The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church

Biographical Dictionary
Pope Clement XI (1700-1721)
Consistory of December 16, 1715 (XI)
Celebrated in Rome


(52) 1. CARACCIOLO, Niccolò (1658-1728)

Birth. November 8, 1658, Villa Santa Maria, diocese of Teano. Of the branch of the dukes of Melfi. Third of the fourteen children of Filippo Caracciolo, 5th prince of Villa Santa, and Zenobia del Giudice, sister of Cardinal Francesco del Giudice (1690). He was baptized on November 30, 1658. Cousin of Cardinal Niccolò del Giudice (1725). Other cardinals of the family were Marino Ascanio Caracciolo (1535); Innico Caracciolo, seniore (1666); Innico Caracciolo, iuniore (1715); Giovanni Costanzo Caracciolo (1759); Diego Innico Caracciolo (1800); and Filippo Giudice Caracciolo, Orat. (1833). His last name is also listed as Carracciolo.

Education. Studied at Seminario Romano, Rome; at the University of Naples, earning a doctorate in utroque iure, both canon and civil law, on March 15, 1684.

Early life. Referendary of the Tribunals of the Apostolic Signature of Justice and of Grace. Governor of Fabriano, September 19, 1691. President of Montalto, January 2, 1693. Governor of Ancona, June 28, 1695. Governor of Viterbo, November 23, 1697. Governor of Perugia and Umbria, November 7, 1698. Provincial governor of Marca Anconitana, May 23, 1699.

Sacred orders. (No information found).

Episcopate. Elected titular archbishop of Tessalonica, May 10, 1700. Consecrated, June 6, 1700, patriarchal Vatican basilica, Rome, by Cardinal Fabrizio Paolucci, assisted by Lorenzo Corsini, titular archbishop of Nicomedia, and by Tommaso Ruffo, titular archbishop of Nicea. Assistant at the Pontifical Throne, June 9, 1700. Nuncio in Tuscany, June 25, 1700 until March 14, 1703. Transferred to the metropolitan see of Capua, April 23, 1703. Vice-gerent of Rome, December 4, 1712 until December 16, 1715. Regent of the vicariate of Rome, April 6, 1714.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of December 16, 1715, with dispensation for having an uncle who was a living cardinal. Pro-vicar general of Rome, December 18, 1715 until his resignation, December 6, 1717. Received the red hat and the title of S. Martino ai Monti, February 5, 1716. Returned to his see of Capua. Participated in the conclave of 1721, which elected Pope Innocent XIII. Did not participate in the conclave of 1724, which elected Pope Benedict XIII.

Death. February 7, 1728, Capua. Buried in the metropolitan cathedral of Capua.

Bibliography. Cardella, Lorenzo. Memorie storiche de' cardinali della Santa Romana Chiesa. 9 vols. Rome : Stamperia Pagliarini, 1794, VIII, 163-164; Del Re, Niccolò. Il vicegerente del vicariato di Roma. Rome : Istituto di Studi Romani Editore, 1976, p. 64; Ilari, A. "I cardinali vicari. Cronologia bibliografica." Rivista diocesana di Roma, 3 (1962), p. 282; Notizie per l'anno 1736. Rome : Nella Stamperia del Chracas, presso S. Marco al Corso, 1736, p. 199, no. 1; Ritzler, Remigium, and Pirminum Sefrin. Hierarchia Catholica Medii et Recientoris Aevi. Volumen V (1667-1730). Patavii : Typis et Sumptibus Domus Editorialis "Il Messaggero di S. Antonio" apud Basilicam S. Antonii, 1952, pp. 30, 49, 142 and 377; Weber, Christoph and Becker, Michael. Genealogien zur Papstgeschichte. 6 v. Stuttgart : Anton Hiersemann, 1999-2002. (Päpste und Papsttum, Bd. 29, 1-6), V, 187.

Webgraphy. Biography, in Italian, Wikipedia; his engraving by an anonymous artist, Antiquariat Hille, Berlin; his engraving, Araldica Vaticana.

