Luigi Capponi
Encyclopedia
Luigi Capponi was an Italian
Catholic
Cardinal
who became Archbishop of Ravenna.
and became a papal prelate
and then Treasurer of the Apostolic Chamber. He became a close friend of Cardinal Bonifazio Bevilacqua Aldobrandini
.
On 24 November 1608 he was elevated to Cardinal and was installed as Cardinal-Deacon of Sant'Agata dei Goti
. In 1614, he was appointed Legate
in Bologna
but fell ill and Cardinal Giulio Savelli was appointed in his place. When he recovered he was appointed Cardinal-Deacon of Sant'Angelo in Pescheria
.
In 1621, he participated in the one-day-long papal conclave
which elected Pope Gregory XV
. The following month, Capponi was elected Archbishop of Ravenna, a position he held for the next 24 years.
Over the next decade, Capponi was appoint Cardinal-Priest at a range of churches including San Carlo ai Catinari
(1621), San Pietro in Vincoli
(1622) and San Lorenzo in Lucina
(1629). He also participated in the papal conclave of 1623
which elected Pope Urban VIII
.
In 1642 Capponi was appointed co-legate of Bologna
, Ferrara
and Romandiola
along with Pope Urban's Cardinal-Nephew
, Antonio Barberini
. When Urban died in 1644, Capponi participated in the papal conclave of 1644
which elected Pope Innocent X
.
In 1645 he resigned as Archbishop and was appointed Prefect
of the Sacra Congregatio de Propaganda Fide
while Antonio Barberini was in exile in France
. In 1649 he was appointed Librarian of the Holy Roman Church
. He participated in the conclave of 1655
.
In 1650, Capponi was visited by French
adventurer, François de La Boullaye-Le Gouz
. La Boullaye dedicated the first printed edition of his work to the Cardinal. The preface includes an illustration of the adventurer presenting the work to Capponi.
Capponi died on 6 April 1659.
Capponi made substantial renovations to the Villa La Pietra in Florence
, adding the Baroque
exterior, thought to have been designed by Carlo Fontana
.
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
Cardinal
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
who became Archbishop of Ravenna.
Biography
Capponi was born in 1582, the son of Senator Francesco Capponi and Ludovica Macchiavelli. The Capponi family had extensive links to Italian political circles and to senior members of the Catholic Church. He was educated at the Archgymnasium of Rome where he received a doctorateDoctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
and became a papal prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
and then Treasurer of the Apostolic Chamber. He became a close friend of Cardinal Bonifazio Bevilacqua Aldobrandini
Bonifazio Bevilacqua Aldobrandini
Bonifazio Bevilacqua Aldobrandini was an Italian Cardinal. He was the uncle of Pope Gregory XIV.-Biography:In 1601, Pope Clement VIII associated Count Luigi Bevilacqua and his two brothers, Conte Bonifazio IV and Conte Alfonso II , with his own family granting them use of his family’s...
.
On 24 November 1608 he was elevated to Cardinal and was installed as Cardinal-Deacon of Sant'Agata dei Goti
Sant'Agata dei Goti
Sant'Agata dei Goti is a church in Rome, Italy, dedicated to the martyr Saint Agatha. It is currently the titular church assigned to Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke, currently Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura.-History:...
. In 1614, he was appointed Legate
Legate
Legate may refer to:*Legatus, a general officer of the ancient Roman army drawn from among the senatorial class*Papal legate, a messenger from the Holy See*Legate, a rank in the Cardassian military in the fictional Star Trek universe...
in Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
but fell ill and Cardinal Giulio Savelli was appointed in his place. When he recovered he was appointed Cardinal-Deacon of Sant'Angelo in Pescheria
Sant'Angelo in Pescheria
Sant'Angelo in Pescheria or in Piscaria is a church in Rome. It dates from the 8th century. "In Pescheria" refers to its location close to the fish market built in the ruins of the ancient Porticus Octaviae....
.
In 1621, he participated in the one-day-long papal conclave
Papal conclave, 1621
Papal conclave 1621 – convoked after the death of Pope Paul V, elected Cardinal Alessandro Ludovisi, who under the name of Gregory XV became 234th Pope of the Catholic Church. It was the shortest conclave in the seventeenth century.-List of participants:Pope Paul V died on January 28, 1621 in the...
which elected Pope Gregory XV
Pope Gregory XV
Pope Gregory XV , born Alessandro Ludovisi, was pope from 1621, succeeding Paul V on 9 February 1621...
. The following month, Capponi was elected Archbishop of Ravenna, a position he held for the next 24 years.
Over the next decade, Capponi was appoint Cardinal-Priest at a range of churches including San Carlo ai Catinari
San Carlo ai Catinari
San Carlo ai Catinari, also called Santi Biagio e Carlo ai Catinari is an early-Baroque style church in Rome, Italy....
