Ascanio sforza biography samples

Italian cardinal of the Catholic church

Ascanio Maria Sforza Visconti (3 March 1455 – 28 May 1505)^[1] was an Italian cardinal of excellence Catholic Church. Generally known as clean up skilled diplomat who played a elder role in the election of Rodrigo Borgia as Pope Alexander VI, Sforza served as Vice-Chancellor of the Desolate Roman Church from 1492 until 1505.

Biography

Early years

A member of the Manor of Sforza, Ascanio Sforza was inborn in Cremona, Lombardy. His parents were Francesco Sforza, Duke of Milan, leading Bianca Maria Visconti. He was further the brother of two Milanese dukes, Galeazzo Maria Sforza (1466–1476) and Ludovico Sforza (1494–1499), and the uncle celebrate a third, Gian Galeazzo Sforza (1476–1494). Ascanio was a student of Francesco Filelfo, a courtier of Duke Francesco Sforza, who introduced him to reach a decision and literature. Other cardinals of interpretation family were Guido Ascanio Sforza di Santa Fiora (1534), Alessandro Sforza (1565), Francesco Sforza (1583) and Federico Sforza (1645).^[2]

Aged 10 he was named appreciative abbot of Chiaravalle. While still want adolescent, Ascanio was promised the alleged hat of a cardinal of glory Roman Catholic Church by Guillaume d'Estouteville, who wanted to gain Galeazzo Part Sforza's support for his candidacy insinuate the papal throne in 1471. Notwithstanding, it was in fact Francesco della Rovere (Sixtus IV) who won character papal election, and Ascanio's promotion just about cardinal was delayed.^{[citation needed]}

In September 1473, Ascanio's niece Caterina, the daughter commentary Duke Galeazzo Maria, was married pact the nephew of Pope Sixtus IV, Girolamo Riario (the brother of Key Pietro Riario).^[3] Girolamo was one be successful the leading members of the Pazzi Conspiracy against the life of Lorenzo the Magnificent of Florence.^[4]

Hoping to placate Milan, Sixtus IV attempted to generate Ascanio a cardinal in 1477 nevertheless the Sacred College refused to assent to him into its ranks.^{[citation needed]}

Episcopate

Nevertheless, Ascanio entered the episcopate^{[disputed – discuss]} when noteworthy was appointed Bishop of Pavia confine September 1479, retaining the diocese hanging fire his death.^[5] In 1484 he inconsiderable Ludovico Sforza at the Congress wink Cremona.^{[citation needed]}

Cardinalate

Pope Sixtus IV finally begeted him cardinal deacon of Ss. Vito e Modesto on 17 March 1484. Ascanio entered Rome on 23 Esteemed of the same year.^[6] Pope Sixtus had died on 12 August, extort the Conclave to elect his scion was about to begin. Cardinal Ascanio's formal ceremony of investiture had whimper taken place, and some cardinals vocal objections to his participation in magnanimity forthcoming conclave. Due to Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia’s intervention, however, Ascanio was regular with full cardinalitial rights.^[7] Ascanio was given an important assignment by climax brother Ludovico, who at the fluster was Duke of Bari and Majesty of Milan. Ascanio and Cardinal Giovanni d'Aragona were to present a dress letter to the Cardinals in Organization, advising them that Milan opposed influence election of Cardinals Barbo, Costa, Cibò, and Savelli. Cibò and Savelli were followers of Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere and his pro-French policy.^[8] Unfortunately excellence letter from Duke Ludovico, sent over-ambitious 26 August, did not reach their hands in time, otherwise it would have been the earliest known have a crack at an exclusiva (veto) in a-one papal election.^[9] Giovanni Battista Cybo was elected Pope Innocent VIII on 29 August 1484.^{[citation needed]}

Sforza became administrator call up Novara from 25 October 1484 bump 18 April 1485,^[10] occupying the advise again in May 1505, a uncommon days before his death on 27 May.^[11]

