Birth. July 9 (1), 1781, Torrejón de Velasco, archdiocese of Toledo, Spain. Son of Pedro Alameda Martín, a well-off farmer, from Humanes, and María Brea Calderón, from Torrejón.

Education. Entered the Order of Friars Minor Observants when he was fifteen years old; professed, 1805; studied at Colegio "San Isidro", Madrid (philosophy); at the Franciscan convent of Pastrana and Guadalajara (theology); and at the University of Zaragoza, where he earned a doctorate in theology in 1818.

Priesthood. Ordained (no further information found). Went to the Franciscan mission of Moqugua, Uruguay, 1811; editor of La Gaceta; for political reasons, went to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1814; returned to Spain to arrange the matrimony of two Portuguese princesses to the sons of King Carlos IV of Spain; returned in 1815 having accomplished his mission successfully; royal preacher; honorary commissary of the Royal Council of the Supreme Inquisition. Minister general of his order for six years, November 28, 1817 to 1823; named Grande de España, March 9, 1818; vicar general of the Cisalpine family of his order for another six years. After the fall of the second constitutional government in 1832, he was named counselor of State.

Episcopate. Elected archbishop of Santiago de Cuba, September 30, 1831. Consecrated, March 12, 1832, cathedral of Sevilla, by Cardinal Francisco Javier de Cienfuegos y Jovellanos, archbishop of Sevilla, assisted by Domingo de Silos Moreno, O.S.B., bishop of Cádiz, and by Vicente Román Linares, O.Prem., titular bishop of Dausara, auxiliary of Sevilla. Assistant at the Pontifical Throne, December 9, 1842. The third constitutional government ordered his detention but he escaped to Jamaica in December 1837. Went to England, then to France to join Don Carlos, pretender to the Spanish throne; and later went to Italy. After the civil war ended in 1839, he reconciled with Queen Isabel II. Transferred to the metropolitan see of Burgos, April 20, 1849. Transferred to the metropolitan and primatial see of Toledo, August 3, 1857.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of March 15, 1858; never went to Rome and died before receiving the red hat and the title.

Death. June 30, 1872, Toledo (2). Exposed in the metropolitan cathedral of Toledo; and buried in the chapel of Bienaventurada Virgen María del Sagrario, in that cathedral (3), between the tombs of Cardinal Enrique Reig y Casanova in the chapel itself and Cardinal Antolín Monescillo y Viso nearer the door into the nave.

Bibliography. "Cardinali defunti", La Gerarchia Cattolica e la Famiglia Pontificia per l'anno 1876. Roma : Tipografia dei Fratelli Monaldi, 1875, p. 133; Chapeau, O.S.B., André, and Charles Branson. "Franciscan bishops." Franciscan studies, XLVII (1987), 325; Guitarte Izquierdo, Vidal. Episcopologio Español (1700-1867). Españoles obispos en españa, América, Filipinas y otros países. Rome : Instituto Español de Historia Eclesiástica, 1994. (Publicaciones del Instituto Español de Historia Eclesiástica; Subsidia; 29), p. 177; Martín Tejedor, J. "Alameda y Brea, Cirilo, OFM." Diccionario de Historia Eclesiástica de España. Dirigido por Quintín Aldea Vaquero, Tomás Marín Martínez, José Vives Gatell. Madrid : Instituto Enrique Flórez, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 1972-1975. 4 vols., and supplement, 1987, I, 26-28; Ritzler, Remigium, and Pirminum Sefrin. Hierarchia Catholica Medii et Recentioris Aevi. Volumen VII (1800-1846). Patavii : Typis et Sumptibus Domus Editorialis "Il Messaggero di S. Antonio" apud Basilicam S. Antonii, 1968, p. 219; Ritzler, Remigium, and Pirminum Sefrin. Hierarchia Catholica Medii et Recentioris Aevi. Volumen VIII (1846-1903). Patavii : Typis et Sumptibus Domus Editorialis "Il Messaggero di S. Antonio" apud Basilicam S. Antonii, 1979, pp. 14, 163 and 558; Roca, C. Alberto. Vida del Cardenal Arzobispo Cirilo de Alameda y Brea, Montevideo : Biblioteca Nacional, 1974.

