Abstract

This article studies the organization of Christian Rome − which encapsulated not only the city inside the walls, but also the suburban area replete with sanctuaries dedicated to the many Roman martyrs. These sanctuaries required a careful management that was entrusted to the titular churches. Their particular classification respected their singular dignitas that was bestowed upon them according to the importance of their functions. The titlesreflected the fabric of the seven ecclesiastical regions into which the city inside the walls had been divided. A second part of this study presents an exploration of the most ancient titles from the fourth to the sixth century, and some problematic cases, as well as the development and proper peculiarities of each ecclesiastical region, beginning with the seventh region: Trastevere and Tiber Island, on account of its odd history and also due to the interference of the Portuense diocese.