Papal conclave, August 1492
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| Dates |
August 6–August 11, 1492 |
| Location |
Sistine Chapel Sistine Chapel is the best-known chapel in the Apostolic Palace, the official residence of the Pope in Vatican City. It is famous for its architecture, evocative of Solomon's Temple of the Old Testament, and its decoration which has been frescoed throughout by the greatest Renaissance artists...
, Apostolic PalaceThe Apostolic Palace, also called the Sacred Palace, the Papal Palace or the Palace of the Vatican, is the official residence of the Pope in the Vatican City. It adjoins St...
, Papal StatesThe Papal States, State of the Church or Pontifical States were one of the major historical states of Italy from roughly the 6th century until the Italian peninsula was unified in 1861 by the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia .The Papal States comprised territories under...
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| Dean |
Rodrigo BorjaPope Alexander VI , born Roderic Llançol, later Roderic de Borja i Borja was Pope from 1492 to 1503. He is one of the most controversial of the Renaissance popes, and his surname became a byword for the debased standards of the papacy of that era...
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| Vice Dean |
Oliviero Carafa Oliviero Carafa was an Italian Cardinal and diplomat of the Renaissance. Like the majority of his era's prelates, he displayed the magnificent way of life that was expected of a prince of the Church...
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| Camerlengo |
Raffaele Riario Raffaele Sansoni Galeoti Riario was an Italian Cardinal of the Renaissance, mainly known as the constructor of the Palazzo della Cancelleria and the one who invited Michelangelo to Rome. He is regarded as one of the most tasteful prelates of his age and a generous patron of the arts...
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| Protopriest |
Luis Juan del Mila y Borja
(absent; substituted by Girolamo Basso della RovereGirolamo Basso della Rovere was an Italian cardinal of the Roman Catholic church.He was bishop of Albenga in 1472, and then bishop of Recanati in 1476. He was created cardinal on December 10, 1477 by his uncle, Pope Sixtus IV....
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| Protodeacon |
Francesco PiccolominiPope Pius III , born Francesco Todeschini Piccolomini, was Pope from September 22 to October 18, 1503.-Career:...
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| Ballots |
Pope elected after 4 ballots |
| Elected Pope |
Rodrigo BorjaPope Alexander VI , born Roderic Llançol, later Roderic de Borja i Borja was Pope from 1492 to 1503. He is one of the most controversial of the Renaissance popes, and his surname became a byword for the debased standards of the papacy of that era...
(took name Alexander VI) |
The
papal conclave of 1492 (August 6 – August 11, 1492) convened after the death of
Pope Innocent VIIIPope Innocent VIII , born Giovanni Battista Cybo , was Pope from 1484 until his death.-Early years:...
(July 25, 1492), elected unanimously on the fourth ballot Cardinal Rodrigo Borja as
Pope Alexander VIPope Alexander VI , born Roderic Llançol, later Roderic de Borja i Borja was Pope from 1492 to 1503. He is one of the most controversial of the Renaissance popes, and his surname became a byword for the debased standards of the papacy of that era...
. The first conclave to be held in the
Sistine ChapelSistine Chapel is the best-known chapel in the Apostolic Palace, the official residence of the Pope in Vatican City. It is famous for its architecture, evocative of Solomon's Temple of the Old Testament, and its decoration which has been frescoed throughout by the greatest Renaissance artists...
, the election is notorious for allegations that the elect bought the votes of his electors, promising them lucrative appointments and other material gifts (
simonySimony is the ecclesiastical crime of paying for holy offices or positions in the hierarchy of a church, named after Simon Magus, who appears in the Acts of the Apostles 8:18-24. Simon Magus offers the disciples of Jesus, Peter and John payment so that anyone he would place his hands on would...
). Concerns about this conclave led
Pope Julius IIPope Julius II , nicknamed Il Papa Terribile , was born Giuliano della Rovere. He was Pope from 1503 to 1513. His reign was marked by an aggressive foreign policy, ambitious building projects, and patronage for the arts.-Early life:There is disagreement about Julius' date of birth...
to create stronger rules against simony in 1503.