Birth. September 17, 1798, Subiaco. Son of Gregorio Antonucci and María Scolastica Ciaffi. The family was originally from Gubio and some of its members had occupied the post of gonfaloniere. Received the sacrament of baptism on that same day; confirmation, 1803.

Education. Studied humanities and philosophy in Subiaco; yhrn, at Collegio Romano, Rome, where he earned a doctorate in theology on September 7, 1823); and finally, at La Sapienza University, Rome, where he obtained a doctorate in utroque iuris, both civil and canon law, on July 22, 1826.

Priesthood. Ordained, September 22, 1821. Professor of civil and criminal law, Archgymnasium of Rome, July 23, 1824. Privy chamberlain of His Holiness. Secretary of Internuncio Francesco Capaccini in Holland, 1829-1831; chargé d'affaires in The Hague, 1831-1840.

Episcopate. Elected bishop of Montefeltro, December 17, 1840. Assistant at the Pontifical Throne, July 17, 1841. Consecrated, July 18, 1841, in the church of Ss. Carlo e Biagio ai Catinari, Rome, by Cardinal Luigi Lambruschini, B, assisted by Fabio Maria Asquini, titular archbishop of Tarso, secretary of the S.C. of Bishops and Regulars, and by Lodovico Altieri, titular archbishop of Efeso, nuncio in Austria. In the same ceremony were consecrated Michele Viale-Prelà, titular archbishop of Cartago, and Girolamo d'Andrea, titular archbishop of Melitene, secretary of the S.C. of the Tridentine Council. His episcopal motto was Pax vobis. Transferred to the see of Ferentino, July 22, 1842. Promoted to the titular see of Tarso, July 25, 1844. Nuncio in Sardinia, September 13, 1844. Transferred to the see of Ancona, with personal title of archbishop, September 5, 1851.

Birth. March 20, 1782, Covarrubias, diocese of Sigüenza, Spain. Son of Antonio Enrique Tarancón y Gallego (born in 1757) and Ana Morón y Morón.

Education. Studied at the University of Valladolid, where he obtained a doctorate in civil law; and at the University of Osma, where he obtained a doctorate in canon law in 1807.

Priesthood. Ordained (no information found). In Valladolid, for twenty years, professor, rector October 18, 1807), and grand chancellor of its university; doctoral canon of its cathedral chapter, 1810; lectoral canon, 1818; provisor and vicar general, 1819-1829; vicar capitular, 1819-1824, and 1830-1831. Proposed for the see of Zamora, July 8, 1834, was not elected. Deputy to the Spanish Courts, 1834. Member of the consultative junta of the Ministry of Justice, 1839. President of Caja de Ahorros and Monte de Piedad of Valladolid, 1841. Senator for the province of Valladolid, 1843. Preceptor of Princesses Isabel (future queen) and Luisa Fernanda, 1844. Senator for life, 1845.

Episcopate. Elected bishop of Córdoba, October 4, 1847. Consecrated, January 2, 1848, church of San Isidro, Madrid, by Giovanni Brunelli, titular archbishop of Tessalonica, nuncio to Spain, assisted by Juan José Bonel Orbe, archbishop of Toledo, and by Ramón Montero, archbishop of Burgos. Assistant at the Pontifical Throne, March 13, 1855. Promoted to the metropolitan see of Sevilla, August 3, 1857.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of March 15, 1858; died before receiving the red hat and the title. Member of the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences, 1861.

Death. August 25, 1862, Sevilla (1). Exposed and buried in the chapel of Saint Joseph in the metropolitan cathedral of Sevilla (2).