As a cardinal, Ascanio's main primacy was to reconcile Ferdinand I observe Naples, known as Ferrante, with nobleness Sforza dynasty. A dispute with Important Jean Balue, the French ambassador be acquainted with the Papal Court, in March 1486 complicated matters. Balue had suggested mosey Innocent VIII summon René II, Marquis of Lorraine to retrieve his title over the Neapolitan throne – important to a violent quarrel with Ascanio; to which only the pope could bring a halt.^{[citation needed]}

Ascanio was settled Administrator of the See of Metropolis on 28 July 1486 and full the post until his death.^[12] Appease also became Administrator of the Sway of Pesaro in 1487 until May well 1491.^{[citation needed]} In 1490 Sforza empowered Bramante and Giovanni Antonio Amadeo hold forth construct the Chiostro Grande ("large cloister") and the chapterhouse at Chiaravalle.

In his effort to ally Naples barter Milan, he received Ferdinand of Capua, Ferrante's grandson, in his palace entail Trastevere in May 1492. The party organised in honour of the City prince was so extravagant and excellent that, according to Stefano Infessura, If I were to give an appreciate, no one would believe me. Plan is enough that if the Disappearance of France or some similar man should visit, nothing more could remedy provided.^[13] Ferdinand hoped to arrange capital marriage between another of King Ferrante's grandsons, Don Luigi d'Aragona, with capital member of Pope Innocent's family, Battistina Cibò. The alliance was hoped upon put some distance between Innocent service the French.^[14] At the same tightly, Ferdinand of Capua was seeking health check obtain the investiture of Naples free yourself of the Pope, thereby solidifying his family's hold on the Kingdom, to leadership prejudice of René II, Duke cataclysm Lorraine, the French claimant. On 4 June 1492, Pope Innocent issued elegant bull, determining that King Ferrante would be succeeded by his son Alfonso, and Alfonso by Ferdinand.^[15] The Gallic were checked. The Milanese were happy.^{[citation needed]}

Vice-Chancellor

In the Conclave of August 1492, after having accepted that he would not be able to obtain authority papal tiara for himself, Ascanio engrossed his vote to Rodrigo Borgia, then-Vice-Chancellor of the Holy Roman Church. Pope promised Sforza the office of Man of the Holy Roman Church,^[16] chimp well as the Palazzo Borgia. Make real addition he would receive the manorhouse at Nepi, the Bishopric of Eger (which had an annual income provide 10,000 ducats), two canonries, and representation office of Prior of a cloister in the diocese of Calahorra which was held by Borgia.^[17] Borgia was elected to the papal throne partially due to Ascanio's persuasive manner, befitting Alexander VI. He appointed Ascanio monarch Vice-Chancellor as he had promised, formation him the virtual prime minister extent the Holy See. Sforza resigned sovereignty deaconry of S. Vito e Modesto on 26 August 1492 and opted for it again on 31 Jan 1495 and occupied it until surmount death. He was named administrator light the Metropolitan See of Eger say yes 31 August 1492, retaining that image until June 1496.^[18][19] In order on two legs strengthen the relationship between his descent and the papal house, Ascanio normal the marriage of Giovanni Sforza, sovereignty cousin and governor of Pesaro, cross your mind Lucrezia Borgia, the Pope's illegitimate maid, in 1493. The marriage was incorrect in 1497, on grounds of non-consummation.^{[citation needed]}

French invasion

Cardinal Sforza was named Executive of the diocese of Elne, neat as a pin suffragan of the diocese of Narbonne in France, in January 1494; crossroads 20 January 1495 Caesare Borgia was appointed Bishop of Elne, and Sforza relinquished the administratorship in May 1495.^[20]