Cardinal electors
Of the twenty-three cardinals participating in the conclave, fourteen had been elevated by
Pope Sixtus IVPope Sixtus IV , born Francesco della Rovere, was Pope from 1471 to 1484. He founded the Sistine Chapel where the team of artists he brought together and introduced the Early Renaissance to Rome with the first masterpiece of the city's new artistic age.-Biography:Francesco was born to a modest...
. The Cardinals of Sixtus IV, known as the "Sistine Cardinals" and led by Giuliano della Rovere, had controlled the conclave of 1484, electing one of their own, Giambattista Cibo as
Pope Innocent VIIIPope Innocent VIII , born Giovanni Battista Cybo , was Pope from 1484 until his death.-Early years:...
. Since 1431 the composition of the
College of CardinalsThe College of Cardinals is the body of all cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church.A function of the college is to advise the pope about church matters when he summons them to an ordinary consistory. It also convenes on the death or abdication of a pope as a papal conclave to elect a successor...
had been radically transformed, increasing the number of
cardinal-nephewA 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...
s (from 3 to 10),
crown-cardinalA crown-cardinal was a cardinal protector of Catholic nation, nominated or funded by a Catholic monarch to serve as their representative within the College of Cardinals and, if applicable, exercise the jus exclusivae...
s (from 2 to 8), and representatives of powerful Roman noble families (from 2 to 4). With the exception of three curial officials and one pastor, the cardinals were "secularly-minded princes largely unconcerned with the spiritual life of either the Latin church or its members."
At the time of Innocent VIII's death, the names of Cardinals Gherardo and Sanseverino (both created
in pectoreIn pectore is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to refer to appointments to the College of Cardinals by the Pope when the name of the newly appointed cardinal is not publicly revealed...
), had not been published, thus making them ineligible to participate in the conclave; however, both were published as an act of the College in
sede vacanteSede vacante is an expression, used in the Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church, that refers to the vacancy of the episcopal see of a particular church...
, Gherardo having been pushed by Orsini and Sanseverino by Sforza. Gherardo was assigned the title of
Santi Nereo e AchilleoSanti Nereo e Achilleo is a 4th century basilica church in Rome.The church is located in the rione Celio, close to the Baths of Caracalla. The current Cardinal Priest of the Titulus Ss...
, which it was believed Innocent VIII had intended for him; Sanseverino was given the poor and undesirable diaconate of
San TeodoroSan Teodoro is 6th century church in Rome. It was given to the Orthodox community of Rome by Pope John Paul II in 2004. It is dedicated to Theodore of Amasea, and is located on an ancient route between the Roman Forum and Forum Boarium along the north-west foot of the Palatine Hill.- Catholic...
to ensure that the future pontiff would confirm his assignment.
According to the account of bishop ambassador Giovanni Andrea Boccaccio, at least seven cardinals considered themselves
papabilePapabile is an unofficial Italian term first coined by Vaticanologists and now used internationally in many languages to describe a cardinal of whom it is thought likely or possible that he will be elected pope. A literal English translation would be "popeable" or "one who might become pope".In...
, having dismantled the furnishings of their palaces as a precaution against the traditional pillaging of the pope-elect's residence by the Roman populace: da Costa, Fregoso, Michiel, Piccolomini, Domenico della Rovere, Savelli, and Zeno.
| Elector |
Nationality |
Order and title |
Elevated |
Elevator |
Notes |
Rodrigo BorjaPope Alexander VI , born Roderic Llançol, later Roderic de Borja i Borja was Pope from 1492 to 1503. He is one of the most controversial of the Renaissance popes, and his surname became a byword for the debased standards of the papacy of that era...
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SpanishSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain , is a country located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. [The Spanish constitution does not establish any official denomination of the country, even though España , Estado español and Nación española are used interchangeably...]
