Lorenzo Strozzi
Encyclopedia
Lorenzo Strozzi was an Italian abbot
and cardinal. He was the son of Filippo Strozzi
, a member of the powerful Strozzi
family of Florence
, and Clarice de' Medici
.
Lorenzo Strozzi was born in Florence
. His ecclesiastical career developed in France
, first as abbot of Saint-Victor in Marseille
(to which he renounced in 1561), later as abbot of Villar San Costanzo at Staffarda
, and finally as bishop of Béziers in 1548. He fought firmly the spread of Calvinism
in Languedoc
, supported by the French queen Catherine de' Medici
, who had grown up with Lorenzo after her father's death.
He was created cardinal by Pope Paul IV
in the consistory
of March 15, 1557, with the title of Santa Balbina
.
Later he was archbishop of Albi (1561), archbishop of Aix-en-Provence (1562) and archbishop of Siena from 1568.
He died at Avignon
in 1571.
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
and cardinal. He was the son of Filippo Strozzi
Filippo Strozzi the Younger
thumb|250px|A view of [[Palazzo Strozzi]] in Florence.Filippo Strozzi the Younger was an Italian condottiero and banker, the most famous member of the Florentine Strozzi family in the Renaissance.-Biography:...
, a member of the powerful Strozzi
Strozzi
Strozzi is the name of an ancient and noble Florentine family. Palla Strozzi played an important part in the public life of Florence, and founded the first public library in Florence in the monastery of Santa Trinita...
family of 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....
, and Clarice de' Medici
Clarice de' Medici
Clarice de' Medici was the daughter of Piero di Lorenzo de' Medici and Alfonsina Orsini.Born in Florence, she was the granddaughter of Lorenzo de' Medici, niece of Pope Leo X and sister to Lorenzo II de' Medici...
.
Lorenzo Strozzi was born 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....
. His ecclesiastical career developed 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...
, first as abbot of Saint-Victor in Marseille
Marseille
Marseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of...
(to which he renounced in 1561), later as abbot of Villar San Costanzo at Staffarda
Staffarda
Staffarda is an Italian village area, within the commune of Revello near Saluzzo .It is best known for the Cistercian monastery, Staffarda Abbey , founded in 1135 by Manfred I, Marquis of Saluzzo.The Battle of Staffarda was fought here in 1690 between France and the Duchy of Savoy.-External links:*...
, and finally as bishop of Béziers in 1548. He fought firmly the spread of Calvinism
Calvinism
Calvinism is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life...
in Languedoc
Languedoc
Languedoc is a former province of France, now continued in the modern-day régions of Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées in the south of France, and whose capital city was Toulouse, now in Midi-Pyrénées. It had an area of approximately 42,700 km² .-Geographical Extent:The traditional...
, supported by the French queen Catherine de' Medici
Catherine de' Medici
Catherine de' Medici was an Italian noblewoman who was Queen consort of France from 1547 until 1559, as the wife of King Henry II of France....
, who had grown up with Lorenzo after her father's death.
He was created cardinal by Pope Paul IV
Pope Paul IV
Pope Paul IV, C.R. , né Giovanni Pietro Carafa, was Pope from 23 May 1555 until his death.-Early life:Giovanni Pietro Carafa was born in Capriglia Irpina, near Avellino, into a prominent noble family of Naples...
in the consistory
Consistory
-Antiquity:Originally, the Latin word consistorium meant simply 'sitting together', just as the Greek synedrion ....
of March 15, 1557, with the title of Santa Balbina
Santa Balbina
Santa Balbina is a basilica church in Rome, devoted to St. Balbina. It was built in the 4th century over the house of consul Lucius Fabius Cilo on the Aventine Hill, behind the Baths of Caracalla. Possibly the ancient Titulus Tigridae, the basilica was consecrated by Pope Gregory I.The adjoining...
.
Later he was archbishop of Albi (1561), archbishop of Aix-en-Provence (1562) and archbishop of Siena from 1568.
He died at Avignon
Avignon
Avignon is a French commune in southeastern France in the départment of the Vaucluse bordered by the left bank of the Rhône river. Of the 94,787 inhabitants of the city on 1 January 2010, 12 000 live in the ancient town centre surrounded by its medieval ramparts.Often referred to as the...
in 1571.