Markus Sitticus von Hohenems Altemps
Encyclopedia
Markus Sitticus III von Hohenems Altemps, Cardinal Altemps (19 August 1533 – 15 February 1595) was a German Catholic prelate, who was Bishop of Constance (1561–89), papal legate
and Cardinal.
, a sovereign county in the Vorarlberg
, the second son of the noble Wolf Dietrich von Ems (1507–1538), a courtier of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
, and his wife Chiara Medici, sister of Giovanni Angelo Medici (Pope Pius IV
). Markus Sitticus was the brother of Jakob Hannibal von Hohenems, a general of Charles V and of Philip II of Spain
; he was a cousin of Charles
and Federico Borromeo
and uncle of both Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau and Marcus Sittich von Hohenems, who were Prince-Bishop of Salzburg
in 1587-1612 and 1612–1619, respectively.
From 1550 Markus Sittich von Hohenems was a member of the company headed by his uncle Gian Giacomo Medici, marchese di Melegnano, one of the last of the Renaissance condottieri. In 1552 he participated in Charles V's efforts to win Metz
back from France, and in 1554/55 he was present at the siege of Siena and repulsed a Turkish attack on the Tuscan port of Piombino
.
His uncle Giovanni Angelo Medici was raised to the papacy at the end of 1559 and, having assumed the tiara 6 January 1560 as Pius IV
, proved generous in dispensing benefice
s to his Italian and German nephews: Marco Sittico was made bishop of Cassano
, 29 May 1560. With other members of the German branch of the family relocated in Italy, he adopted the surname Altemps as a calque
equivalentof Hohenems. In the Holy Roman Empire
the Hohenems
were raised to the rank of Reichsgrafen by Emperor Ferdinand I
, 27 April 1560. Markus Sittikus was made a cardinal at the consistory of 26 February 1561.
With papal support he was named co-adjutor to the ailing Bishop of Constance, Christoph Metzler, whom he succeeded in the see. Though he lacked theological training, he served as a papal legate to the Council of Trent
, and served in diplomatic capacities Pius V, Gregory XIII and Sixtus V.
In 1568 Marco Sittico bought a property in Rome that he immediately set about rebuilding as the Palazzo Altemps, to designs by Martino Longhi
; he also built the Villa Mondragone
at Frascati
. He assembled a formidable collection of Roman antiquities and sculptures. He died at Rome in 1595.
He guided the education and early career of his nephew, Marcus Sittich von Hohenems (1574-1619); his illegitimate son Roberto was made duca di Gallese
, took the family name of Altemps, and married Cornelia Orsini.
Papal legate
A papal legate – from the Latin, authentic Roman title Legatus – is a personal representative of the pope to foreign nations, or to some part of the Catholic Church. He is empowered on matters of Catholic Faith and for the settlement of ecclesiastical matters....
and Cardinal.
Biography
He was born at HohenemsHohenems
Hohenems is a town in the westernmost Austrian state of Vorarlberg, in the Dornbirn district. It lies in the middle of the Austrian part of the Rhine valley. With a population of 15,200 it is the fifth largest municipality in Vorarlberg...
, a sovereign county in the Vorarlberg
Vorarlberg
Vorarlberg is the westernmost federal-state of Austria. Although it is the second smallest in terms of area and population , it borders three countries: Germany , Switzerland and Liechtenstein...
, the second son of the noble Wolf Dietrich von Ems (1507–1538), a courtier of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
, and his wife Chiara Medici, sister of Giovanni Angelo Medici (Pope Pius IV
Pope Pius IV
Pope Pius IV , born Giovanni Angelo Medici, was Pope from 1559 to 1565. He is notable for presiding over the culmination of the Council of Trent.-Biography:...
). Markus Sitticus was the brother of Jakob Hannibal von Hohenems, a general of Charles V and of Philip II of Spain
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
; he was a cousin of Charles
Charles Borromeo
Charles Borromeo was the cardinal archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Milan from 1564 to 1584. He was a leading figure during the Counter-Reformation and was responsible for significant reforms in the Catholic Church, including the founding of seminaries for the education of priests...
and Federico Borromeo
Federico Borromeo
Federico Borromeo was an Italian ecclesiastic, cardinal and archbishop of Milan.-Biography:Federico Borromeo was born in Milan as the second son of Giulio Cesare Borromeo, Count of Arona, and Margherita Trivulzio...
and uncle of both Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau and Marcus Sittich von Hohenems, who were Prince-Bishop of Salzburg
Archbishopric of Salzburg
The Archbishopric of Salzburg was an ecclesiastical State of the Holy Roman Empire, its territory roughly congruent with the present-day Austrian state of Salzburg....
in 1587-1612 and 1612–1619, respectively.