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Cardinal-Bishop of Porto e Santa Rufina |
1456, February 20
created in pectoreIn pectore is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to refer to appointments to the College of Cardinals by the Pope when the name of the newly appointed cardinal is not publicly revealed...
; published September 17, 1456 |
Callixtus IIIPope Calixtus III , né Alfonso de Borja, was Pope from April 8, 1455 to his death in 1458.-Biography:...
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Dean of the College of Cardinals The Dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals is the president of the College of Cardinals in the Roman Catholic Church, and as such always holds the rank of Cardinal Bishop. The Dean is not necessarily the longest-serving member of the whole College...
and administrator of ValenciaThe Archdiocese of Valencia is a Catholic ecclesiastical territory located in north-eastern Spain, in the province of Valencia, part of the autonomous community of Valencia. The archdiocese heads the ecclesiastical province of Valencia, having Metropolitan authority over the suffragan dioceses of...
elected Pope Alexander VIPope Alexander VI , born Roderic Llançol, later Roderic de Borja i Borja was Pope from 1492 to 1503. He is one of the most controversial of the Renaissance popes, and his surname became a byword for the debased standards of the papacy of that era...
Cardinal-nephewA 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...
, Vice-Chancellor of the Holy Roman Church, House of Borgia |
| Oliviero Carafa Oliviero Carafa was an Italian Cardinal and diplomat of the Renaissance. Like the majority of his era's prelates, he displayed the magnificent way of life that was expected of a prince of the Church...
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NeapolitanNaples in Italy, is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples. The city is known for its rich history, art, culture, architecture, music and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,800 years old...
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Cardinal-Bishop of Sabina |
1467, September 18 |
Paul IIPope Paul II , born Pietro Barbo, was Pope from 1464 until his death in 1471.-Early life and election :...
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Vice Dean of the College of Cardinals
Crown cardinal of Ferdinand I of NaplesFerdinand I , also called Don Ferrante, was the King of Naples from 1458 to 1494. He was the natural son of Alfonso V of Aragon by Giraldona Carlino.-Biography:...
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Giuliano della RoverePope Julius II , nicknamed Il Papa Terribile , was born Giuliano della Rovere. He was Pope from 1503 to 1513. His reign was marked by an aggressive foreign policy, ambitious building projects, and patronage for the arts.-Early life:There is disagreement about Julius' date of birth...
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Savona Savona is a seaport and comune in the northern Italian region of Liguria, capital of the Province of Savona, in the Riviera di Ponente on the Mediterranean Sea....
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Cardinal-Bishop of Ostia and Velletri |
1471, December 16
created in pectoreIn pectore is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to refer to appointments to the College of Cardinals by the Pope when the name of the newly appointed cardinal is not publicly revealed...
; published December 22, 1471 |
Sixtus IVPope Sixtus IV , born Francesco della Rovere, was Pope from 1471 to 1484. He founded the Sistine Chapel where the team of artists he brought together and introduced the Early Renaissance to Rome with the first masterpiece of the city's new artistic age.-Biography:Francesco was born to a modest...
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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...
; bishop of Bologna, administrator of AvignonAvignon is a commune in the Vaucluse department in south-eastern France with an estimated mid-2004 population of 89,300 in the city itself and a population of 290,466 in the metropolitan area at the 1999 census.The city is well known for its Palais des Papes , where several popes...
Future Pope Julius IIPope Julius II , nicknamed Il Papa Terribile , was born Giuliano della Rovere. He was Pope from 1503 to 1513. His reign was marked by an aggressive foreign policy, ambitious building projects, and patronage for the arts.-Early life:There is disagreement about Julius' date of birth...
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| Giovanni Battista Zeno Giovanni Battista Zeno or Zen was a cardinal of the Catholic Church.He was made a cardinal by his uncle, Pope Paul II in November 1468. The Zeno Chapel in St Mark's Basilica, Venice, was built as his tomb....
