Decio Azzolini the Younger

Decio Cardinal Azzolino, around 1670, portrait of Jacob Ferdinand Voet ( Gemäldegalerie Berlin )

Cardinal coat of arms, modern tracing

Decio Azzolini the Younger (also Decio Azzolino Jun. ) (Born April 11, 1623 in Fermo , † June 8, 1689 in Rome ) was Cardinal of the Roman Church and confidante of the former Swedish Queen Christina .

Life

Decio Azzolini was the son of Pompeo Azolini and Giulia Ruffo and came from an old noble family. His great-uncle was Cardinal Decio Azzolini the Elder . After attending the seminary in Ripatransone , he studied philosophy , theology and jurisprudence in his native Fermo . He also dealt with rhetoric , Roman and Greek literature , poetry and ancient works of art. Since his father and uncle already held offices in the Vatican State Secretariat, he too made rapid progress in the service of the Roman Church. He was ordained priest around the mid-1640s, which went hand in hand with his appointment as secretary. He later became papal chamberlain and was pro- state secretary from September to December 1651 . On June 17, 1653 he became secretary of the Holy College of Cardinals .

Pope Innocent X raised him in the consistory of March 2, 1654 to cardinal deacon . He received the cardinal's hat and the title deaconry Sant'Adriano al Foro on March 23 of the same year. He participated in the 1655 conclave , which Pope Alexander VII elected. He was also among the cardinals who met for the conclave in 1667 and Clement IX. elected as Pope. Because of his diplomatic skills and outstanding artistic understanding, he was commissioned to receive the former Swedish Queen Christina on her arrival at the Pope's seat. Pope Alexander VII provided the educated and aesthetic cardinal to Christina of Sweden, who was exiled in Rome, as an advisor, especially in financial matters, who, however, could not prevent Christina from getting into debt.

Cardinal Decio Azzolini the Elder J. (bust of Pietro Balestra )

Cardinal Azzolini was in 1669 of 25 June 1667 to December 9, Cardinal Secretary of State . On March 12, 1668 he moved to the titular deaconry Sant'Eustachio . In the conclave 1669-1670 with the election of Pope Clement X. he again took part, as well as in the conclave 1676, which was in the papal election of Innocent XI. flowed. On December 22, 1681 he was elevated to cardinal priesthood and he was assigned the titular church of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme . On February 15, 1683 he moved to the titular church of Santa Maria in Trastevere and on November 13, 1684 to the titular church of Santa Prassede . Decio Azzolini led the cardinals' association Squadrone Volante , which was independent of the monarchs and was able to enforce its candidates at the conclaves of 1655 and 1667.

It is not considered certain, but it is often stated, that he and Christina were romantically involved. You put him as her sole heir, but he died just weeks after her death after her funeral in St. Peter's Basilica was organized on 8 June 1689 Rome at dropsy . He was buried in the church of Santa Maria in Vallicella in Rome.

literature

• Gaspare De Caro:  Azzolini (Azzolino), Decio. In: Alberto M. Ghisalberti (Ed.): Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani (DBI). Volume 4:  Arconati-Bacaredda. Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana, Rome 1962.

Web links

• Works by and about Decio Azzolini the Younger  in the German Digital Library
• Azzolini, iuniore, Decio. In: Salvador Miranda : The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church. ( Florida International University website), accessed January 25, 2017.
• Entry on Decio Azzolini (Jr.) on catholic-hierarchy.org ; Retrieved January 25, 2017.

predecessor	Office	successor
Giulio Rospigliosi	Cardinal Secretary of State 1667–1669	Federico Borromeo the Younger