(5) 1. CAETANI, Luigi (1595-1642)

Birth. July 1595, Piedimonte (1), diocese of Caserta. Son of Filippo I Caetani, duke of Sermoneta, and Camilla Gaetani dell'Aquila d'Aragona, of the dukes of Traetto. Descendant of the family of Pope Boniface VIII. Great-grand-nephew of Cardinal Niccolò Caetani (1536). Grand-nephew of Cardinal Enrico Caetani (1585). Nephew of Cardinals Bonifazio Caetani (1606); and Antonio Caetani (1621). Another member of the family was Cardinal Antonio Caetani (1402).

Education. Studied first in Ravenna, where his uncle Bonifazio was legate, and then in Rome, where he obtained a doctorate in law.

Early life. Abbot commendatario of San Leonardo, Puglia, September 19, 1608.

Episcopate. Elected titular patriarch of Antioch, with dispensation for not having yet received the sacred orders and not having yet reached the canonical age, March 14, 1622. Consecrated, Sunday June 12, 1622, in the patriarchal Liberian basilica, Rome, by Cardinal Ludovico Ludovisi, archbishop of Bologna, assisted by Galeazzo Sanvitale, archbishop emeritus of Bari, and by Vulpiano Volpi, archbishop emeritus of Chieti. In the same ceremony was consecrated Pietro Volpi, titular bishop of Salona, coadjutor of Novara. Coadjutor of Cardinal Antonio Caetani, archbishop of Capua, November 14, 1622. Preceptor of S. Leonardo de la Mattina, diocese of Manfredonia. Succeeded to the metropolitan see of Capua, March 17, 1624.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of January 19, 1626; received the red hat and the title of S. Pudenziana, February 9, 1626. Resigned the government of the archdiocese before March 1, 1627. President of the Congregation for the Reform of the Breviary since 1631. Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals, January 12, 1637 until January 15, 1638.

Death. April 15, 1642, in his Roman palace. Buried in his family's chapel in the church of S. Pudenziana.

Bibliography. Combaluzier, Fernand. "Sacres épiscopaux à Rome de 1565 à 1662. Analyse intégrale du Ms. «Miscellanea XIII, 33» des Archives Vaticanes." Sacris Eruduri, XVIII (1967-1968), p. 195.

Link. His portrait by an anonymous artist, Palazzo Caetani, Rome; his episcopal lineage, in English; and his genealogy, I2.

This is according to Hierarchia Catholica Medii et Recentioris Aevi, IV, 86, but the same source, p. 19 indicates that he was Roman. Cardella, Memorie storiche de' cardinali della Santa Romana Chiesa, VI, 249, also indicates that he was Roman.

(6) 2. MARQUEMONT, Denis Simon de (1572-1626)

Birth. September 30, 1572, Paris, France. Son of Denis Simon, sieur de Marquemont, collector des tailles of Paris, secretary of Queen Maria de' Medici by 1583, and Marie Rouillart. He was baptized on January 10, 1572 at Saint-Eustache, Paris. His last name is Simon but he is listed in all sources as Marquemont.

Education. University of Paris, Paris; University of Angers, Angers (doctorate in utroque iure, both canon and civil law, September 1592).

Early life. Received the clerical tonsure, 1580. Taught for a short time in Paris after 1594. Went to Rome as secretary of Jacques Davy du Perron, bishop of Evreux, French ambassador before the Holy See. By order of the king of France stayed in Rome as counselor to the young duke of Luxembourg, new French ambassador.

Priesthood. Ordained, December 1603. Paris. Papal chamberlain. French auditor of the Sacred Roman Rota, 1604. Acting ambassador of France before the Holy See; he is so successful that the king ordered the permanent ambassador not to conclude any business without consulting with him. Accompanied de Silléry to Florence to negotiate the marriage of King Henry IV of France with Maria de' Medici; the negotiation was concluded successfully. Abbot commendatario of the Benedictine monastery of Saint-Germain-Buzzeles.

