Radoald 1 was bishop of Portus in 855, when he gave active support to the rival candidate for the bishopric of Rome, the excommunicated priest Anastasios 25, over the successful candidate, Benedict III (Benediktos 7): Lib. Pont. 106. 9 ("Radualdus Portuensis episcopus") (and see Agatho 9). Because of this he was denied the role at the consecration of Benediktos 7 usually reserved for bishops of Portus at papal consecrations: Lib. Pont. 106. 20 ("Portuensis vero episcopus prohibitus ab ecclesia, orationem quam debuerat super eum nullatenus fudit, eo quod anathemato se iunxerat hac periurii voragine ceciderat atque manebat"). Still bishop of Portus in 861: Lib. Pont. 107. 39 ("Radualdum, sicut predictum est, Portuensem").

In 861 Radoald 1 was sent to Constantinople with Zacharias 19 (bishop of Anagnia) by pope Nikolaos 28 as papal representatives, to attend the council which was called there to consider the restoration of the veneration of images and also the dispute between Ignatios 1 and Photios 1: Lib. Pont. 107. 19-20. 38-39 (they were instructed solely to ascertain the facts, why Ignatios 1 was deposed and how Photios 1 replaced him, and not to communicate with Photios 1 until the pope knew the truth), Nicetas, Vita Ignatii 516B (δύο τοποτηρητὰς Ζαχαρίαν και Ῥοδόαλδον ἐπισκόπους ἀποστέλλει). They ignored their instructions, entered into communion with Photios 1 and accepted a bribe to support his consecration and at the council supported the deposition of Ignatios 1: Lib. Pont. 107. 40, cf. 20 (mentioning the bribe), Nicetas, Vita Ignatii 525C (they are said to have accepted bribes from Photios to support him), Theognostus, Libellus ad Nicolaum I 860A-B (they are said to have dined with Photios 1 and to have received gifts from him at Rhaidestos). They were present at the hearing in the Church of the Holy Apostles with the emperors and high dignitaries of church and state, when they were willing for Ignatios 1 to attend dressed as patriarch, though the emperor insisted that he come as a monk: Nicetas, Vita Ignatii 517B-C. In a piece of supposed dialogue with Ignatios 1, they described themselves as representatives of the pope, sent to judge Ignatios 1, and had brought no letter from Nikolaos 28 for Ignatios 1 because he had been deposed from his see; they were acting in accordance with the emperor Michael 11's wishes: Theognostus, Libellus ad Nicolaum I 857C-D. Later they joined in the chorus of cries describing Ignatios 1 as unworthy: Nicetas, Vita Ignatii 520C.

When Radoald 1 and Zacharias 19 returned to Rome, they were questioned by Nikolaos 28, who discovered the truth; to consider their case, the pope Nikolaos 28 convened a council at Rome which deposed and excommunicated Zacharias 19 (who was present in person; apparently Radoald 1 was absent) but suspended judgement on Radoald 1; subsequently, however, while in Gaul Radoald 1 was condemned by the pope and a council for violating the pope's instructions, ignoring his excommunication order and acting in breach of canon law: Lib. Pont. 107. 42, cf. Nicetas, Vita Ignatii 525C (after questioning them, he deposed and excommunicated them - διηνεκεῖ καθαιρέσει καὶ ἀναθεματισμῷ καθυποβάλλει).

One of the envoys of pope Nicolas I (Nikolaos 28) in 860/861 who delivered to Constantinople the pope's reply to Photios 1's letter announcing his appointment, they are mentioned but not named in Photios 1's reply to Nikolaos 28 (οἱ τῆς ὑμῶν ὁσιότητος τοποτηρηταί): Photius, Ep. 290 (III 124ff. Laourdas-Westerink). They are also alluded to as papal representatives (τοποτηρηταί) sent to Constantinople ostensibly on other business: Theoph. Cont. IV 32 (p. 195, 15-20).

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