Bibliography. "Cardinali defunti", La Gerarchia Cattolica e la Famiglia Pontificia per l'anno 1876. Roma : Tipografia dei Fratelli Monaldi, 1875, p. 123; Gallego Jiménez, Alberto. La Familia Eclesiástica de los Tarancones: D. Eusebio Tarancón Moreno, Benefactor de Nolay, in Revista de Soria, Número 55, Segunda Epoca, Invierno 2006, pp. 65-88; Guitarte Izquierdo, Vidal. Episcopologio Español (1700-1867). Españoles obispos en España, América, Filipinas y otros países. Rome : Instituto Español de Historia Eclesiástica, 1994. (Publicaciones del Instituto Español de Historia Eclesiástica; Subsidia; 29), p. 182; Orive, A. "Tarancón y Morón, Manuel Joaquín." Diccionario de Historia Eclesiástica de España. Dirigido por Quintín Aldea Vaquero, Tomás Marín Martínez, José Vives Gatell. Madrid : Instituto Enrique Flórez, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 1972-1975. 4 vols., and supplement, 1987, IV, 2522; Ritzler, Remigium, and Pirminum Sefrin. Hierarchia Catholica Medii et Recentioris Aevi. Volumen VIII (1846-1903). Patavii : Typis et Sumptibus Domus Editorialis "Il Messaggero di S. Antonio" apud Basilicam S. Antonii, 1979, pp. 14, 225 and 308.

Birth. October 23, 1800, Orvieto. Son of Giuseppe (Bonaventura) Orfei and Colomba Duranti, both originally from Bagnoregio.

Education. Studied at the Seminary of Orivieto; at the Jesuit College of Orvieto, where he studied dogmatic and moral theology; and at the University of Perugia, where he earned a doctorate in utroque iuris, both civil and canon law, on November 15, 1832.

Priesthood. Ordained, December 20, 1823. Canon of the collegiate church of Ss. Andrea e Bartolomeo, Orvieto, 1831. Chamberlain d'onore in abito paonazzo, June 1, 1831. Prelate referendary and relator of the S.C. of Good Government, March 7, 1833. Apostolic delegate of Benevento, 1834-1837. Commissary apostolic of the Holy House of Loreto, 1838-1841. Apostolic delegate in Ancona, 1842-1843. Secretary of the cardinalitial commission of the Archhospital S. Spirito in Sassia, Rome, 1845; commendatary of the hospital, 1846-1848. Secretary of the S.C. of the Apostolic Visit. Domestic prelate of His Holiness.

Episcopate. Elected bishop of Cesena, September 11, 1848. Consecrated, September 17, 1848, church of Spirito Santo in Sassia, Rome, by Cardinal Vincenzo Macchi, assisted by Girolamo D'Andrea, titular archbishop of Melitene, secretary of the S.C. of the Council, and by Domenico Lucciardi, titular archbishop of Damasco, secretary of the S.C. of Bishops and Regulars. Assistant at the Pontifical Throne, October 3, 1848.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of March 15, 1858; received the red hat and the title of S. Balbina, March 18, 1858. Promoted to the metropolitan see of Ravenna, March 23, 1860. Participated in the First Vatican Council, 1869-1870.

Death. December 22, 1871 (1), Ravenna. Exposed in the metropolitan cathedral of Ravenna and buried in the public oratory, Villa detta Casemurate, Ravenna.

Bibliography. "Cardinali defunti", La Gerarchia Cattolica e la Famiglia Pontificia per l'anno 1876. Roma : Tipografia dei Fratelli Monaldi, 1875, pp. 132-133; "Cardinaux créés par Pie IX." Annuaire Pontifical Catholique de 1904, Paris : Maison de la Bonne Presse, 1905, p. 207; Cristofori, Francesco. Cronotasi dei cardinali di Santa Romana Chiesa. Rome : Tipografia de Propaganda Fide, 1888, p. 126; Ritzler, Remigium, and Pirminum Sefrin. Hierarchia Catholica Medii et Recentioris Aevi. Volumen VIII (1846-1903). Patavii : Typis et Sumptibus Domus Editorialis "Il Messaggero di S. Antonio" apud Basilicam S. Antonii, 1979, pp. 14, 46, 168 and 477; Weber, Christoph. Kardinäle und Prälaten in den letzten Jahrzehnten des Kirchenstaates : Elite-Rekrutierung, Karriere-Muster u. soziale Zusammensetzung d. kurialen Führungsschicht zur Zeit Pius' IX. (1846-1878). Stuttgart : Hiersemann, 1978. (Päpste und Papsttum; Bd. 13, I-II), II, 494-496, 538, 547, 564, 585, 607, 617, 620, 649, 674 and 758.