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(53) 2. PATRIZI, Giambattista (1658-1727)

Birth. December 24, 1658, Rome. Of a Sienese family. Sixth of the eight children of Patrizio Patrizi and Virginia Corsini. Nephew of Cardinal Neri Corsini (1664), on his mother's side. Cousin of Pope Clement XII. He is also listed as Ioannes Patritius; his first name as Giovanni only and as Giovanni Battista; and his last name as Patrizj and as Parrisi.

Education. Studied at the University of Siena, where he earned doctorates in philosophy on June 19, 1680; in law on June 22, 1680; and in theology on June 24, 1680.

Early life. Referendary of the Tribunals of the Apostolic Signatures of Justice and Grace, 1683. Vice-legate in Urbino, February 1685. Governor of Fano, August 1686. Cleric of the Apostolic Chamber, September 1687. President della Zecca in the pontificate of Pope Alexander VIII. Relator of the S.C. of Good Government in the pontificate of Pope Innocent XI. Commissary of health of the Holy See, January 8, 1691. President of the Grascia from 1692 until 1699. Voter of the Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature of Grace, 1697. Governor of Perugia, June 5, 1699 to January 19, 1701. Received the minor orders, January 15, 1702; subdiaconate, January 22, 1702; diaconate, January 29, 1702.

Priesthood. Ordained, February 2, 1702.

Episcopate. Elected titular archbishop of Seleucia in Isauria, February 6, 1702. Named nuncio in Naples, February 17, 1702. Consecrated, February 18, 1702, in the church of Santa Caterina da Siena, Rome, by Cardinal Fabrizio Spada. Assistant at the Pontifical Throne, March 5, 1702. Administrator of the archdiocese of Naples, December 13, 1702. Treasurer general of the Apostolic Chamber, April 2, 1708.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of December 16, 1715; received the red hat and the title of Ss. Quattro Coronati, February 5, 1716. Granted dispensation to be created a cardinal while having a cousin who also was a cardinal, December 16, 1715. Legate in Ferrara, January 10, 1718; legation prorogated for a triennium, May 28, 1721; and for another triennium, June 12, 1724. Participated in the conclave of 1721, which elected Pope Innocent XIII. Participated in the conclave of 1724, which elected Pope Benedict XIII.

Death. July 31, 1727, Ferrara. Exposed in the cathedral of Ferrara; and buried in that cathedral before the altar of S. Maurelio, with an inscription. His heart was deposited in the chapel of his family in the patriarchal Liberian basilica, Rome.

Bibliography. Cardella, Lorenzo. Memorie storiche de' cardinali della Santa Romana Chiesa. 9 vols. Rome : Stamperia Pagliarini, 1794, VIII, 164-165; Marrshall, David R. "A cardinal and his family : the case of Cardinal Patrizi" in The possessions of a Cardinal : politics, piety, and art, 1450-1700. Edited by Mary Hollingsworth & Carol M. Richardson. University Park, Pa. : Pennsylvania State University Press, 2010, p. 328-351; Ritzler, Remigium, and Pirminum Sefrin. Hierarchia Catholica Medii et Recientoris Aevi. Volumen V (1667-1730). Patavii : Typis et Sumptibus Domus Editorialis "Il Messaggero di S. Antonio" apud Basilicam S. Antonii, 1952, pp. 30, 45 and 352; Weber, Christoph and Becker, Michael. Genealogien zur Papstgeschichte. 6 v. Stuttgart : Anton Hiersemann, 1999-2002. (Päpste und Papsttum, Bd. 29, 1-6), II, 736; 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. 237, 254, 333, 418 and 830.

Webgraphy. His engraving and biography, in French, Wikipedia; his engraving and biography, in Italian, Wikiwand; his engraving by Pietro Nelli and Girolamo Rossi, Antiquariat Hille, Berlin; his portrait, Museo e Biblioteca "F. Renzi", Borghi (FC), Istituto per i beni artistici culturali e naturali della Regione Emilia-Romagna, Bologna; his portrait, attributed to Giuseppe Passeri, Bildarchiv Foto Marburg; monument with his heart, in the patriarchal Liberian basilica, Rome, Requiem Datenbank.