From 1550 Markus Sittich von Hohenems was a member of the company headed by his uncle Gian Giacomo Medici, marchese di Melegnano, one of the last of the Renaissance condottieri. In 1552 he participated in Charles V's efforts to win Metz
Metz
Metz is a city in the northeast of France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers.Metz is the capital of the Lorraine region and prefecture of the Moselle department. Located near the tripoint along the junction of France, Germany, and Luxembourg, Metz forms a central place...
back from France, and in 1554/55 he was present at the siege of Siena and repulsed a Turkish attack on the Tuscan port of Piombino
Piombino
Piombino is an Italian town and comune of circa 35,000 inhabitants in the province of Livorno . It lies on the border between the Ligurian Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea, in front of Elba Island and at the northern side of Maremma.-Overview:...
.
His uncle Giovanni Angelo Medici was raised to the papacy at the end of 1559 and, having assumed the tiara 6 January 1560 as Pius IV
Pope Pius IV
Pope Pius IV , born Giovanni Angelo Medici, was Pope from 1559 to 1565. He is notable for presiding over the culmination of the Council of Trent.-Biography:...
, proved generous in dispensing benefice
Benefice
A benefice is a reward received in exchange for services rendered and as a retainer for future services. The term is now almost obsolete.-Church of England:...
s to his Italian and German nephews: Marco Sittico was made bishop of Cassano
Roman Catholic Diocese of Cassano all'Jonio
-History:It is not known when it became an episcopal see; in 1059 mention is made of a bishop of Cassano, otherwise unknown. In 1096 we read of a bishop known as Saxo...
, 29 May 1560. With other members of the German branch of the family relocated in Italy, he adopted the surname Altemps as a calque
Calque
In linguistics, a calque or loan translation is a word or phrase borrowed from another language by literal, word-for-word or root-for-root translation.-Calque:...
equivalentof Hohenems. In the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
the Hohenems
Hohenems
Hohenems is a town in the westernmost Austrian state of Vorarlberg, in the Dornbirn district. It lies in the middle of the Austrian part of the Rhine valley. With a population of 15,200 it is the fifth largest municipality in Vorarlberg...
were raised to the rank of Reichsgrafen by Emperor Ferdinand I
Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand I was Holy Roman Emperor from 1558 and king of Bohemia and Hungary from 1526 until his death. Before his accession, he ruled the Austrian hereditary lands of the Habsburgs in the name of his elder brother, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor.The key events during his reign were the contest...
, 27 April 1560. Markus Sittikus was made a cardinal at the consistory of 26 February 1561.
With papal support he was named co-adjutor to the ailing Bishop of Constance, Christoph Metzler, whom he succeeded in the see. Though he lacked theological training, he served as a papal legate to the Council of Trent
Council of Trent
The Council of Trent was the 16th-century Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church. It is considered to be one of the Church's most important councils. It convened in Trent between December 13, 1545, and December 4, 1563 in twenty-five sessions for three periods...
, and served in diplomatic capacities Pius V, Gregory XIII and Sixtus V.
In 1568 Marco Sittico bought a property in Rome that he immediately set about rebuilding as the Palazzo Altemps, to designs by Martino Longhi
Martino Longhi
Martino Longhi is the name of two related architects in Rome:*Martino Longhi the Elder *Martino Longhi the Younger , son of Onorio Longhi and grandson of Martino the elder...
; he also built the Villa Mondragone
Villa Mondragone
Villa Mondragone is a patrician villa originally in the territory of the Italian commune of Frascati , now in the territory of Monte Porzio Catone...
at Frascati
Frascati
Frascati is a town and comune in the province of Rome in the Lazio region of central Italy. It is located south-east of Rome, on the Alban Hills close to the ancient city of Tusculum. Frascati is closely associated with science, being the location of several international scientific...
. He assembled a formidable collection of Roman antiquities and sculptures. He died at Rome in 1595.
He guided the education and early career of his nephew, Marcus Sittich von Hohenems (1574-1619); his illegitimate son Roberto was made duca di Gallese
Gallese
Gallese is an Italian comune in the Province of Viterbo, 35 km from that city.It was taken by Duke Thrasimund II of Spoleto in 737 or 738, at which time it was essential to communications between Rome and Ravenna and had a large fortress....
, took the family name of Altemps, and married Cornelia Orsini.