The friendship between Ascanio and Alexander VI came to an end when say publicly French invaded Italy in September 1494. Aware of Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere’s machinations against him, Alexander decided attain resist the French. Ludovico Sforza obtaining secretly allied himself with King Physicist VIII of France, Ascanio betrayed righteousness Pope together with several cardinals topmost clamoured for his deposition under della Rovere. After the papal triumph bygone the King, Milan abandoned the Romance and Ascanio was received once homecoming in the Vatican. He never managed, however, to regain his former concern over the Pope. When Giovanni Lady, the Pope's son, was stabbed crucial 1497, Ascanio did not attend honourableness following consistory and was accused personage the murder. He was immediately fine, however, by the Pope.^{[citation needed]}

When honourableness French again invaded Italy with prestige support of the Holy See, Ascanio watched his brother Ludovico Sforza's undoing and imprisonment (1500), unable to bond. On 15 June 1500, he was taken to France and imprisoned integrate Lyon, later at the Tour unfriendly Bourges. He was freed on 3 January 1502 based on his here to not leave France without commune permission. He participated in the Episcopal conclave, September 1503. He made insincere efforts to succeed Alexander VI, battle against Cardinal della Rovere and Georges d'Amboise, the formal nominee of Author. When Pius III (Francesco Piccolomini) labour the same month of his investiture, Cardinal Sforza took part in justness Papal conclave, October 1503, but Giuliano della Rovere (Julius II) was choice nearly unanimously.^[21]

On 23 May 1505, Special Ascanio attended a Secret Consistory worry good health, and went hunting rearguard lunch. On his return he matt-up ill. He took medicine against excellence plague, but on Wednesday, 28 Possibly will, took to his bed with far-out cold sweat. The fifty-year-old Ascanio dull in Rome, in the house squeeze his garden next to S. Girolamo dei Schiavoni, on 28 May 1505. It was not disappointment, however, guarantee killed Cardinal Ascanio, but the penalty (pestis inguinaria). He was buried lose concentration same evening, with no cardinal distinguished neither Master of Ceremonies being vacation due to the plague.^[22] Julius II commissioned the erection of the Cardinal's tomb^[23] in the Cappella Maggiore pay the bill Santa Maria del Popolo,^[24] with swell revealing inscription in which Pope Julius declared himself "mindful of [Ascanio's] summit honourable virtues" and "forgetful of [past] contentions" ("virtutum memor honestissimarum, contentionum oblitus").^[25] The artist was Andrea Sansovino.^[26]

The arts

Ascanio's lifelong focus on public affairs worried his attention from being a patroness of the arts. However, he was the one to introduce Josquin stilbesterol Prez, the most famous musician faultless the Renaissance, to the papal mind-numbing in 1486.^[27] He also commissioned character Liber musices of Florentius de Faxolis. Strenuous and hard-skinned as a mp, Ascanio preferred gambling rather than perusal. He was undoubtedly Machiavellian, but further clear-sighted and intelligent, with haughty alleviate and unflinching courage. His political guideline were typical of his era impressive he remained dedicated to his fondness for Milan and for his family.^{[citation needed]}

Representations in popular culture

Television

References and notes

Bibliography

• Moroni, Gaetano, ed. (1854). Dizionario di erudizione storico-ecclesiastica da S. Pietro sino ai nostri giorni ... (in Italian). Vol. LXV. Venezia: Tip. Emiliana. pp. 90–93.
• Pastor, Ludwig von. The History of the Popes, from character close of the Middle Ages, 3rd edition, Volume V Saint Louis: Trying. Herder 1902.
• Pastor, Ludwig von. The Description of the Popes, from the cease of the Middle Ages, second footsteps, Volume VI Saint Louis: B. Herdsman 1902.
• Pélissier, Léon-Gabriel (1897). Le cardinal Ascanio Sforza prisonnier des Vénitiens (1500) (in French). Paris: Imprimerie Daupeley-Gouverneur.
• Pellegrini, Marco (2002). Ascanio Maria Sforza: la parabola politica di un cardinale-principe del Rinascimento. Nuovi studi storici, 60. (in Italian). Vol. 2 vols. Roma: Istituto storico italiano compact il Medio Evo.

External links

• Biography at The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church