Girolamo Grimaldi-Cavalleroni
Encyclopedia
Girolamo Grimaldi-Cavalleroni (1597–1685) was an Italian cardinal
of the Roman Catholic Church and Archbishop of Aix.
, the son of Giacomo Grimaldi
, a senator of the Republic of Genoa
, and his wife Girolama di Agostino de' Mari.
He was sent to Rome
for his education, and entered the Church probably under the patronage of his uncle Domenico Grimaldi, Archbishop of Avignon. In 1621 he was appointed Vice-legate of Viterbo
, and in 1626 on the death of Cardinal Odoardo Farnese he became governor of the province. From April 26, 1628 until March 1632 he was governor of Rome. He then became Papal Nuncio extraordinary
to the court
of Ferdinand II
of Austria. In 1634 he was appointed governor of the city of Perugia
, and then governor of the duchy
of Urbino
.
Aged 43 in 1641 he was appointed Titular
Archbishop of Seleucia
in Isauria
that same year he was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to France.
In 1643 he was made a cardinal, and in 1648 Archbishop of Aix - a position he held until his death on November 4, 1685. His political scheming to achieve his meteoric rise has led to him being referred to as an alter ego
of Cardinal Mazarin. Ironically, while never achieving the political power and fame of Mazarin, Grimaldi had been Mazarin's principal consecrator
.
Grimaldi was a patron of the writer Jean Cabassut
the French theologian and priest who accompanied him to Rome, and it was Grimaldi who encouraged Cabassut to enlarge his work "Notitia Conciliorum" and publish it under the title "Notitia ecclesiastica historiarum, conciliorum et canonum invicem collatorum" in 1680.
Grimaldi is considered today to have been a strong protector of the interests of France, and to have dealt well the running of the archdiocese. In the summer of 1649 he dealt strongly with an insurrection between two groups of monks, having the protesters driven from the monasteries without waiting for the permission of the Pope to arrive from Rome.
During his incumbency of the archbishopric over a twenty year period he built an episcopal palace
at vast expense in the town of Puyricard
, which is today known as the Château Grimaldi
.
Cardinal Grimaldi-Cavalleroni died in Aix
at age of 88. He is buried in the metropolitan cathedral of Aix.
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...
of the Roman Catholic Church and Archbishop of Aix.
Biography
Grimaldi was born in GenoaGenoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
, the son of Giacomo Grimaldi
Giacomo Grimaldi
Giacomo Grimaldi was an Italian historian and Vatican archivist, who lived in the early 17th century.His principal surviving works deal with the Roman Catholic Church. Several Papal tombs that were destroyed during the rebuilding of Saint Peter's Basilica are only known through illustrations by...
, a senator of the Republic of Genoa
Republic of Genoa
The Most Serene Republic of Genoa |Ligurian]]: Repúbrica de Zêna) was an independent state from 1005 to 1797 in Liguria on the northwestern Italian coast, as well as Corsica from 1347 to 1768, and numerous other territories throughout the Mediterranean....
, and his wife Girolama di Agostino de' Mari.
He was sent to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
for his education, and entered the Church probably under the patronage of his uncle Domenico Grimaldi, Archbishop of Avignon. In 1621 he was appointed Vice-legate of Viterbo
Viterbo
See also Viterbo, Texas and Viterbo UniversityViterbo is an ancient city and comune in the Lazio region of central Italy, the capital of the province of Viterbo. It is approximately 80 driving / 80 walking kilometers north of GRA on the Via Cassia, and it is surrounded by the Monti Cimini and...
, and in 1626 on the death of Cardinal Odoardo Farnese he became governor of the province. From April 26, 1628 until March 1632 he was governor of Rome. He then became Papal Nuncio extraordinary
Extraordinary
Extraordinary may refer to:* The Extraordinary, an Australian television documentary series* ExtraOrdinary, an EP by Nizlopi* "Extraordinary" , a song by Mandy Moore...
to the court
Royal court
Royal court, as distinguished from a court of law, may refer to:* The Royal Court , Timbaland's production company*Court , the household and entourage of a monarch or other ruler, the princely court...
of Ferdinand II
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand II , a member of the House of Habsburg, was Holy Roman Emperor , King of Bohemia , and King of Hungary . His rule coincided with the Thirty Years' War.- Life :...
of Austria. In 1634 he was appointed governor of the city of Perugia
Perugia
Perugia is the capital city of the region of Umbria in central Italy, near the River Tiber, and the capital of the province of Perugia. The city is located about north of Rome. It covers a high hilltop and part of the valleys around the area....
