Diego de Astorga y Céspedes
Encyclopedia
Diego de Astorga y Céspedes (17 October 1663 - 9 February 1734) was an Spanish Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church
. He also served as Bishop of Barcelona, Archbishop of Toledo and Grand Inquisitor
.
, then a Spanish town. He obtained a degree on Canon law
at the University of Granada
and was ordained in 1689. In 1705, he was appointed General Vicar of Ceuta
and Inquisitor of the kingdom of Murcia in 1710. He was consecrated as Bishop of Barcelona in 1716, being the first non Catalan
priest to serve as Bishop in Barcelona, due to the abolition of the provisos on foreign bishops in Catalonia by the Nueva Planta decrees
, issued by Philip V of Spain
after the austriacist
defeat in the War of the Spanish Succession
.
Four years later, in 1720, he was consecrated as Archbishop of Toledo and therefore Primate
of Spain. He was also appointed Grand Inquisitor
(although he resigned the same year). In 1727, he was created Cardinal by Pope Benedict XIII
. However, he never received the red hat and the title and did not participate in the 1730 conclave, which elected Pope Clement XII. He was also a member of the Privy council
of the king Philip V after his abdication on his son Louis I.
He ordered the crafting of El Transparente
of the Cathedral of Toledo
to Narciso Tomé
, an example of the intrincated Spanish Baroque
set behind the main altar of the main chapel (the chapel of the Santísimo Sacramento). The Bishop wished to mark the presence of the Holy Sacrament with a glorious monument, which costed 200,000 ducat
s and was cause of great enthusiasm, even with a poem wherein the monument was acclaimed 'the Eighth Wonder of the World'. Cardinal Astorga y Céspedes is buried at the feet of 'El Transparente'.
During his whole career, Bishop De Astorga y Céspedes promoted the devotion to Our Lady of Europe
, the devotion title
given to the Blessed Virgin Mary
in Gibraltar
.
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. He also served as Bishop of Barcelona, Archbishop of Toledo and Grand Inquisitor
Grand Inquisitor
Grand Inquisitor is the lead official of an Inquisition. The most famous Inquisitor General is the Spanish Dominican Tomás de Torquemada, who spearheaded the Spanish Inquisition.-List of Spanish Grand Inquisitors:-Castile:-Aragon:...
.
Biography
Diego de Astorga y Céspedes was born in GibraltarGibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
, then a Spanish town. He obtained a degree on Canon law
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
at the University of Granada
University of Granada
The University of Granada is a public university located in Granada, Spain that enrolls approximately 80,000 students. The university also has campuses in Ceuta and Melilla. Every year, over 2,000 European students enroll in the UGR through the Erasmus Programme, making it the most popular...
and was ordained in 1689. In 1705, he was appointed General Vicar of Ceuta
Ceuta
Ceuta is an autonomous city of Spain and an exclave located on the north coast of North Africa surrounded by Morocco. Separated from the Iberian peninsula by the Strait of Gibraltar, Ceuta lies on the border of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Ceuta along with the other Spanish...
and Inquisitor of the kingdom of Murcia in 1710. He was consecrated as Bishop of Barcelona in 1716, being the first non Catalan
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
priest to serve as Bishop in Barcelona, due to the abolition of the provisos on foreign bishops in Catalonia by the Nueva Planta decrees
Nueva Planta decrees
The Nueva Planta decrees were a number of decrees signed between 1707 and 1716 by Philip V—the first Bourbon king of Spain—during and shortly after the end of the War of the Spanish Succession which he won....
, issued by Philip V of Spain
Philip V of Spain
Philip V was King of Spain from 15 November 1700 to 15 January 1724, when he abdicated in favor of his son Louis, and from 6 September 1724, when he assumed the throne again upon his son's death, to his death.Before his reign, Philip occupied an exalted place in the royal family of France as a...
after the austriacist
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles VI was the penultimate Habsburg sovereign of the Habsburg Empire. He succeeded his elder brother, Joseph I, as Holy Roman Emperor, King of Bohemia , Hungary and Croatia , Archduke of Austria, etc., in 1711...
defeat in the War of the Spanish Succession
War of the Spanish Succession
The War of the Spanish Succession was fought among several European powers, including a divided Spain, over the possible unification of the Kingdoms of Spain and France under one Bourbon monarch. As France and Spain were among the most powerful states of Europe, such a unification would have...
.
Four years later, in 1720, he was consecrated as Archbishop of Toledo and therefore Primate
Primate (religion)
Primate is a title or rank bestowed on some bishops in certain Christian churches. Depending on the particular tradition, it can denote either jurisdictional authority or ceremonial precedence ....
of Spain. He was also appointed Grand Inquisitor
Grand Inquisitor
Grand Inquisitor is the lead official of an Inquisition. The most famous Inquisitor General is the Spanish Dominican Tomás de Torquemada, who spearheaded the Spanish Inquisition.-List of Spanish Grand Inquisitors:-Castile:-Aragon:...
(although he resigned the same year). In 1727, he was created Cardinal by Pope Benedict XIII
Pope Benedict XIII
-Footnotes:...
. However, he never received the red hat and the title and did not participate in the 1730 conclave, which elected Pope Clement XII. He was also a member of the Privy council
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
of the king Philip V after his abdication on his son Louis I.
He ordered the crafting of El Transparente
El Transparente
El Transparente is a Baroque altarpiece in the ambulatory of the Cathedral of Toledo. Its name refers to the unique illumination provided by a skylight in the vault above. It was created in 1729-1732 by Narciso Tomé and his 4 sons...
of the Cathedral of Toledo
Cathedral of Toledo
The Primate Cathedral of Saint Mary of Toledo is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Toledo, Spain, seat of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Toledo....
to Narciso Tomé
Narciso Tomé
Narciso Tomé was a Spanish architect and sculptor of the late-Baroque or Rococo period.Born in Toro. With his brother, Diego, he sculpted in 1715, the facade of the University of Valladolid...
, an example of the intrincated Spanish Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
set behind the main altar of the main chapel (the chapel of the Santísimo Sacramento). The Bishop wished to mark the presence of the Holy Sacrament with a glorious monument, which costed 200,000 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 and was cause of great enthusiasm, even with a poem wherein the monument was acclaimed 'the Eighth Wonder of the World'. Cardinal Astorga y Céspedes is buried at the feet of 'El Transparente'.
During his whole career, Bishop De Astorga y Céspedes promoted the devotion to Our Lady of Europe
Our Lady of Europe
Our Lady of Europe is a consecrated title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary in Gibraltar, where devotion began, and to a lesser extent in Algeciras, Spain. The entire European continent was consecrated under the protection of Our Lady of Europe in the early 14th century from the Shrine in Gibraltar...
, the devotion title
Titles of Mary
Mary is known by many titles , epithets , invocations and other names ....
given to the Blessed Virgin Mary
Blessed Virgin Mary (Roman Catholic)
Roman Catholic veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary is based on Holy Scripture: In the fullness of time, God sent his son, born of a virgin. The mystery of the incarnation of the Son of God through Mary thus signifies her honour as Mother of God...
in Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
.
External links
- Diego Cardinal Astorga y Céspedes in catholic-hierarchy.org
- The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church. Biographical Dictionary. Pope Benedict XIII (1724–1730). Consistory of November 26, 1727 (VII)