Episcopate. Elected archbishop of Lyon, November 5, 1612. Consecrated, Sunday November 11, 1612, in the church of S. Luigi de' Francesi, Rome, by Cardinal François de la Rochefoucauld, bishop of Senlis, assisted by Volpiano Volpi, archbishop of Chieti, and by Alessandro Borghi, former bishop of Borgo San Sepolcro. Administrator, sede vacante, for several years of the diocese of Autun. Participated in the Assembly of the Clergy of 1614 and was its president. French ambassador before the Holy See in two occasions, 1617 and 1622. Friend of St. Francis de Sales, bishop of Genève.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of January 19, 1626; received the red hat and the title of SS.Trinità al Monte Pincio, February 9, 1626. When promoted, he was already affected by un mal cruel which he suffered with great patience and virtue.

Death. September 16, 1626, Rome. Buried in his title.

Bibliography. Bergin, Joseph. The making of the French Episcopate, 1589-1661. New Haven; London : Yale University Press, 1996, ch. IV, "Biographical dictionary," p. 665; Chapeau, O.S.B. André and Fernand Combaluzier, C.M. "Le épiscopat français de Clément VIII a Paul VI." In Dictionnaire d'histoire et de géographie ecclésiastiques (Paris : Letouzey et Ané, 1912- ). Fascicule 104, p. 406; Combaluzier, Fernand. "Sacres épiscopaux à Rome de 1565 à 1662. Analyse intégrale du Ms. «Miscellanea XIII, 33» des Archives Vaticanes." Sacris Eruduri, XVIII (1967-1968), p. 172.

(7) 3. HARRACH, Ernest Adalbert von (1598-1667)

Links. His engraving, arms and biography, in German; The diaries and daily notes of the cardinal Ernst Adalbert of Harrach (1598-1667). Edition and commentary, in English; his portrait; the list of archbishops of Prague; and another portrait.

(1) La Enciclopedia Cattolica; and Kettner, Dejiny prazske arcidieceze v datech, p. 178, indicate that he was born on November 4, 1598.

(8) 4. SPADA, Bernardino (1594-1661)

Birth. April 21, 1594, Brisighella, diocese of Faenza. Son of Marchis Paolo Spada and Daria Albicini, from Forlì. This family was not related to the Spada family of Rome or Terni, of ancient nobility. Brother of Fr. Virgilio Spada, Orat. (1596-1662). Uncle of Cardinal Giambattista Spada (1654) and grand-uncle of Cardinal Fabrizio Spada (1675) and Sigismondo Spada, papal prelate, (1622-1675).

Education. In Rome obtained doctorates in literature and in law.

Priesthood. Ordained (no date found). In the pontificate of Pope Paul V (1605-1621) he was named apostolic secretary. Referendary of the Tribunals of the Apostolic Signature of Justice and of Grace, September 19, 1617 until 1621. Vicar of the patriarchal Vatican basilica. Abbreviatore di parco maggiore, September 16, 1617. Relator of the S.C. of Good Government. Relator of the S.C. of the Sacred Consulta. Named by Cardinal Scipione Borghese, archpriest of the patriarchal Liberian basilica, judge of the causes concerning that basilica. President della Grascia in the pontificate of Pope Gregory XV (1621-1623). Cleric of the Apostolic Chamber and prefect of the Annona, December 15, 1622. Prior of S. Daniele, Padua. Canon of the cathedral chapter of Padua. Canon of the cathedral chapter of Brescia.

