when bishop nicolò died in 1243, probably in august, the new pope, innocent iv (sinibaldo fieschi of genoa), immediately issued a decree on 24 august, reserving for himself the right to appoint ("provisio") a new bishop of reggio. nonetheless, on 2 september 1243, he wrote to the bishop of modena and to his own nephew, the archdeacon of parma, that they should lift the sentences of excommunication which had been pronounced against the canons of reggio, and order the canons to elect a bishop within twenty days; otherwise, the bishop of modena should choose a suitable candidate as bishop. when the canons proceeded to an election, two candidates were produced: the ghibellines supported the provost of s. prospero, guicciolo albriconi; the guelphs supported guglielmo fogliano, a canon of the cathedral and a nephew of pope innocent. according to fra salimbene, there were extensive disturbances ("magna discordia") in the city in september. after an investigation of the canonical validity of the election, the pope pronounced his nephew to be the new bishop. since the agents of the emperor frederick's son enzo had possession of the episcopal palace, bishop-elect fogliano was forced into exile. he did not gain possession of the diocese until 1252, and was still not consecrated bishop by 23 may 1255, when he received an extension on the time-limit.