The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church

Biographical Dictionary
Pope Boniface VIII (1294-1303)
Consistory celebrated between January 23 and May 13, 1295 (I)


(1) 1. CAETANI, iuniore, Benedetto (toward mid-13th century-1297)

Birth. Toward mid-13th century, Anagni. Son of Giovanni Caetani. Relative of Pope Boniface VIII (son of a cousin of the pontiff). Other cardinals of the family were Alibrando Caetani (1216); Giacomo Tomassi-Caetani, O.F.M. (1295); and Franceco Caetani (1295). His last name is also listed as Gaetani.

Education. "... uomo prudente, letterato e magnanimo, e zelante difensore de' diritti della Chiesa... " (1).

Early life. Canon of the cathedral chapter of Anagni on August 12, 1286. Canon of the cathedral chapter of Bayeux. Prebendary subexpectatione in Châlons-sur-Marne. Canon of the cathedral chapter of Arras. He later received the archdeaconry of Pincerais in the diocese of Chartres, over whose revenues he later had a dispute with Corrado da Milano.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal deacon of Ss. Cosma e Damiano in the consistory celebrated between January 23 and May 13, 1295 (2). Subscribed the papal bulls of June 21, 1295 and May 7, 1297.

Death. December 13, 1297 (3), Rome. Buried in the chapel of S. Boniface IV in the Vatican basilica; in 1606, his remains were transferred to the grotto of that basilica and placed next to those of his uncle the pope.

Bibliography. Cardella, Lorenzo. Memorie storiche de' cardinali della Santa Romana Chiesa. Rome : Stamperia Pagliarini, 1793, II, 46; Chacón, Alfonso. Vitæ, et res gestæ Pontificvm Romanorum et S. R. E. Cardinalivm ab initio nascentis Ecclesiæ vsque ad Vrbanvm VIII. Pont. Max. 2 volumes. Romae : Typis Vaticanis, 1677, II, col. 292; "Essai de liste générale des cardinaux. Les cardinaux du XIIIè siècle". Annuaire Pontifical Catholique 1929. Paris : Maison de la Bonne Presse, 1929, p. 135; Eubel, Conradus and Gulik, Guglielmus van. Hierarchia Catholica Medii Aevi. Volumen I (1198-1431). Münich : Sumptibus et Typis Librariae Regensbergianae, 1913; reprint, Padua : Il Messagero di S. Antonio, 1960, pp., 12 and 49.

Webgraphy. Biography by Daniel Waley, in Italian, Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani - Volume 16 (1973), Treccani; his genealogy, A1 B1 D3 F1, Libro d'Oro della Nobilità Mediterranea; his engraving and arms, Araldica Vaticana.

(1) Cardella, Memorie storiche de' cardinali della Santa Romana Chiesa, IV, 46: "prudent, scholarly and magnanimous man, zealous defender of the right of the church".
(2) Both, Cardella, Memorie storiche de' cardinali della Santa Romana Chiesa, IV, 46; and Chacón, Vitæ, et res gestæ Pontificvm Romanorum et S. R. E. Cardinalivm, II, col.292, list him among the cardinals created by Pope Celestine V; and indicate that he participated in the second conclave of 1294.
(3) This is according to Essai de liste générale des cardinaux. Les cardinaux du XIIIè siècle". Annuaire Pontifical Catholique 1929, p. 135; his genealogy linked above; and Eubel, Hierarchia Catholica Medii Aevi, I, 12 and 49, say that he died on December 14, 1296.

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