Episcopate. Elected titular archbishop of Damietta, with dispensation for not having yet reach the canonical age of 30 years and not having received the presbiterate six months before, December 4,1623. Consecrated, Friday December 8, 1623, church of S. Luigi de' Francesi, Rome, by Cardinal Guido Bentivoglio, assisted by Guillaume du Nozet, titular archbishop of Seleucia, and by François de Pericard, bishop of Evreux. Nuncio in France, December 1623 until 1627.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of January 19, 1626; received the red hat and the title of S. Stefano al Monte Celio, August 9, 1627. Legate in Bologna, August 9, 1627 until 1631. Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals, January 15, 1638 to January 10, 1637. Prefect of the Congregation dei confini. Opted for the title of S. Pietro in Vincoli, May 22, 1642. In 1642, together with his brother, Fr. Virgilio, carried out a peace mission before the Farneses of Parma in the occasion of the War of Castro, avoiding an attack against Rome. Participated in the conclave of 1644. Opted for the order of bishops and the suburbicarian see of Albano, February 19, 1646. Opted for the suburbicarian see of Frascati, April 29, 1652. Opted for the suburbicarian see of Sabina, September 23, 1652. Opted for the suburbicarian see of Palestrina, October 11, 1655. He was a humanist and mecenas and protector of the arts and artists.

Death. November 10, 1661, before dawn, Rome. Buried in the tomb of his family in the church of S. Girolamo della Carità, Rome.

Bibliography. Karsten, Arne. Kardinal Bernardino Spada : eine Karriere im barocken Rom. Göttingen : Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2001.

Links. His portrait by Guido Reni, Galleria Spada, Rome; brief biographical data, in English; biography, in Italian; his monument, S. Maria in Vallicella, Rome, built in his memory in the chapel of S. Carlo Borromeo by his nephew Cardinal Fabrizio Spada; and closer view of the inscription; his portrait by Giovanni Maria Morandi, Galleria Spada, Rome; his prosopography, in German; and the Spada Chapel designed by Francesco Borromini, S. Maria in Vallicella, Rome.

(9) 5. ZACCHIA, Laudivio (1565-1637)

Birth. 1565, Castle of Vezzano, diocese de Luni. Of a Genoese family. Son of Gaspare Zacchia and Veronica de' Nobili, of the signori of Vezzano. His first name is also listed as Luigi. Brother of Cardinal Paolo Emilio Zacchia (1599) and grandfather of Cardinal Paolo Emilio Rondinini (1643). Also, uncle of Gasparo Cecchinelli, bishop of Montefiascone e Corneto.

Education. University of Pisa, Pisa (doctorate in law).

Early life. Married Laura Biassa de' Nobili and had a son and a daughter (1). After his wife died, he left Vezzano and went to Rome to his brother the cardinal. Worked in the Roman Curia and later, entered the ecclesiastical state. Pro-treasurer of the Apostolic Chamber and later its commissary general. Consistorial lawyer, 1600. Protonotary apostolic, January 21, 1603.

Sacred orders. (No information found).

Episcopate. Elected bishop of Montefiascone e Corneto, August 17, 1605. Consecrated, August 28, 1605, church of S. Maria in Vallicella, Rome, by Cardinal Pietro Aldobrandini, achbishop of Ravenna, assisted by Paolo Alberi, former archbishop of Ragusa, and by Metellus Bichi, bishop of Sovana. Succeeded his brother the cardinal as bishop of that see. Vice-legate in Viterbo, 1614. Vice-legate of the province of the Patrimony, December 4, 1617. Nuncio in Venice, May 12, 1621 to December 16, 1623. Pro-treasurer and pro-collector general of the Apostolic Chamber, February 3, 1624. Prefect of the Apostolic Palace (2), December 27, 1624.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of January 19, 1626; received the red hat and the title of S. Sisto, February 9, 1626. Opted for the title of S. Pietro in Vincoli, September 17, 1629. Resigned the government of the diocese before May 13, 1630 in favor of his nephew Gasparo Cecchinelli. Protector of the Republic of Genoa (in practice its representative before the Holy See), 1631-1637. Member of the cardinalitial commission in the second process of Galileo Galilei, September 23, 1632 to January 12, 1634. On June 22, 1633, when the sentence was given, he was one of the three cardinals, out of the ten that formed the commission, who did not subscribe the condemnation of Galileo. The other two were Gaspare Borgia and Francesco Barberini, seniore.

Death. August 30 (al. 31), 1637, before dawn, Rome. Exposed in the church of S. Maria sopra Minerva, Rome, and buried in the chapel of S. Domenico in that same church. His precordi were deposited in the church of S. Nicola da Tolentino, Rome. (3).