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(54) 3. NUZZI, Ferdinando (1645-1717)

Birth. September 10, 1645, Orte. The paternal family was originally from Todi. Third of the six children of Count Giacomo Nuzzi and his wife, Marianna Persiani. Her first name is also listed as Samaritana, called Maritana by the family. His last name is also listed as Nuptio. Went to Rome in 1654.

Education. Studied at the Jesuit Collegio Romano; and at La Sapienza University, Rome, where he earned a doctorate in utroque iure, both canon and civil law.

Priesthood. Ordained (no further information found). Lawyer of the Roman Curia. Commissary general of the Apostolic Chamber, November 2, 1688. Referendary of the Tribunals of the Apostolic Signature of Justice and of Grace, November 9, 1691. Canon of the patriarchal Vatican basilica, November 1692. Voter of the Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature. Secretary of the S.C. of the Tridentine Council, March 1696. Consultor of the Supreme S.C. of the Roman and Universal Inquisition, April 1696; assessor, 1700. Cleric of the Apostolic Chamber and president of the Annona (Agriculture), January 2, 1702. Consultor of the Supreme S.C. of the Roman and Universal Inquisition. Pro-treasurer general of the Apostolic Chamber in the absence of the treasurer, briefly in 1706. Secretary of the S.C. of Bishops and Regulars, May 1706. Secretary of the Congregation of Waters.

Episcopate. Elected titular archbishop of Nicea, June 7, 1706. Consecrated, June 13, 1706, church of S. Carlo ai Catinari, Rome, by Cardinal Fabrizio Paolucci, secretary of State, assisted by (no further information found). Assistant at the Pontifical Throne, June 24, 1706. Corrector of the Apostolic Penitentiary, October 1712.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of December 16, 1715; received the red hat and the title of S. Pudenziana, February 5, 1716. Transferred to the see of Orvieto, with personal title of archbishop, March 30, 1716. He built Palazzo Nuzzi in Orte. He wrote the opuscle Discorso intorno alla coltivazione della Campagna di Roma.

Death. December 1, 1717, Orvieto (1). Exposed and buried in the cathedral of Orvieto. His nephew Innocenzo erected a monument to his memory in the Chapel of S. Brizio in the cathedral of Orvieto, which was later removed.

Bibliography. Cardella, Lorenzo. Memorie storiche de' cardinali della Santa Romana Chiesa. 9 vols. Rome : Stamperia Pagliarini, 1794, VIII, 165-167; Notizie per l'anno 1721. Rome : Nella Stamperia di Gio: Francesco Chracas, presso S. Marco al Corso, 1721, p. 142, no. 12; Ritzler, Remigium, and Pirminum Sefrin. Hierarchia Catholica Medii et Recientoris Aevi. Volumen V (1667-1730). Patavii : Typis et Sumptibus Domus Editorialis "Il Messaggero di S. Antonio" apud Basilicam S. Antonii, 1952, pp. 30, 51 and 287.

Webgraphy. Biography by Stefano Tabacchi, in Italian, Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani - Volume 79 (2013), Treccani; images and biography, in Italian, digilander.libero.it; his engraving and portrait Araldica Vaticana; his marble bust, from his funeral monument, cathedral of Orvieto, Beni ecclesiastici in web (BeWeB); the monument was dismantled.

(1) This is acording to Ritzler, Hierarchia Catholica Medii et Recientoris Aevi, V, 30 and 51; and his first biography in Italian, linked above. Notizie per l'anno 1721, p. 142, no. 12, says that he died on December 2, 1717. His second biography in Italian, linked above, says that he died on November 30, 1717.

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(55) 4. SPINOLA, Niccolò (1659-1735)

Birth. February 20, 1659, Madrid, Spain (1). Of a patrician Genoese family. Fourth of the eleven children of Senator Giovanni Domenico Spinola and Angela Schiattini. The other siblings were Teresa, Giovanni Agostino, Pellina, Giovanni Luca (senator) and six more children who died issueless. He was baptized on the same day of his birth. He is also listed as Nicolaus Spinula; and his first name as Niccolò Gaetano. Grand-nephew of Cardinal Giandomenico Spinola (1626). Nephew of Cardinal Giambattista Spinola, seniore (1681). Other cardinals of the various branches of the Spinola family were Agostino Spinola (1527); Filippo Spinola (1583); Orazio Spinola (1606); Agustín Spínola (1621); Giulio Spinola (1666); Giambattista Spinola, iuniore (1695); Giorgio Spinola (1719); Giovanni Battista Spinola (1733); Girolamo Spinola (1759); and Ugo Pietro Spinola (1831).

