Adriano Castellesi
Encyclopedia
Adriano Castellesi, also known as Cardinal Adrian, Corneto, Adrian of Castello or Adriano de Castello (c. 1460 – c. 1521) was an Italian
cardinal and writer.
He was sent by Innocent VIII to reconcile James III of Scotland
with his subjects. While in England, in 1503 he was appointed by Henry VII
to the see of Hereford, and in the following year to the more lucrative diocese of Bath and Wells
, but he never resided in either. Returning to Rome, he became secretary to Alexander VI
and was made by him cardinal (31 May 1503). A man of doubtful reputation, Alexander's confidant and favourite, he paid the pope a large sum for his elevation. Castellesi served as the de facto if not appointed cardinal protector of England
.
He bought a vigna in Borgo
near the Vatican
, and thereon erected a sumptuous palace after designs by Bramante
(today it is known as Palazzo Castellesi Giraud Torlonia
; and it was here, in the summer of 1503, that he entertained the pope and Cesare Borgia
at a banquet that went on till nightfall despite the unhealthy season of the year, when ague
in its most malignant form was rife. Of the three, Cardinal Adrian was the first to fall ill, the pope succumbing a week after. The story of the poisoning of the pope is to be relegated to the realm of fiction.
Soon after the election of Pope Leo X
the cardinal was implicated in the conspiracy of Cardinal Petrucci against the pope, and confessed his guilt; but, pardon being offered only on condition of the payment of 25,000 ducat
s, he fled from Rome and was subsequently deposed from the cardinalate. As early as 1504 he had presented his palace
to Henry VII as a residence for the English ambassador to the Holy See
; and on his flight Henry VIII
, who had quarrelled with him, gave it to Cardinal Campeggio.
Adrian first fled to Venice
. Of his subsequent history nothing is known for certain. It is said that he was murdered by a servant when on his way to the conclave
that elected Pope Adrian VI
.
As a writer, he was one of the first to restore the Latin tongue to its pristine purity. Among his works are De Vera Philosophia ex quatuor doctoribus ecclesiae (Bologna, 1507), De Sermone Latino (Basel, 1513), and a poem, De Venatione (Venice, 1534).
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
cardinal and writer.
Biography
Castellesi was born at Corneto.He was sent by Innocent VIII to reconcile James III of Scotland
James III of Scotland
James III was King of Scots from 1460 to 1488. James was an unpopular and ineffective monarch owing to an unwillingness to administer justice fairly, a policy of pursuing alliance with the Kingdom of England, and a disastrous relationship with nearly all his extended family.His reputation as the...
with his subjects. While in England, in 1503 he was appointed by Henry VII
Henry VII of England
Henry VII was King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizing the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death on 21 April 1509, as the first monarch of the House of Tudor....
to the see of Hereford, and in the following year to the more lucrative diocese of Bath and Wells
Bishop of Bath and Wells
The Bishop of Bath and Wells heads the Church of England Diocese of Bath and Wells in the Province of Canterbury in England.The present diocese covers the vast majority of the county of Somerset and a small area of Dorset. The Episcopal seat is located in the Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew in...
, but he never resided in either. Returning to Rome, he became secretary to Alexander VI
Pope Alexander VI
Pope Alexander VI , born Roderic Llançol i Borja was Pope from 1492 until his death on 18 August 1503. He is one of the most controversial of the Renaissance popes, and his Italianized surname—Borgia—became a byword for the debased standards of the Papacy of that era, most notoriously the Banquet...
and was made by him cardinal (31 May 1503). A man of doubtful reputation, Alexander's confidant and favourite, he paid the pope a large sum for his elevation. Castellesi served as the de facto if not appointed cardinal protector of England
Cardinal protector of England
The Cardinal protector of England was an appointed crown-cardinal of England from 1492 until 1539. A cardinal protector is the representative of a Roman Catholic nation or organization within the College of Cardinals, appointed by the pope...