Bibliography. Biaudet, Henry. Les nonciatures apostoliques permanentes jusqu'en 1648. Helsinki ; Suomalainen tiedeakatemia, 1910, pp. 203 and 292-293; Zacchia Rondinini, Antonio. Memorie della famiglia Zacchia Rondinini. Cenni storici e biografici. Documenti. Bologna : L. Parma, 1942, pp. 24-37.

Links. His episcopal lineage, in English; and his prosopography.

(1) They were Marcello, who died when he was 18 years old and was buried in the cathedral of Montefiascone, and Felice, who was born in 1593 and at 17 married Alessandro Rondinini. They had nine children, two daughters and seven sons, among them Paolo Emilio Rondinini, future cardinal.
(2) According to Zacchia Rondinini, Memorie della famiglia Zacchia Rondinini. Cenni storici e biografici. Documenti, p. 36, note 29, he was the last prefect because his successor, Marzio Ginetti, was given the title of maggiordomo.
(3) This is according to Hierarchia Catholic Medii et Recentioris Aevi, IV, 20, and Zacchia Rondinini, Memorie della famiglia Zacchia Rondinini. Cenni storici e biografici. Documenti, p. 37. Cardella, Memorie storiche de' cardinali della Santa Romana Chiesa, VI, 256, indicates that he was buried in the church of S. Pietro in Vincoli, his title.

(10) 6. GESSI, Berlinghiero (1563-1639)

Links. His tomb, S. Maria della Vittoria, Rome; with closer look of his portrait and of his epitaph; his portrait by Guido Reni, in his sepulchral monument, S. Maria della Vittoria.

(1) This is according to Weber, Legati e governatori dello Stato Pontificio : 1550-1809; Del Re, Monsignore governatore di Roma, p. 98, indicates that he was born on October 14, 1564.

(11) 7. CORNARO, Federico Baldissera Bartolomeo (1579-1653)

Birth. November 16, 1579, Venice. He belonged to the branch of S. Paolo line. Son of Doge Giovanni Cornaro and Chiara Delfino. Brother of Doge Francesco Cornaro. Nephew of Cardinal Francesco Cornaro, iuniore (1596). Grand-nephew of Cardinals Luigi Cornaro (1551) and Federico Cornaro, seniore, O.S.Io.Hieros. (1585). Other cardinals of the family were Marco Cornaro (1500); Francesco Cornaro, seniore (1527); Andrea Cornaro (1544); and Giorgio Cornaro (1697). Cardinal Giovanni Cornaro (1778), belonged to the San Maurizio branch of the family.

Education. Initial studies in Rome under the care of his uncle the cardinal; after his death in 1598, he returned to Venice. University of Padua, Padua (law).

Early life. Returned to Rome in 1602 and became cleric of the Apostolic Chamber in the pontificate of Pope Clement VIII (1592-1605). Grand prior of Cyprus. Governor of Civitavecchia, September 24 to December 1607.

Sacred orders. (No information found).

Episcopate. Elected bishop of Bergamo, retaining the clericate of the Apostolic Chamber, February 23, 1623. Consecrated, Palm Sunday, April 7, 1623, Capella sacrarii apostolici, patriarchal Vatican basilica, Rome, by Cardinal Marcantonio Gozzadini, assisted by Agostino Morosini, titular archbishop of Damas, and by Giovanni Benini, titular archbishop of Adrianopli.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of January 19, 1626; received the red hat and the title of S. Maria in Traspontina, June 22, 1626. His promotion to the cardinalate produced a political turmoil in Venice because the republic prohibited the sons of a doge to accept papal appointments. Eventually, the senate approved the promotion but never his appointments to the sees of Vicenza and of Padua. Transferred to the see of Vicenza, September 7, 1626. Opted for the title of S. Cecilia, November 15, 1627. Opted for the title of S. Marco, April 26, 1629. Transferred to the see of Padua, April 30, 1629. Promoted to the patriarchate of Venice, June 11, 1631. Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals, replacing the late Cardinal Berlingherio Gessi, April 11, 1639; appointed proprio nomine, January 9, 1640 until January 7, 1641. Resigned the government of the patriarchate before June 13, 1644. Participated in the conclave of 1644. Opted for the title of S. Maria in Trastevere, November 19, 1646. Opted for the order of bishops and the suburbicarian see of Albano, April 29, 1652.