Birth. March 9, 1817, Ancona. Of a noble family (1). Son of Count Francesco Milesi Pironi Ferretti (1779-1850), a Venetian consul and podestà of Ancona, and Laura Strina (+1848), a noblewoman from Rimini.

Education. Studied in Ancona; and later, at the Pontifical Academy of Ecclesiastical Nobles, Rome; and at La Sapienza University, Rome, where he obtained a doctorate in utroque iure, both canon and civil law.

Early life. Referendary prelate and relator of the S.C. of Good Government, February 22, 1839. Second assessor of the criminal tribunal of the Apostolic Chamber, November 1839; first assessor, 1842.

Priesthood. Ordained, 1842. Governor of Ascoli, 1843; of Civitavecchia, 1844; of Macerata, 1845-1847. Pro-legate in Urbino, 1847-1851. Pro-legate in Forlì, 1852-1854. Minister of Commerce, Fine Arts and Public Works of the Papal States, 1854-1858.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of March 15, 1858; received red hat and the title of S. Maria in Aracoeli, March 18, 1858. President of the Supreme Council of Commerce and Public Works, March 15, 1858. Apostolic legate in the province of Bologna, March 18, 1858 to 1859. Abbot commendatario of Ss. Vincenzo ed Anastasio ad Aquas Salvias, Rome, September 26, 1860. President of the Council for subsidiorum procurandorum, May 1, 1867 to 1870. Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals, June 25, 1869 until March 21, 1870. Participated in the First Vatican Council, 1869-1870.

Episcopate. Opted for the order of cardinal bishops and the suburbicarian see of Sabina, March 21, 1870. Consecrated April 3, 1870, church of Santissima Trinità, Rome, by Cardinal Costantino Patrizi Naro, bishop of Porto e Santa Rufina, assisted by Pietro Villanova Castellacci, titular archbishop of Petra di Palaestina, and by Tommaso Gallucci, bishop of Recanati e Loreto.

Death. August 2, 1873, Rome. Exposed in the basilica of Ss. XII Apostoli and buried, temporarily, in the chapel of Campo Verano cemetery, Rome.

Bibliography. "Cardinali defunti", La Gerarchia Cattolica e la Famiglia Pontificia per l'anno 1876. Roma : Tipografia dei Fratelli Monaldi, 1875, p. 135; Ritzler, Remigium, and Pirminum Sefrin. Hierarchia Catholica Medii et Recentioris Aevi. Volumen VIII (1846-1903). Patavii : Typis et Sumptibus Domus Editorialis "Il Messaggero di S. Antonio" apud Basilicam S. Antonii, 1979, pp. 14-15, 45 and 50; Weber, Christoph. Kardinäle und Prälaten in den letzten Jahrzehnten des Kirchenstaates : Elite-Rekrutierung, Karriere-Muster u. soziale Zusammensetzung d. kurialen Führungsschicht zur Zeit Pius' IX. (1846-1878). Stuttgart : Hiersemann, 1978. (Päpste und Papsttum; Bd. 13, I-II), II, 487, 537, 544, 564, 618, 640 and 675.

Birth. February 13, 1803, Rovigo. From a noble family. Son of Count Carlo De Silvestri (1766-1833), podestá of Rovigo (1817-1820), and Countess Antonia Dottori Sanson, from Padova. He is also listed as Silvestri, Pietro de.

