Guido Ascanio Sforza di Santa Fiora (26 November 1518 – 6 October 1564) was an Italian

cardinal Cardinal or The Cardinal most commonly refers to * Cardinalidae, a family of North and South American birds **''Cardinalis'', genus of three species in the family Cardinalidae ***Northern cardinal, ''Cardinalis cardinalis'', the common cardinal of ...

, known also as ''The cardinal of Santa Fiora''.

Life

Born in

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

, he was the eldest son of

Costanza Farnese Costanza Farnese (19 December 1500 – 23 May 1545) was a daughter of Alessandro Farnese and Silvia Ruffini. Born before her father became Pope Paul III, her siblings were Pier Luigi, Paul, Ranuccio and Lucrezia. She married Bosio II Sforza, ...

and therefore grandson of

Pope Paul III Pope Paul III (; ; born Alessandro Farnese; 29 February 1468 – 10 November 1549) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 13 October 1534 to his death, in November 1549. He came to the papal throne in an era follo ...

. His father was Bosio II, Count of Santa Fiora. His younger brother was Cardinal

Alessandro Sforza Alessandro Sforza (21 October 1409 – 3 April 1473) was an Italian condottiero and lord of Pesaro, the first of the Pesaro line of the Sforza family. Biography He was born in Cotignola in 1409, an illegitimate son of the famous condottier ...

(1565). He was the uncle of Cardinal

Francesco Sforza Francesco I Sforza (; 23 July 1401 – 8 March 1466) was an Italian condottiero who founded the Sforza dynasty in the duchy of Milan, ruling as its (fourth) duke from 1450 until his death. In the 1420s, he participated in the War of L'Aqui ...

and great-uncle of Cardinal

Federico Sforza Federico Sforza (20 January 1603 – 24 May 1676) was an Italian Catholic cardinal. Biography Sforza was born in 1603, the son of Alessandro Sforza, 7th Count of Santa Fiora, Duke of Segni and Prince of Valmontone - and Eleonora Orsini. I ...

(1645). During his time as a cardinal he served as

legate Legate may refer to: People * Bartholomew Legate (1575–1611), English martyr * Julie Anne Legate (born 1972), Canadian linguistics professor * William LeGate (born 1994), American entrepreneur Political and religious offices *Legatus, a hig ...

as well as administrator of different towns and

episcopal see An episcopal see is the area of a bishop's ecclesiastical jurisdiction. Phrases concerning actions occurring within or outside an episcopal see are indicative of the geographical significance of the term, making it synonymous with ''diocese'' ...

s.Carey, Jean Marie. "This Day in History: November 26", Italian Art Society
/ref> His ecclesiastical career started very early with his selection as Bishop of ''Montefiascone e Corneto'', nowadays Diocese of Viterbo, Acquapendente, Bagnoregio, Montefiascone, Tuscania e San Martino al Monte Cimino on 12 November 1528 when he was not quite ten years of age.

Cardinal

His maternal grandfather, Alessandro Farnese, was elected Pope on 13 October 1534. (Costanza Farnese had been born to Alessandro's mistress before he became a priest.) While still a student at the ''Collegio degli Ancarani'', Sforza was created a

cardinal deacon A cardinal is a senior member of the clergy of the Catholic Church. As titular members of the clergy of the Diocese of Rome, they serve as advisors to the pope, who is the bishop of Rome and the visible head of the worldwide Catholic Church. C ...

in the

consistory Consistory is the anglicized form of the consistorium, a council of the closest advisors of the Roman emperors. It can also refer to: *A papal consistory, a formal meeting of the Sacred College of Cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church *Consistor ...

of 18 December 1534 by

with the Deaconry of

Santi Vito, Modesto e Crescenzia Santi Vito e Modesto is a Roman Catholic church, and appears to have two facades, a 20th-century marble facade on Via Carlo Alberto, but a rustic brick older entrance, in reality the apse, on the Via San Vito in the Rione Esquilino of Rome, Italy ...