Death. June 5, 1653, Rome. Buried in the chapel of S. Teresa, known as the Cornaro Chapel, in the church of S. Maria della Vittoria, Rome.

Bibliography. Combaluzier, Fernand. "Sacres épiscopaux à Rome de 1565 à 1662. Analyse intégrale du Ms. «Miscellanea XIII, 33» des Archives Vaticanes." Sacris Eruduri, XVIII (1967-1968), p. 198; Weber, Christoph. Legati e governatori dello Stato Pontificio : 1550-1809. Roma : Ministero per i beni culturali e ambientali, Ufficio centrale per i beni archivistici, 1994. (Pubblicazioni degli archivi di Stato. Sussidi; 7), pp. 217 and 596

Links. His portrait and biography, in English; his bust, by Ercole Ferrata, second from the right in the scuoltoric group,Cornaro Chapel, S. Maria della Vittoria, Rome; and a closer view of the same.

(12) 8. SACCHETTI, Giulio Cesare (1586-1663)

Birth. 1586 (al. 1587), Rome (1). Son of Giovanni Battista Sacchetti and Francesca Altoviti, Florentine patricians. Uncle of Cardinal Urbano Sacchetti (1681)

Education. University of Perugia, Perugia; University of Pisa, Pisa (doctorate in law).

Early life. Domestic prelate of Pope Paul V (1605-1621). Referendary of the Tribunals of the Apostolic Signature of Justice and of Grace, 1622. Secretary of the S.C. of the Tridentine Council in the pontificate of Pope Paul Paulo V (1605-1621). Vice-legate in Bologna, May 23, 1623. until October 24, 1623.

Episcopate. Elected bishop of Gravina, with dispensation for not having received the presbyterate six months before the promotion to the episcopate, December 4, 1623. Consecrated, Sunday December 10, 1623, church of S. Giacomo degli Spagnoli, Rome, by Cardinal Agustín Spínola, bishop of Tortosa, assisted by Ottavio Accoramboni, archbishop of Urbino, and by Diego Merino, bishop of Montepeloso. Nuncio in Spain, January 27, 1624 until 1626.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of January 19, 1626. Transferred to the see of Fano, March 16 (al. 17), 1626. Received the red hat and the title of S. Susanna, December 2 , 1626. Legate in Ferrara, March 8, 1627 until May 1630. Resigned the government of the diocese before September 16, 1635. Legate in Bologna, April 20, 1637 until May 30, 1640. Prefect of the S.C. of Religious Immunity. Prefect of the S.C. of Rites. Prefect of the Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature of Justice, June 22, 1640. Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals, January 7, 1641 until January 13, 1642 (2). Participated in the conclave of 1644; Cardinal Gil Carrillo de Albornoz presented the Spanish veto against his election to the pontificate. Opted for the title of S. Maria in Trastevere, April 29, 1652. Opted for the order of bishops and the suburbicarian see of Frascati, September 23, 1652. Participated in the conclave of 1655; Spain presented a veto against his election to the pontificate. Opted for the suburbicarian see of Sabina, October 11, 1655. Legate in Ferrara, 1655 (3). Head of the special sanitary congregation to combat the plague affecting the Papal States, 1656. Prefect of the S.C. of the Tridentine Council, July 28, 1661 until his death.

Death. June 28, 1663, Rome. Buried in the church of S. Giovanni dei Fiorentini, Rome.