(1621), San Pietro in Vincoli
San Pietro in Vincoli
San Pietro in Vincoli is a Roman Catholic titular church and minor basilica in Rome, Italy, best known for being the home of Michelangelo's statue of Moses, part of the tomb of Pope Julius II.-History:...
(1622) and San Lorenzo in Lucina
San Lorenzo in Lucina
The Church of St Lawrence's at Lucina is a Roman Catholic parish and titular church and minor basilica in Rome, Italy, dedicated to Saint Lawrence, Roman deacon and martyr. The name Lucina comes from the Roman matron owner of the house on which the church was built.The current Cardinal Priest of...
(1629). He also participated in the papal conclave of 1623
Papal conclave, 1623
The papal conclave of 1623 was the papal conclave of Cardinals called on the death of Pope Gregory XV. It lasted eighteen days from 19 July 1623 to 6 August 1623 and chose Maffeo Barberini, who took office as Pope Urban VIII.- History :...
which elected Pope Urban VIII
Pope Urban VIII
Pope Urban VIII , born Maffeo Barberini, was pope from 1623 to 1644. He was the last pope to expand the papal territory by force of arms, and was a prominent patron of the arts and reformer of Church missions...
.
In 1642 Capponi was appointed co-legate of Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
, Ferrara
Ferrara
Ferrara is a city and comune in Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy, capital city of the Province of Ferrara. It is situated 50 km north-northeast of Bologna, on the Po di Volano, a branch channel of the main stream of the Po River, located 5 km north...
and Romandiola
Romagna
Romagna is an Italian historical region that approximately corresponds to the south-eastern portion of present-day Emilia-Romagna. Traditionally, it is limited by the Apennines to the south-west, the Adriatic to the east, and the rivers Reno and Sillaro to the north and west...
along with Pope Urban's Cardinal-Nephew
Cardinal-nephew
A cardinal-nephew is a cardinal elevated by a Pope who is that cardinal's uncle, or, more generally, his relative. The practice of creating cardinal-nephews originated in the Middle Ages, and reached its apex during the 16th and 17th centuries. The word nepotism originally referred specifically to...
, Antonio Barberini
Antonio Barberini
Antonio Barberini was an Italian Catholic cardinal, Archbishop of Reims, military leader, patron of the arts and a prominent member of the House of Barberini. As one of the cardinal-nephews of Pope Urban VIII and a supporter of France, he played a significant role at a number of the papal...
. When Urban died in 1644, Capponi participated in the papal conclave of 1644
Papal conclave, 1644
The papal conclave of 1644 was the papal conclave of Cardinals called on the death of Pope Urban VIII. It lasted from 9 August to 15 September 1644 and eventually chose Giovanni Battista Pamphili, who took office as Pope Innocent X.- Urban's influence :...
which elected Pope Innocent X
Pope Innocent X
Pope Innocent X , born Giovanni Battista Pamphilj , was Pope from 1644 to 1655. Born in Rome of a family from Gubbio in Umbria who had come to Rome during the pontificate of Pope Innocent IX, he graduated from the Collegio Romano and followed a conventional cursus honorum, following his uncle...
.
In 1645 he resigned as Archbishop and was appointed Prefect
Prefect
Prefect is a magisterial title of varying definition....
of the Sacra Congregatio de Propaganda Fide
Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
The Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in Rome is the congregation of the Roman Curia responsible for missionary work and related activities...
while Antonio Barberini was in exile in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. In 1649 he was appointed Librarian of the Holy Roman Church
Vatican Library
The Vatican Library is the library of the Holy See, currently located in Vatican City. It is one of the oldest libraries in the world and contains one of the most significant collections of historical texts. Formally established in 1475, though in fact much older, it has 75,000 codices from...
. He participated in the conclave of 1655
Papal conclave, 1655
The Papal conclave of 1655 was the papal conclave of Cardinals called on the death of Pope Innocent X. The conclave elected Fabio Chigi, who took office as Alexander VII.- History :...
.
In 1650, Capponi was visited by French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
adventurer, François de La Boullaye-Le Gouz
François de La Boullaye-Le Gouz
François de La Boullaye-Le Gouz , was a French aristocrat and extensive traveller.He published a French-language travelogue, enriched with firsthand accounts of India, Persia, Greece, the Middle East, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, England, Ireland, and Italy...
. La Boullaye dedicated the first printed edition of his work to the Cardinal. The preface includes an illustration of the adventurer presenting the work to Capponi.
Capponi died on 6 April 1659.
Capponi made substantial renovations to the Villa La Pietra in Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
, adding the Baroque
Baroque architecture
Baroque architecture is a term used to describe the building style of the Baroque era, begun in late sixteenth century Italy, that took the Roman vocabulary of Renaissance architecture and used it in a new rhetorical and theatrical fashion, often to express the triumph of the Catholic Church and...
exterior, thought to have been designed by Carlo Fontana
Carlo Fontana
Carlo Fontana was an Italian architect, who was in part responsible for the classicizing direction taken by Late Baroque Roman architecture.-Biography:...
.