History Papal conclave, 1644

1 history

1.1 urban s influence
1.2 split conclave
1.3 spanish veto
1.4 french reaction
1.5 pamphili elected

history
urban s influence

pope urban viii died on july 29, 1644. reign (which included costly first war of castro) had been financially troubling rome , church , conflict control of church between spain , france , ongoing thirty years war meant many cardinals arrived @ conclave seeking compromise bring stability church.

but urban s reign had subjected church notorious nepotism. had appointed 3 family members cardinals; brother antonio marcello barberini , 2 nephews, francesco barberini , antonio barberini. nephews, especially, keen retain wealth, power , property had amassed during uncle s reign , both sought move conclave in favour.

they started hiring, rumoured, bands of brigands , mercenaries roam streets of city causing trouble, creating noise , making uncomfortable cardinals inside conclave.

split conclave

anne of austria, french queen mother , sister philip iv of spain, adamant none of older cardinals appointed pro-spanish pope paul v should elected papal throne.

francesco barbarini sided cardinals loyal spain. urban viii had been strong francophile , mood of conclave spain beginning. antonio, @ direction of cardinal jules mazarin, sided cardinals loyal france , supported funding french buy wavering votes. maria antonietta visceglia suggests may have been part of spain s strategy split influence of barbarini family.

so rather working consensus, 2 brothers split conclave. when voting started on 29 august, antonio barberini put giulio cesare sacchetti forward candidate without great success. following day, francesco barberini nominated giovanni battista pamphili same result.

at standoff, brothers sought win each other over. antonio barberini moved conclave offering form of incentives various cardinals, official positions cash spanish supporters in return switching vote in favour of sacchetti. deals brokered arrived french ambassador , have been concluded had ambassador not tried slip advantageous clauses agreement when came time brothers agree. new agreement signed 20,000 doubloons on ambassador , family in return acting agent between 2 parties. antonio furiously withdrew offer , broke off negotiations.

with hapsburgs in spain empire, results of papal election depended on strength -or lack thereof, of anti-spain groups, , whether these unite. conclave protodeacon cardinal carlo de medici led prestigious coalition of non-aligned italian cardinal-princes connected roman aristocracy. urban s practice of concentrating power , curial appointments in family , related relatives came disappointment cardinal-princes instrumental in election.

spanish veto

antonio barberini continued promote candidacy of cardinal sacchetti, in accordance french policy. urban viii , family had been overly partial french imperialists , spanish determined no supporter of french interests elected. on august 9, spain s cardinal gil de albornoz presented veto against sacchetti, signed king. cardinal antonio barberini let known barberini prepared stay in conclave until died before allowed not member of faction elected pope, , candidate sacchetti. effect, however, increase opposition sacchetti.

the french ambassador, saint-chamont, became alarmed reports of movement of spanish neapolitan troops on southern border of papal states. feared might invasion, purpose of capturing college of cardinals , forcing election of pope favorable spanish interest. assured cardinals full support of french, , informed them marshal de brézé @ marseille, fleet , troops, prepared rush assistance of college of cardinals. there french troops in lombardy , savoy called upon defend papal states if necessary. similar assurances offered spanish ambassador , prince of parma. nothing came of saber-rattling, except unnerve members of sacred college.

french reaction

cardinal mazarin furious , blamed ambassador in turn claimed antonio barberini had included clause own agreement excuse turning on french , siding spanish. mazarin, keen remain on terms barberini, recalled ambassador , continued support barberini. mazarin later provided shelter barberini nephews (including cardinals brother, taddeo barberini) after innocent x had them investigated , exiled paris.

pamphili elected

though s didn t have to, francesco barberini countered generous offer spanish delegation, included promise of protection of king philip iv of spain barberini (including francesco himself). antonio , delegation agreed , following morning, on 15 september 1644, pamphili elected , took papal throne pope innocent x.

among innocent x s first orders of business order removal of soldiers guarding various palaces, princes, ambassadors , other notables. disbanded conscripted mounted troops , foot soldiers rome less of armed camp.

furious @ power innocent s election gave already-powerful sister-in-law, olimpia maidalchini, cardinal alessandro bichi said have exclaimed, have elected female pope . supporters of bichi , french delegation hung banners in churches calling pope olimpia .