Bibliography. Ceccarelli, G. I Sacchetti. Rome : 1946, pp. 11-19; Combaluzier, Fernand. "Sacres épiscopaux à Rome de 1565 à 1662. Analyse intégrale du Ms. «Miscellanea XIII, 33» des Archives Vaticanes." Sacris Eruduri, XVIII (1967-1968), p. 200-201; Re, Nicola del. "I cardinali prefetti della sacra congregazione del concilio dalle origini ad oggi (1564-1964)." Apollinaris, XXXVII (1964), pp. 119-120; Sacchetti, Giulio, 1587-1663 ; Barberini, Francesco, 1597-1679 ; Polverini Fosi, Irene; Gardi, Andrea. La legazione di Ferrara del cardinale Giulio Sacchetti (1627-1631). Città del Vaticano : Archivio segreto vaticano, 2006. (Collectanea Archivi Vaticani ; 58).

Links. Brief biographical data, in English; biography, in Italian; and his engraving by by Giuseppe Testana.

(1) Some sources indicate that he was born in Florence.
(2) This is according to Hierarchia Catholica Medii et Recentioris Aevi, IV, 59. The same source, IV, 20, says that he replaced Cardinal Federico Cornaro as camerlengo on November 1, 1640 and then was appointed to a full term on January 7, 1641. Nothing is mentioned about this in the biographical data of Cardinal Cornaro in the same source.
(3) This is according to Re, "I cardinali prefetti della sacra congregazione del concilio dalle origini ad oggi (1564-1964)", p. 120; none of the other sources consulted mention this appointment.

(13) 9. SPINOLA, Giandomenico (1580-1646)

Birth. 1580, Genoa. Of a patrician family. Second son of Giovanni Maria Spinola and Pelina Lercari, daughter of Doge Giovanni Battista Lercari of Genoa. Uncle of Cardinal Giambattista Spinola (1681).

Education. (No information found).

Early life. Questore of the pontifical treasury in Genoa during the pontificate of Pope Paul V (1605-1621). Protonotary Apostolic. Went to Rome and placed himself under the direction of Cardinal Antonmaria Sauli, who helped him to be named cleric of the Apostolic Chamber in May 1604. Vice-legate in Viterbo, 1607. Referendary of the Tribunals of the Apostolic Signature of Justice and of Grace. General auditor of causes of the Apostolic Chamber, 1610. Judge of the Roman Curia, 1617. Administrator of the archdiocese of Messina, 1625-1626. Abbot commendatario of S. Maria di Taglieto.

Sacred orders. (No information found).

Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of January 19, 1626; received the red hat and the title of S. Clemente, February 9, 1626. Protector of the Republic of Genoa (in practice its representative before the Holy See), 1626-1630. Opted for the title of S. Cecilia, retaining the denomination of cardinal of S. Clemente, April 30, 1629.

Episcopate. Elected archbishop of Acerenza e Matera, November 13, 1630. Consecrated (no information found). Transferred to the see of Luni-Sarzana, April 26, 1632. Transferred to the see of Mazara, Sicily, December 1, 1636. Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals, January 13, 1642 until January 1643. Participated in the conclave of 1644.

Death. August 11, 1646, Mazara. Buried in the chapel of S. Gaetano in the cathedral of Mazara.

(14) 10. CAVALIERI, Giacomo (1565-1629)

Links. His tomb, S. Maria in Aracoeli, Rome; closer view of his portrait, and epitaph.

(15) 11. BISCIA, Lelio (1575-1638)

Links. His portrait by Andrea Sacchi, The National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa; and same portrait in color.

(16) 12. GUZMÁN DE HAROS, Enrique (1605-1626)

Birth. 1605, Madrid, Spain. Son of Diego López de Haro, 5th marquis of Carpio, and Francisca de Guzmán, sister of Gaspar de Guzmán, count-duke of Olivares, prime minister of Spain. Brother of Luis Méndez de Haro, later, successor of the count-duke. His second last name is also listed as Aros, Aro, and Haro.

Education. Studied ecclesiastical sciences and theology.

Early life. Canon of the cathedral chapter of Seville. Canon of the cathedral chapter of Toledo.

