Alessandro Farnese (Cardinal)
Alessandro Farnese (born September 27 or October 5 or October 7, 1520 in Valentano near Viterbo ; † February 28 or March 2 or March 4, 1589 in Rome ) was the eldest son of Duke Pier Luigi II Farnese of Parma and the Gerolama Orsini and Cardinal of the Roman Church. From 1580 until his death he was cardinal dean .
Life
On December 18, 1534, shortly after his grandfather Paul III. Pope had become, created cardinal at the age of 14 and initially appointed cardinal deacon of Sant'Angelo in Pescheria . In 1535 he moved to the titular deaconry of San Lorenzo in Damaso .
Until the end of his life he achieved a wealth of offices and dignities, including Vice Chancellor of the Holy Roman Church, Governor of Tivoli , Archpriest of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore , Archpriest of the Vatican St. Peter's Basilica , Administrator of Jaén (Castile), of Viseu (Portugal), of Würzburg and from Avignon . In 1536 he became bishop of Monreale (Sicily), 1538 bishop of Massa Marittima , 1539–1550 titular patriarch of Jerusalem , 1553 archbishop of Tours and 1580 archbishop of Cahors ; Bishop of Benevento , Bishop of Montefiascone and since 1564 first cardinal priest , then successively cardinal bishop of several suburbicarian bishoprics, last in 1580 of Ostia-Velletri and thus dean of the college of cardinals .
As early as 1538, when he was 18 years old, his grandfather brought him up to lead the politics of the Papal States. In 1546 he was the commander of the papal support troops in the Schmalkaldic War on the side of Emperor Charles V. After the death of his grandfather in 1549, he continued the Council of Trent (second session 1551–1552) in his spirit . In 1555 he was decisive for the election of the new Pope Paul IV . In 1580 he was appointed cardinal dean, making him the highest-ranking member of the college of cardinals.
He supported the Jesuit Order , for whom he had the mother church Il Gesù built by Giacomo Barozzi da Vignola , had the Palazzo Farnese completed and commissioned Vignola with the construction of the Palazzo Farnese in Caprarola (1559–1573). His foundations, together with his brother Ranuccio Farnese , also a cardinal, enabled the construction of the Santissimo Crocifisso oratory .
See also
literature
- Stefano Andretta: Farnese, Alessandro. In: Fiorella Bartoccini (ed.): Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani (DBI). Volume 45: Farinacci – Fedrigo. Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana, Rome 1995.
Web links
- Literature by and about Alessandro Farnese in the catalog of the German National Library
- Farnese, iuniore, Alessandro. In: Salvador Miranda : The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church. ( Florida International University website), accessed December 6, 2016.
- Entry on Alessandro Farnese (1520–1589) on catholic-hierarchy.org ; accessed on December 6, 2016.
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Farnese, Alessandro |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Italian Roman Catholic clergyman and politician; Cardinal Bishop and Cardinal Dean |
| DATE OF BIRTH | September 27, 1520 or October 5, 1520 or October 7, 1520 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Valentano at Viterbo |
| DATE OF DEATH | February 28, 1589 or March 2, 1589 or March 4, 1589 |
| Place of death | Rome |