.Miranda, Salvador. "Sforza, Guido Ascanio (1518-1564)", Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, Florida International University
/ref> The elevation to the cardinalate of his grandsons, Alessandro Farnese, aged fourteen, and Sforza, aged sixteen, displeased the reform party and drew a protest from the emperor, but this was forgiven when, shortly after, he introduced into the Sacred College

Reginald Pole Reginald Pole (12 March 1500 – 17 November 1558) was an English cardinal and the last Catholic Archbishop of Canterbury, holding the office from 1556 to 1558 during the Marian Restoration of Catholicism. Early life Pole was born at Stourt ...

Gasparo Contarini Gasparo Contarini (16 October 1483 – 24 August 1542) was an Italian diplomat, cardinal, and Bishop of Belluno. He advocated for dialogue with Protestants during the Reformation. Born in Venice, he served as the Republic's ambassador to Charle ...

Jacopo Sadoleto Jacopo Sadoleto (July 12, 1477 – October 18, 1547) was an Italian Catholic cardinal and counterreformer noted for his correspondence with and opposition to John Calvin. Life He was born at Modena in 1477, the son of a noted jurist, he acqu ...

, and Giovanni Pietro Caraffa. In 1535, through Constanza's influence, his cousin Alessandro, gave up the position of administrator of the Diocese of Parma in favor of Guido Ascanio, who was also appointed papal legate of Bologna and Romagna. In April 1560 Sforza, resigned the administration of the bishopric of Parma in favor of his brother Cardinal Alessandro. His economic position was secured by income from a number of benefices concentrated in northern Italy,Giannini, Massimo Carlo. "Sforza, Guido Ascanio", Treccani
/ref> Later, on 22 October 1537, a month shy of his nineteenth birthday, he was appointed

Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church The camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church is an office of the papal household that administers the property and revenues of the Holy See. Formerly, his responsibilities included the fiscal administration of the Patrimony of Saint Peter. As regu ...

, a position he held until his death. He was opted for the Deaconry of

Santa Maria in Cosmedin The Basilica of Saint Mary in Cosmedin (; Latin: Santa Maria ''de Schola Graeca'') is a minor basilica, minor basilican churches of Rome, church in Rome, Italy, dedicated to the Mary, mother of Jesus, Virgin Mary. It is located in the rione (neig ...

on 31 May 1540, for the Deaconry of

Sant'Eustachio Sant'Eustachio () is a Roman Catholic titular church and minor basilica in Rome, named for the martyr Saint Eustace. It is located on Via di Sant'Eustachio in the Sant'Eustachio (rione of Rome), rione Sant'Eustachio, a block west of the Pantheo ...

on 10 December 1540Johannes Matthias Brixius, ''Die Mitglieder des Kardinalkollegiums, von 1130 – 1181'' (Berlin: R. Trenkel 1912), p. 141 (1121–1173). and finally for the Deaconry of

Santa Maria in Via Lata Santa Maria in Via Lata is a church on the Via del Corso (the ancient Via Lata), in Rome, Italy. It stands diagonal from the church of San Marcello al Corso. It is the stational church for Tuesday in the fifth week of lent. History The first ...

on 9 March 1552. He succeeded his cousin Alessandro Farnese as Archpriest of the patriarchal

Liberian Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore (), also known as the Basilica of Saint Mary Major or the Basilica of Saint Mary the Great, is one of the four major papal basilicas and one of the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome. The largest Marian church in Rome, it is ...

in 1543 and began the ''Cappella Sforza'' in 1556. He participated in the two

papal conclave A conclave is a gathering of the College of Cardinals convened to appoint the pope of the Catholic Church. Catholics consider the pope to be the apostolic successor of Saint Peter and the earthly head of the Catholic Church. Concerns around ...

s of 1555 (the one in April which elected Marcellus II and that in May which chose

Paul IV Pope Paul IV (; ; 28 June 1476 – 18 August 1559), born Gian Pietro Carafa, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 23 May 1555 to his death, in August 1559. While serving as papal nuncio in Spain, he developed ...