Sacred orders. (No information found).

Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of January 19, 1626; never received the red hat and the title.

Death. June 21, 1626, of an infection with postules and acute fever, Madrid. Buried in the church of Colegio Santo Tomás, Madrid.

(17) 13. LORRAINE-VAUDÉMONT, Nicolas François de (1609-1670)

Birth. December 6, 1609 (1), France. Son of Duke François de Lorraine. Nephew of Cardinal Charles de Lorraine-Vaudémont (1589).

Education. University of Pont-à-Mousson, Pont-à-Mousson, 1622-1629 (doctorate in philosophy; doctorate in theology; prepared but did not defend a thesis on the sacrament of penance printed in Holland in 1627 and dedicated to Pope Urban VIII). After his promotion to the cardinalate, received private lessons from two Jesuit priests. Returned to Nancy in June 1629.

Episcopate. Named coadjutor bishop of Toul, with dispensation for not having yet reached the canonical age, August 31, 1619. The appointment also stipulated that he would not exercise the spiritual and temporal administration until reaching the legitimate age. Never received any sacred order. Succeeded to the see on September 14, 1624 and on December 17, 1625 was named administrator of temporal matters On July 24, 1626, administrator cum participatione in spiritualibus, assisted by Charles-Christian de Gournay, titular bishop of Sitien and coadjutor of Tulle, and Nicolas Viardin, canon of the cathedral chapter of Nancy. Abbot commendatario of Sammolin; of Saint-Mansuy, Toul; and of Saint-Pierre in Vauge. Named to several embassies by Charles, duke of Lorraine, and by King Louis XIII of France.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal and reserved in pectore in the consistory of January 19, 1626; published in the consistory of August 30, 1627; never received the red hat and the deaconry. Abbot commendatario of Sainte Croix de Bouzonville, 1626. In 1634 his brother Charles, resigned his estates in his favor and he became duke of Lorraine. In a letter to the Pope dated March 4, 1634, resigned the cardinalate for having married his cousin Claude Françoise de Lorraine, second daughter of Henri duke of Lorraine and Bar, on February 17-18, 1634 (2). On March 8, 1634, the pope declared him in nullo e sacris ordinis constitutum, depriving him of the cardinalate and the administration of the diocese of Toul (3). In the consistory of March 22, 1634, the pope communicated the news to the cardinals.

Death. January 27, 1670, Nancy. Buried in the ducal chapel of the church of the Friars Minor (Cordeliers), Nancy (4).

Bibliography. Favier, M.J. "Notes sur l'education d'un jeune Cardinal de Lorraine." Memoires de la Societé d'Archéologie lorraine, 3d series, vol. XVI (1888), pp. 101-122.

Links. His genealogy, VIII; his portrait, Maison Ducale de Lorraine, France; and his effigy and arms on a coin.

(1) Cardella, Memorie storiche de' cardinali della Santa Romana Chiesa, VI, 267, indicates that he died in 1670 at 71 years of age.
(2) They had two sons, Ferdinand Philippe Joseph François Ignace Dominique Gaspard de Lorraine (1639-1659); and Charles Léopold Nicolas Sixte de Lorraine (1643-1690).
(3) Cardella, Memorie storiche de' cardinali della Santa Romana Chiesa, VI, 267, indicates that after the death of his wife, he reentered the ecclesiastical state and was promoted to the metropolitan see of Sens, but that he considers this to be una favola, a fable, because neither Sammartani, author of Gallia Christiana (1770), nor the continuators of Chacón mentioned this promotion.
(4) It is not clear if his mortal remains returned to that chapel after the vicissitudes the tomb suffered during the French Revolution.

(18) 14. VIDONI, Girolamo (1581-1632)

Birth. 1581, Cremona. Uncle of Cardinal Pietro Vidoni, seniore (1660). Relative of Cardinal Pietro Vidoni, iuniore (1816).

Education. University of Pavia, Pavia; University of Perugia, Perugia (obtained a doctorate).