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VenetianVenice is a city in northern Italy, the capital of the region Veneto, a population of 271,367 . Together with Padua, the city is included in the Padua-Venice Metropolitan Area . The city historically was an independent nation...
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Cardinal-Bishop of Frascati |
1468, November 21 |
Paul IIPope Paul II , born Pietro Barbo, was Pope from 1464 until his death in 1471.-Early life and election :...
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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...
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| Giovanni Michiel |
VenetianVenice is a city in northern Italy, the capital of the region Veneto, a population of 271,367 . Together with Padua, the city is included in the Padua-Venice Metropolitan Area . The city historically was an independent nation...
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Cardinal-Bishop of Palestrina |
1468, November 21 |
Paul IIPope Paul II , born Pietro Barbo, was Pope from 1464 until his death in 1471.-Early life and election :...
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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...
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| Jorge da Costa Dom Jorge da Costa was a Portuguese Cardinal. Born in Alpedrinha, Fundão, he is often called the Cardinal of Alpedrinha. He was one of many children of Martim Vaz and wife Catarina Gonçalves. He made benefits to all his brothers and sisters.He held a very large number of ecclesiastical offices...
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PortuguesePortugal , officially the Portuguese Republic , is a country located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of mainland Europe and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south and by Spain to the north and east...
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Cardinal-Bishop of Albano |
1476, December 16 |
Sixtus IVPope Sixtus IV , born Francesco della Rovere, was Pope from 1471 to 1484. He founded the Sistine Chapel where the team of artists he brought together and introduced the Early Renaissance to Rome with the first masterpiece of the city's new artistic age.-Biography:Francesco was born to a modest...
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Archbishop of Lisbon; Crown cardinal of Afonso V of PortugalAfonso V , called the African , was the twelfth King of Portugal and the Algarves. His sobriquet refers to his conquests in Northern Africa....
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| Girolamo Basso della Rovere Girolamo Basso della Rovere was an Italian cardinal of the Roman Catholic church.He was bishop of Albenga in 1472, and then bishop of Recanati in 1476. He was created cardinal on December 10, 1477 by his uncle, Pope Sixtus IV....
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Savona Savona is a seaport and comune in the northern Italian region of Liguria, capital of the Province of Savona, in the Riviera di Ponente on the Mediterranean Sea....
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Cardinal-Priest of S. Crisogono San Crisogono is a church in Rome dedicated to the martyr Saint Chrysogonus.-History:The church was one of the tituli, the first parish churches of Rome...
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1477, December 10
created in pectoreIn pectore is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to refer to appointments to the College of Cardinals by the Pope when the name of the newly appointed cardinal is not publicly revealed...
; published December 12, 1477 |
Sixtus IVPope Sixtus IV , born Francesco della Rovere, was Pope from 1471 to 1484. He founded the Sistine Chapel where the team of artists he brought together and introduced the Early Renaissance to Rome with the first masterpiece of the city's new artistic age.-Biography:Francesco was born to a modest...
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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...
; bishop of Recanati e Macerata |
| Domenico della Rovere |
Savona Savona is a seaport and comune in the northern Italian region of Liguria, capital of the Province of Savona, in the Riviera di Ponente on the Mediterranean Sea....
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Cardinal-Priest of S. ClementeThe Basilica of Saint Clement is a Roman Catholic minor basilica dedicated to Pope Clement I located in Rome, Italy. Archaeologically speaking it is a three-tiered complex of buildings on the site, the lowermost notable as being an archaeological record of a first century insula belonging to T...
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1478, February 10 |
Sixtus IVPope Sixtus IV , born Francesco della Rovere, was Pope from 1471 to 1484. He founded the Sistine Chapel where the team of artists he brought together and introduced the Early Renaissance to Rome with the first masterpiece of the city's new artistic age.-Biography:Francesco was born to a modest...
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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...