Education. Studied at La Sapienza University, Rome, where he obtained a doctorate in utroque iure, both canon and civil law on February 20, 1687.

Early life. Relator of the Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature and of the S.C. of Good Government. Named apostolic visitor to the cities of Todi and Spoleto in 1693. Vicar of the basilica of S. Maria in Trastevere. President of the Apostolic Chamber, September 20, 1695. Cleric of the Apostolic chamber, March 2, 1696. President of the Grascia.

Priesthood. Ordained, October 3, 1706.

Episcopate. Elected titular archbishop of Tebe, October 4, 1706. Consecrated, October 10, 1706, church of Santa Caterina dei Funari, Rome, by Cardinal Lorenzo Casoni, assisted by Antonio Francesco Sanvitale, titular archbishop of Efeso, and by Giorgio Spinola, bishop of Albenga. Nuncio in Tuscany, October 30, 1706. Assistant at the Pontifical Throne, November 1, 1706. Nuncio in Poland, September 6, 1707. Auditor general of the Apostolic Chamber, July 1, 1712.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of December 16, 1715; received the red hat and the title of S. Sisto, June 8, 1716. Participated in the conclave of 1721, which elected Pope Innocent XIII. Prefect of the S.C. of the Borders of the Ecclesiastical States (dei Confini) from 1723 until his death. Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals, January 17, 1724; confirmed for another year, January 29, 1725 until February 20, 1726. Participated in the conclave of 1724, which elected Pope Benedict XIII. Opted for the title of Ss. Nereo ed Achilleo, January 29, 1725. Participated in the conclave of 1730, which elected Pope Clement XII.

Death. April 12, 1735, near 8 p.m., Rome. Exposed in the church of S. Andrea della Valle, Rome, where the funeral took place on April 14, 1735; privately transferred to the church of the Pontifical Urbanian Athenaeum of Propaganda Fide, Rome, and buried near the door, under a tombstone with a simple inscription with his name, and his cardinalitial title. A splendid marble tablet was placed by the cardinals of the S.C. of Propaganda Fide in the cloister of that athenaeum, to which the cardinal left in his will near 100,000 scudi.

Bibliography. Cardella, Lorenzo. Memorie storiche de' cardinali della Santa Romana Chiesa. 9 vols. Rome : Stamperia Pagliarini, 1794, VIII, 167-168; 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. 20; Karttunen, Liisi. Les nonciatures apostoliques permanentes de 1650 à 1800. Genève : E. Chaulmontet, 1912, p. 262; Notizie per l'anno 1736. Rome : Nella Stamperia del Chracas, presso S. Marco al Corso, 1736, p. 203-204, no. 18; Ritzler, Remigium, and Pirminum Sefrin. Hierarchia Catholica Medii et Recientoris Aevi. Volumen V (1667-1730). Patavii : Typis et Sumptibus Domus Editorialis "Il Messaggero di S. Antonio" apud Basilicam S. Antonii, 1952, pp. 30, 49, 51, 59 and 374; Weber, Christoph and Becker, Michael. Genealogien zur Papstgeschichte. 6 v. Stuttgart : Anton Hiersemann, 1999-2002. (Päpste und Papsttum, Bd. 29, 1-6), II, 917.

Webgraphy. Biography, in Italian, Wikipedia; engraving and biography, in Italian, Fondazione Spinola Banna per l’Arte; his engraving and arms, Araldica Vaticana.

(1) This is according to Hierarchia Catholica Medii et Recentioris Aevi, V, 374; and Guitarte, Episcopologio Español (1700-1867), p. 20. Cardella, Memorie storiche de' cardinali della Santa Romana Chiesa, VIII, 167, indicates that he was born in Genoa.

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