The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church

Biographical Dictionary
Pope Clement VIII (1592-1605)
Consistory of September 17, 1603 (V)


(35) 1. ALDOBRANDINI, O.S.Io.Hieros., Silvestro (1587-1612)

Birth. 1587, Rome. Son of Gianfrancesco Aldobrandini and Olimpia Aldobrandini. His first name is also listed as Salvestro. Brother of Cardinal Ippolito Aldobrandini, iuniore (1621). Nephew of Cardinal Pietro Aldobrandini (1593) and Cardinal Cinzio Passeri Aldobrandini (1593). Grand-nephew of Pope Clement VIII (1592-1605), on his mother's side. Other cardinals of the family were Baccio Aldobrandini (1652); and Alessandro Aldobrandini (1730).

Education. Studied Latin and Greek language and literature.

Early life. Knight of the Order of Malta, 1598. Prior in Rome of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. Captain general of the pontifical guard, governor of Borgo, catellano of Castle S. Angelo, catellano of the fortress of Ancona, September 28, 1601 to September 17, 1603, when he resigned all his posts.

Sacred orders. (No information found).

Cardinalate. Created cardinal deacon in the consistory of September 17, 1603, with dispensation for not having yet reached the canonical age and for having two uncles in the Sacred College of Cardinals; received the red hat and the deaconry of S. Cesareo in Palatio, November 5, 1603. Governor of S. Severino, June 9, 1604 until 1607. Participated in the first conclave of 1605, which elected Pope Leo XI. Participated in the second conclave of 1605, which elected Pope Paul V.

Death. January 28, 1612, Rome. Buried in the chapel of his family in the church of S. Maria sopra Minerva, Rome.

Bibliography. Cardella, Lorenzo. Memorie storiche de' cardinali della Santa Romana Chiesa. Rome : Stamperia Pagliarini, 1793, VI, pp. 85-86; Del Re, Niccolò. "Il governatore di Borgo". Studi Romani : rivista bimestrale dell'Istituto di Studi Romani, II (1963), 27; Gauchat, O.M.Conv., Patritium. Hierarchia Catholica Medii et Recentioris Aevi, Münich : Sumptibus et Typis Librariae Regensbergianae, 1935; reprint, Padua : Il Messagero di S. Antonio, 1960, IV, 6 and 51; 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. 164, 379 and 450.

Webgraphy. Biography, in French, Wikipédia; his engraving, arms and portrait, Araldica Vaticana; his tomb, Requiem Datenbank; Capella Aldobrandini, Roma Interactive.

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