; archbishop of Turin |
| Paulo Fregoso |
GenoeseGenoa is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria. The city has a population of about 610,000 and the urban area has a population of about 900,000...
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Cardinal-Priest of S. Sisto San Sisto Vecchio is a church in Rome, devoted to St. Pope Sixtus II. It was built in the 4th century, and is recorded as the Titulus Crescentianae, thus relating the church to some Crescentia, possibly a Roman woman who founded the church. According to tradition, the church was established by Pope...
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1480, May 15 |
Sixtus IVPope Sixtus IV , born Francesco della Rovere, was Pope from 1471 to 1484. He founded the Sistine Chapel where the team of artists he brought together and introduced the Early Renaissance to Rome with the first masterpiece of the city's new artistic age.-Biography:Francesco was born to a modest...
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Former ruler of Genoa; archbishop of Genoa |
| Giovanni Conti |
RomanRome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated municipality , with over 2.7 million residents in , while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat to be 3.46 million. The metropolitan area of Rome is estimated by OECD to have a population of 3.7 million...
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Cardinal-Priest of S. Vitale |
1483, November 15 |
Sixtus IVPope Sixtus IV , born Francesco della Rovere, was Pope from 1471 to 1484. He founded the Sistine Chapel where the team of artists he brought together and introduced the Early Renaissance to Rome with the first masterpiece of the city's new artistic age.-Biography:Francesco was born to a modest...
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| Giovanni Giacomo Sclafenati Giovanni Giacomo Sclafenati was an Italian cardinal of the Catholic Church. He was bishop of Parma in Italy.He was made cardinal on 15 November 1483 by Pope Sixtus IV.-External links:*...
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MilanMilan in Italy, is the capital of the region of Lombardia and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while the urban area is the fifth largest in the E.U. with an estimated population of 4.3 million...
ese |
Cardinal-Priest of S. Cecilia Santa Cecilia in Trastevere is a 5th century church of Rome, located in the Trastevere rione and devoted to Saint Cecilia.-History:The first church on this site was founded probably in the 3rd century, by Pope Urban I; it was devoted to the Roman martyr Cecilia, martyred it is said under Marcus...
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1483, November 15 |
Sixtus IVPope Sixtus IV , born Francesco della Rovere, was Pope from 1471 to 1484. He founded the Sistine Chapel where the team of artists he brought together and introduced the Early Renaissance to Rome with the first masterpiece of the city's new artistic age.-Biography:Francesco was born to a modest...
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Bishop of Parma |
| Lorenzo Cibò di Mari |
GenoeseGenoa is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria. The city has a population of about 610,000 and the urban area has a population of about 900,000...
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Cardinal-Priest of S. Marco San Marco is a basilica in Rome. Devoted to St. Mark, it was built in 336 by Pope Mark and rebuilt in 833 by Pope Gregory IV; the basilica, located in the small Piazza di San Marco , shows a Baroque style dating back to the restorations of the 17th and 18th centuries.-History:In 336, Pope Mark...
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1489, March 9 |
Innocent VIIIPope Innocent VIII , born Giovanni Battista Cybo , was Pope from 1484 until his death.-Early years:...
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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...
; archbishop of BeneventoBenevento is a town and comune of Campania, Italy, capital of the province of Benevento, 50 km northeast of Naples. It is situated on a hill 130 m above sea-level at the confluence of the Calore Irpino and Sabato. It is also the seat of a Catholic archbishop.Benevento occupies the site of...
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| Ardicino della Porta |
MilanMilan in Italy, is the capital of the region of Lombardia and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while the urban area is the fifth largest in the E.U. with an estimated population of 4.3 million...
ese (NovaraNovara is the capital city of the province of Novara in the Piedmont region in northwest Italy, to the west of Milan. With c. 103.602 inhabitants, it is the second most populous city in Piedmont after Turin and it is the second urban area of the Region Piedmont with 190,000 inhabitants...