.
He bought a vigna in Borgo
Borgo (rione of Rome)
Borgo , is the 14th historic district of Rome, Italy. It lies on the west bank of the Tiber, and has a trapezoidal shape. Its coat of arms shows a lion , lying in front of three mounts and a star...
near the Vatican
Vatican City
Vatican City , or Vatican City State, in Italian officially Stato della Città del Vaticano , which translates literally as State of the City of the Vatican, is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, Italy. It has an area of...
, and thereon erected a sumptuous palace after designs by Bramante
Donato Bramante
Donato Bramante was an Italian architect, who introduced the Early Renaissance style to Milan and the High Renaissance style to Rome, where his most famous design was St...
(today it is known as Palazzo Castellesi Giraud Torlonia
Palazzo Torlonia
Palazzo Torlonia is a 16th century Early Renaissance town house in Via della Conciliazione, Rome, central Italy...
; and it was here, in the summer of 1503, that he entertained the pope and Cesare Borgia
Cesare Borgia
Cesare Borgia , Duke of Valentinois, was an Italian condottiero, nobleman, politician, and cardinal. He was the son of Pope Alexander VI and his long-term mistress Vannozza dei Cattanei. He was the brother of Lucrezia Borgia; Giovanni Borgia , Duke of Gandia; and Gioffre Borgia , Prince of Squillace...
at a banquet that went on till nightfall despite the unhealthy season of the year, when ague
Ague
Ague may refer to:* Fever* MalariaSee also:* Kan Ague, a residential area of Patikul, Sulu, Philippines...
in its most malignant form was rife. Of the three, Cardinal Adrian was the first to fall ill, the pope succumbing a week after. The story of the poisoning of the pope is to be relegated to the realm of fiction.
Soon after the election of Pope Leo X
Pope Leo X
Pope Leo X , born Giovanni di Lorenzo de' Medici, was the Pope from 1513 to his death in 1521. He was the last non-priest to be elected Pope. He is known for granting indulgences for those who donated to reconstruct St. Peter's Basilica and his challenging of Martin Luther's 95 Theses...
the cardinal was implicated in the conspiracy of Cardinal Petrucci against the pope, and confessed his guilt; but, pardon being offered only on condition of the payment of 25,000 ducat
Ducat
The ducat is a gold coin that was used as a trade coin throughout Europe before World War I. Its weight is 3.4909 grams of .986 gold, which is 0.1107 troy ounce, actual gold weight...
s, he fled from Rome and was subsequently deposed from the cardinalate. As early as 1504 he had presented his palace
Palazzo Torlonia
Palazzo Torlonia is a 16th century Early Renaissance town house in Via della Conciliazione, Rome, central Italy...
to Henry VII as a residence for the English ambassador to the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
; and on his flight Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
, who had quarrelled with him, gave it to Cardinal Campeggio.
Adrian first fled to Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
. Of his subsequent history nothing is known for certain. It is said that he was murdered by a servant when on his way to the conclave
Papal conclave
A papal conclave is a meeting of the College of Cardinals convened to elect a Bishop of Rome, who then becomes the Pope during a period of vacancy in the papal office. The Pope is considered by Roman Catholics to be the apostolic successor of Saint Peter and earthly head of the Roman Catholic Church...
that elected Pope Adrian VI
Pope Adrian VI
Pope Adrian VI , born Adriaan Florenszoon Boeyens, served as Pope from 9 January 1522 until his death some 18 months later...
.
As a writer, he was one of the first to restore the Latin tongue to its pristine purity. Among his works are De Vera Philosophia ex quatuor doctoribus ecclesiae (Bologna, 1507), De Sermone Latino (Basel, 1513), and a poem, De Venatione (Venice, 1534).
Works
- De Sermone Latino & modis latine loquendi. - Basileae : Johann Froben, 1518. Digital
Further reading
- Wilkie, William E. 1974. The cardinal protectors of England. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-20332-5.