it passed in 1115 to the Holy See.

[3] Carpi was created a see only in 1779, by Pope Pius VI, in the Bull Inter plurimas[4] and assigned as a suffragan to the diocese of Bologna.

[6] The new Cathedral was assigned a Chapter, which was to consist of four dignities (the Archpriest, the Archdeacon, the Provost, and the Dean) and seventeen Canons.

[8] The first bishop was the former Jesuit, Francesco Benincasa, whose Religious Order had been dissolved by Pope Clement XIV in 1773.

Benincasa protested so loudly and publicly that he was arrested on 25 December 1773, and was jailed until 12 September 1775.