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Cardinal-Priest of Ss. Giovanni e PaoloSanti Giovanni e Paolo is an ancient basilica church in Rome, located on the Celian Hill. It is also called Santi Giovanni e Paolo al Celio or referred to as SS Giovanni e Paolo....
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1489, March 9 |
Innocent VIIIPope Innocent VIII , born Giovanni Battista Cybo , was Pope from 1484 until his death.-Early years:...
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bishop of Aleria |
| Antoniotto Pallavicini Antonio Pallavicini Gentili was an Italian Cardinal. He was considered papabile in 1492. Bishop of Frascati from April until December 1503; later bishop of Palestrina....
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GenoeseGenoa is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria. The city has a population of about 610,000 and the urban area has a population of about 900,000...
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Cardinal-Priest of S. PrassedeThe Basilica of Saint Praxedes is a titular minor basilica in Rome, located near the major basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.The current Cardinal Priest of Titulus Sancta Praxedis is Paul Poupard.- History :...
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1489, March 9 |
Innocent VIIIPope Innocent VIII , born Giovanni Battista Cybo , was Pope from 1484 until his death.-Early years:...
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Bishop of Orense |
Maffeo Gherardo, O.S.B.The Order of Saint Benedict is a Roman Catholic religious order of independent monastic communities that observe the Rule of St. Benedict. Within the order, each individual community maintains its own autonomy, while the organization as a whole exists to represent their mutual interests...
Cam.The Camaldolese are part of the Benedictine family of monastic communities which follow the way of life outlined in the Rule of St. Benedict, written in the 6th century....
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VenetianVenice is a city in northern Italy, the capital of the region Veneto, a population of 271,367 . Together with Padua, the city is included in the Padua-Venice Metropolitan Area . The city historically was an independent nation...
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Cardinal-Priest of Ss. Nereo e Achilleo Santi Nereo e Achilleo is a 4th century basilica church in Rome.The church is located in the rione Celio, close to the Baths of Caracalla. The current Cardinal Priest of the Titulus Ss...
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1489, March 9 (created in pectore In pectore is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to refer to appointments to the College of Cardinals by the Pope when the name of the newly appointed cardinal is not publicly revealed...
) |
Innocent VIIIPope Innocent VIII , born Giovanni Battista Cybo , was Pope from 1484 until his death.-Early years:...
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Not published before death of Innocent VIII In pectore is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to refer to appointments to the College of Cardinals by the Pope when the name of the newly appointed cardinal is not publicly revealed...
; patriarch of VeniceThe Patriarch of Venice is one of the few Patriarchs in the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church. The diocese of Venice was created in 774, but it was only in 1457 that its bishops were accorded the title of the patriarch by the Pope, for political considerations. Venice is the oldest surviving...
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Francesco PiccolominiPope Pius III , born Francesco Todeschini Piccolomini, was Pope from September 22 to October 18, 1503.-Career:...
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NeapolitanNaples in Italy, is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples. The city is known for its rich history, art, culture, architecture, music and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,800 years old...
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Cardinal-Deacon of S. EustachioSant'Eustachio is a titular church in Rome, named for Saint Eustace.It was founded in the 8th century, or possibly earlier, as a diaconia , and restored in the 12th century...
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1460, March 5 |
Pius IIPope Pius II, born Enea Silvio Piccolomini was Pope from August 19, 1458 until his death in 1464. Pius II, "whose character reflects almost every tendency of the age in which he lived", was born at Corsignano in the Sienese territory of a noble but decayed family...
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ProtodeaconProtodeacon derives from the Greek proto- meaning 'first' and diakonos, meaning 'deacon'. The word in English may refer to various clergymen, depending upon the usage of the particular church in question.-Eastern Orthodox Church:...
, bishop of Siena, future Pope Pius IIIPope Pius III , born Francesco Todeschini Piccolomini, was Pope from September 22 to October 18, 1503.-Career:...
, Cardinal-nephewA 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...