, and then governor of the duchy
Duchy
A duchy is a territory, fief, or domain ruled by a duke or duchess.Some duchies were sovereign in areas that would become unified realms only during the Modern era . In contrast, others were subordinate districts of those kingdoms that unified either partially or completely during the Medieval era...
of Urbino
Urbino
Urbino is a walled city in the Marche region of Italy, south-west of Pesaro, a World Heritage Site notable for a remarkable historical legacy of independent Renaissance culture, especially under the patronage of Federico da Montefeltro, duke of Urbino from 1444 to 1482...
.
Aged 43 in 1641 he was appointed Titular
Titular (Catholicism)
In Roman Catholicism, a titular can be:*the cardinal who holds a titulus, one of the main churches of Rome. Such holders were initially by tradition native-born Romans . The first church in Rome to have a non-Italian titular was Santi Quattro Coronati: Dietrich of Trier was appointed titular in...
Archbishop of Seleucia
Seleucia
Seleucia was the first capital of the Seleucid Empire, and one of the great cities of antiquity standing in Mesopotamia, on the Tigris River.Seleucia may refer to:...
in Isauria
Isauria
Isauria , in ancient geography, is a rugged isolated district in the interior of South Asia Minor, of very different extent at different periods, but generally covering what is now the district of Bozkır and its surroundings in the Konya province of Turkey, or the core of the Taurus Mountains. In...
that same year he was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to France.
In 1643 he was made a cardinal, and in 1648 Archbishop of Aix - a position he held until his death on November 4, 1685. His political scheming to achieve his meteoric rise has led to him being referred to as an alter ego
Alter ego
An alter ego is a second self, which is believe to be distinct from a person's normal or original personality. The term was coined in the early nineteenth century when dissociative identity disorder was first described by psychologists...
of Cardinal Mazarin. Ironically, while never achieving the political power and fame of Mazarin, Grimaldi had been Mazarin's principal consecrator
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
.
Grimaldi was a patron of the writer Jean Cabassut
Jean Cabassut
-Life:He was born at Aix and entered the Oratory at the age of twenty-one. Though devoted to his labour he was always ready to interrupt even his most favourite study to assist the needy...
the French theologian and priest who accompanied him to Rome, and it was Grimaldi who encouraged Cabassut to enlarge his work "Notitia Conciliorum" and publish it under the title "Notitia ecclesiastica historiarum, conciliorum et canonum invicem collatorum" in 1680.
Grimaldi is considered today to have been a strong protector of the interests of France, and to have dealt well the running of the archdiocese. In the summer of 1649 he dealt strongly with an insurrection between two groups of monks, having the protesters driven from the monasteries without waiting for the permission of the Pope to arrive from Rome.
During his incumbency of the archbishopric over a twenty year period he built an episcopal palace
Palace
A palace is a grand residence, especially a royal residence or the home of a head of state or some other high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word itself is derived from the Latin name Palātium, for Palatine Hill, one of the seven hills in Rome. In many parts of Europe, the...
at vast expense in the town of Puyricard
Puyricard
Puyricard is an agglomeration in the Bouches-du-Rhône département in Provence in the south of France, dependent on the town of Aix-en-Provence, approximately 10 km to the north...
, which is today known as the Château Grimaldi
Château Grimaldi (Puyricard)
Château Grimaldi at Puyricard near Aix-en-Provence is a mansion built within the ruined walls of a 16th century Château once belonging to the Archbishops of Puyricard. The original castle chapel remains built in the Romanesque style...
.
Cardinal Grimaldi-Cavalleroni died in Aix
Aix-en-Provence
Aix , or Aix-en-Provence to distinguish it from other cities built over hot springs, is a city-commune in southern France, some north of Marseille. It is in the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, in the département of Bouches-du-Rhône, of which it is a subprefecture. The population of Aix is...
at age of 88. He is buried in the metropolitan cathedral of Aix.