) whose election he strongly opposed. In the summer of 1555, he was caught up in a sensational affair when two of his brothers commandeered two French galleys from the port of Civitavecchia and sailed them to imperial-allied

Gaeta Gaeta (; ; Southern Latian dialect, Southern Laziale: ''Gaieta'') is a seaside resort in the province of Latina in Lazio, Italy. Set on a promontory stretching towards the Gulf of Gaeta, it is from Rome and from Naples. The city has played ...

, thanks to the complicity of the other brother Alessandro, and Guido Ascanio. At a time of tensions between

Pope Paul IV Pope Paul IV (; ; 28 June 1476 – 18 August 1559), born Gian Pietro Carafa, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 23 May 1555 to his death, in August 1559. While serving as papal nuncio in Spain, he developed ...

and the Spanish party in Rome, this prompted the pope to order the arrest and imprisonment in Castel Sant'Angelo of Guido Ascanio, believed to be the director of the acts of his brothers.Brunelli, Giampiero. "Sforza, Alessandro", Treccani
/ref> He was only released on 22 September, after twenty-two days of imprisonment, upon payment of a bail of 200,000 scudi. Guido Ascanio and his brother Sforza were highly regarded by

Charles V Charles V may refer to: Kings and Emperors * Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor (1500–1558) * Charles V of Naples (1661–1700), better known as Charles II of Spain * Charles V of France (1338–1380), called the Wise Others * Charles V, Duke ...

and Philip II. The positioning of the cardinal and the count was part of a skilful strategy, aimed at always guaranteeing family interests, given that the Sforza of Santa Fiora had very substantial interests in terms of ecclesiastical benefices and fiefdoms in the Lombardy, Parma and Piacenza. This explains why Guido Ascanio and his brothers divided themselves, with considerable unscrupulousness, between the imperial and the French sides, maintaining in any case a marked family solidarity. During the war of

Siena Siena ( , ; traditionally spelled Sienna in English; ) is a city in Tuscany, in central Italy, and the capital of the province of Siena. It is the twelfth most populated city in the region by number of inhabitants, with a population of 52,991 ...

, Guido served as general of the cavalry of the imperial army, together with one of his brothers, while the other brother Mario placed himself at the service of France and their Sienese allies. He led the Spanish faction in the conclave held in December 1559, which resulted in the election of

Pius IV Pope Pius IV (; 31 March 1499 – 9 December 1565), born Giovanni Angelo Medici, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 25 December 1559 to his death, in December 1565. Born in Milan, his family considered itself a b ...

who re-convoked the

Council of Trent The Council of Trent (), held between 1545 and 1563 in Trent (or Trento), now in northern Italy, was the 19th ecumenical council of the Catholic Church. Prompted by the Protestant Reformation at the time, it has been described as the "most ...

. Guido Ascanio Sforza died on 6 October 1564 of fever in Canneto sull'Oglio,

Mantua Mantua ( ; ; Lombard language, Lombard and ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Italian region of Lombardy, and capital of the Province of Mantua, eponymous province. In 2016, Mantua was designated as the "Italian Capital of Culture". In 2 ...

. His body was transferred to

and buried in his family's chapel in Santa Maria Maggiore.

References

Sources

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Sforza Di Santa Fiora, Guido Ascanio 1518 births 1564 deaths Clergy from Rome 16th-century Italian cardinals Cardinal-nephews 16th-century Italian Roman Catholic bishops Bishops of Lodève Bishops of Montefiascone Bishops of Parma

Guido Ascanio Sforza di Santa Fiora Guido Ascanio Sforza di Santa Fiora (26 November 1518 – 6 October 1564) was an Italian Cardinal (Catholicism), cardinal, known also as ''The cardinal of Santa Fiora''. Life Born in Rome, he was the eldest son of Costanza Farnese and therefor ...

Camerlengos of the Holy Roman Church