Early life. Went to Rome during the pontificate of Pope Clement VIII (1592-1605). Abbreviatore di parco maggiore, 1604. Chamberlain of honor of His Holiness. Vice-legate in the Marche, 1606. Referendary of the Tribunals of the Apostolic Signature of Justice and of Grace. Cleric of the Apostolic Chamber, 1609. Governor of Civitavecchia, January 10, 1612; January 10, 1613; February 17, 1616 to 1618; January 10, 1623. President of the Annona Janaury 13, 1623. President of Romagna, November 5, 1623 to March 1625. Treasurer general of the Apostolic Chamber. Commissary general of the papal army, 1625.

Sacred orders. (No information found).

Cardinalate. Created cardinal and reserved in pectore in the consistory of January 19, 1626; published in the consistory of August 30, 1627; received the red hat and the title of Ss. Quattro Coronatti, pro illa vice deaconry, October 6, 1627.

Death. October 30, 1632, Rome. Buried in the chapel della Assunta in the church of S. Maria della Vitoria, Rome.

Links. His tomb, S. Maria della Vittoria, Rome; closer view of his bust; and epitaph.

(19) 15. GINETTI, Marzio (1586-1671)

Birth. February 7 (1), 1586, Velletri. Of a patrician family. Uncle of Cardinal Gianfrancesco Ginetti (1681).

Education. Went to Rome very young and completed his studies.

Early life. Chamberlain of honor of Pope Paul V (1605-1621). Abbreviatore di parco maggiore, February 8, 1607. Became well acquainted with Cardinal Maffeo Barberini, future pope Urban VIII (1621-1644). Referendary of the Tribunals of the Apostolic Signature of Justice and of Grace, 1609. Voter of the Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature. President of the diocese of Sabina. Vicar of Cardinal Odoardo Farnese in his deaconry of S. Maria in Via Lata and later in the diocese of Sabina. Auditor of the camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church. Secretary of the Sacred Consulta.

Sacred orders. (No information found).

Cardinalate. Created cardinal and reserved in pectore in the consistory of January 19, 1626. Prefect of the Apostolic Palace and pontifical household, February 5, 1626. Published in the consistory of August 30, 1627; received the red hat and the deaconry of S. Maria Nuova, October 6, 1627. Vicar of Rome for spiritual affairs, October 2, 1629 until his death. Opted for the deaconry of S. Angelo in Pescheria, February 6, 1634. Legate a latere in Austria, September 17, 1635. Legate in Bologna, 1635-1640?. Legate in Ferrara, November 19, 1640 until November 30, 1643. Opted for the deaconry of S. Eustachio, March 14, 1644. Participated in the conclave of 1644. Opted for the order of priests and the title of S. Maria degli Angeli, October 17, 1644. Opted for the title of S. Pietro in Vincoli, February 19, 1646. Opted for the title of S. Maria in Trastevere, September 23, 1652. Legate a latere in Cologne, 1636 to 1640, to promote the peace between the warring European princes, who eventually signed the Peace of Westphalia. Prefect of the S.C. of Bishops and Regulars. Prefect of the S.C. of Rites. Prefect of the S.C. of Religious Immunity.

Episcopate. Opted for the order of bishops and the suburbicarian see of Albano, June 9, 1653. Consecrated (no information found). Participated in the conclave of 1655. Opted for the suburbicarian see of Sabina, July 2, 1663. Opted for the suburbicarian see of Porto e Santa Rufina, October 11, 1666. Vice-dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals. Participated in the conclaves of 1667 and 1669-1670.

Death. March 1, 1671, near 4 p.m., Rome. Buried in the chapel that he had built in the church of S. Andrea della Valle, Rome.

Links. His portrait by Giovanni Battista Gauli; his prosopography, in German; his tomb, S. Andrea della Valle, Rome; and closer view of his statue.

(1) Hierarchia Catholica Medii et Recentioris Aevi, IV, 21, says that he died at 86 years, minus one month, and six days.

©1998-2008 Salvador Miranda.