The bishoprics that emerged in the town of Orvieto in Umbria in the 12th century became an important institution for accessing and reforming political and ecclesiastical power. David Foote argues that all too often secular affairs have been put before ecclesiastical matters in discussions of the development of civil society in Italy in the early medieval period. Here, he places emphasis on the important role of religious institutions in regulating the intense competition and co-operation between lords and the Church during the 12th and 13th centuries. Based on Registers of Episcopal records, Foote highlights the `unique position of the bishopric as a field where a variety of political and religious interests competed', which turned out to be fundamental in the formation of a civil society in Italy.