the increase in students, and the fact that the episcopal palace had no courtyard that could be used by the seminarians for recreation, meant that a new building was required, which was opened in 1723. in 1726 there were fifty-six seminarians. the seminary was closed by the french occupying authorities in july 1798. on 8 july 1805, however, the new king of italy, the emperor bonaparte, issued an edict, allowing bishops to reopen their seminaries. that action was delayed in reggio, however, due to a dispute between bishop d'este and the municipal authorities, who had taken ownership of the seminary building, the palazzo busetti, which had been turned into a public grammar school. the seminary finally reopened in december 1808, though in the episcopal palace again, and on 8 march 1809 had twenty-nine seminarians. in october 1831, after negotiations involving the pope and the duke of modena, the seminary moved to the palazzo busetti.