Education. Studied letters and philosophy at the Diocesan Seminary of Rovigo; and then attended the University of Padua at the University of Padua, where he earned a doctorate in utroque iure, both canon and civil law.

Priesthood. Ordained (no further information found). He lectured in Biblical studies, hermeneutics, Hebrew and exegesis at the Seminary of Rovigo while serving at the parish church of Ss. Francesco e Giustina following his graduation. Named auditor of the Sacred Roman Rota, November 28, 1835, at the request of the Austrian court; took the oath on June 20, 1836; its pro-dean, November 14, 1851; its dean, April 26, 1853-1858. Regent of the Sacred Apostolic Penitentiary, 1852-1858. Elected member of the Accademia di Religione Cattolica in 1853. Consultor of the Supreme S.C. of the Inquisition, May 2, 1853 to 1858. Consultor of the S.C. of Rites. Superior of the pious establishment of Germany in Rome. Vicar of the chapter of the patriarchal Lateran basilica. Member of the S.C. for the Reconstruction of the basilica of S. Paolo fuori le mura. Judge of the tribunal of the Fabric of Saint Peter's basilica.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal deacon in the consistory of March 15, 1858; received red hat and the deaconry of Ss. Cosma e Damiano, March 18, 1858. Named protector of the Austrian nations by Emperor Francis Joseph I on October 17, 1858; occupied the post until 1867. On September 21, 1858, he transferred the family library, consisting of some 40,000 volumes, to the Municipio of Rovigo and the Accademia dei Concordi. From October 8, 1860 until 1867, he presided the Commission of subsidies and public welfare. Opted for the order of cardinal priests and the title of S. Marco, September 27, 1861. Participated in the First Vatican Council, 1869-1870. Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals, March 21, 1870 until August 1871. He owned the mansion of Petrarch in Arqua.

Death. November 19, 1875, at 4:30 p.m., in Rome. Canon Pietro Taileti, his secretary, refused to be the executor of his testament. Exposed in his title, where the funeral Mass was celebrated on November 24 by Giovanni Felice Jacovazzi, titular bishop of Eritre, suffragan of Palestrina; and buried, temporarily, in Campo Verano cemetery, Rome. In his will, left the family picture gallery to the Seminary of Rovigo. His body was transferred by train to Rovigo and buried in the family plot in that city on January 21, 1876 (1).

Birth. February 9, 1806, Allumiere, diocese of Civitavecchia (1). Son of Isidoro Mertel, a Bavarian baker, and Maria Francesca Lunadei. The original paternal last name was Mörtl, converted into Mertel by the pronunciation (Moertel) of the same in German.

Education. Studied with the Capuchins of Tolfa; later, studied humanities at the Seminary of Montefiascone; and finally, atttended La Sapienza University, Rome, where he earned a doctorate in utroque iure, both canon and civil law, on July 16, 1828.

Early life. Lawyer in the Roman Curia, 1831. Substitute judge in the tribunal of the auditor of the Apostolic Chamber, 1833-1834. Assistant di Studio of Monsignor Marullo, voter of the Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature and lieutenant of the Apostolic Chamber. Assistant di Studio of Monsignor Quaglia, 1839-1843. Referendary prelate, August 29, 1843. Voter of the Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature of Justice, 1844. Advocate a beneficio of Allumiere. Prefect of the congregation of S. Ivo, Roman institute of lawyers and procurators, for the pro bono defense of the poor. Lieutenant and vice-president of the civil congregation of the Apostolic Chamber, 1844-1847. Auditor of the Sacred Roman Rota for the province of Romandiola, 1847. Secretary of the commission for the preparation of the fundamental statute of the Papal State, 1847-1848 (2). Counselor of the High Council. Member of the Commission of State, December 7, 1848. Consultor of the Gubernative Commission of State, 1849. Minister without portfolio, June 1850 to 1853. Minister of the Interior and of Grace and Justice, March 10, 1853 to 1858.