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| Raffaele Riario Raffaele Sansoni Galeoti Riario was an Italian Cardinal of the Renaissance, mainly known as the constructor of the Palazzo della Cancelleria and the one who invited Michelangelo to Rome. He is regarded as one of the most tasteful prelates of his age and a generous patron of the arts...
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Savona Savona is a seaport and comune in the northern Italian region of Liguria, capital of the Province of Savona, in the Riviera di Ponente on the Mediterranean Sea....
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Cardinal-Deacon of S. Lorenzo in Damaso San Lorenzo in Damaso is a basilica church in Rome, one of several dedicated to the Roman deacon and martyr Saint Lawrence...
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1477, December 12 |
Sixtus IVPope Sixtus IV , born Francesco della Rovere, was Pope from 1471 to 1484. He founded the Sistine Chapel where the team of artists he brought together and introduced the Early Renaissance to Rome with the first masterpiece of the city's new artistic age.-Biography:Francesco was born to a modest...
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Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, 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...
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| Giovanni Battista Savelli Giovanni Battista Savelli was an Italian cardinal from the 15th century. Of the noble Savelli family to which belonged Pope Honorius III and Pope Honorius IV and Cardinals: Bertrando Savelli, Giacomo Savelli, Silvio Savelli, Giulio Savelli, Fabrizio Savelli, Paolo Savelli and Domenico Savelli...
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RomanRome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated municipality , with over 2.7 million residents in , while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat to be 3.46 million. The metropolitan area of Rome is estimated by OECD to have a population of 3.7 million...
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Cardinal-Deacon of S. Nicola in Carcere Tulliano San Nicola in Carcere is a titular church in Rome near the Forum Boarium in rione Ripa.-History:The first church on the site was probably built in the 6th century, and a 10th century inscription may be seen on a fluted column next to the entrance, but the first definite dedication is from a plaque...
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1480, May 15 |
Sixtus IVPope Sixtus IV , born Francesco della Rovere, was Pope from 1471 to 1484. He founded the Sistine Chapel where the team of artists he brought together and introduced the Early Renaissance to Rome with the first masterpiece of the city's new artistic age.-Biography:Francesco was born to a modest...
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Former Governor of Bologna Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of northern Italy...
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| Giovanni Colonna |
RomanRome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated municipality , with over 2.7 million residents in , while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat to be 3.46 million. The metropolitan area of Rome is estimated by OECD to have a population of 3.7 million...
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Cardinal-Deacon of S. Maria in Aquiro Santa Maria in Aquiro is a church in Rome. It is dedicated to Mary, mother of Jesus, and is located on Piazza Capranica.The church is ancient - it was restored by Pope Gregory III, and thus must have existed before then. One theory is that it was the titulus Equitii, though San Martino ai Monti is...
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1480, May 15 |
Sixtus IVPope Sixtus IV , born Francesco della Rovere, was Pope from 1471 to 1484. He founded the Sistine Chapel where the team of artists he brought together and introduced the Early Renaissance to Rome with the first masterpiece of the city's new artistic age.-Biography:Francesco was born to a modest...
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| "Giambattista" Orsini Giovanni Battista Orsini, or Jean-Baptiste des Ursins, was 39th Grand Master of the Order of the Knights Hospitaller from 1467 to 1476.-References:*Musée de Cluny** who belonged to the Grand Master Giovanni Battista degli Orsini....
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RomanRome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated municipality , with over 2.7 million residents in , while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat to be 3.46 million. The metropolitan area of Rome is estimated by OECD to have a population of 3.7 million...
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Cardinal-Deacon of S. Maria Nuova Santa Maria Nuova redirects here - for the church in Rome, see Santa Maria Nuova .Santa Maria Nuova is a comune in the Province of Ancona in the Italian region Marche, located about 20 km southwest of Ancona...
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1483, November 15 |
Sixtus IVPope Sixtus IV , born Francesco della Rovere, was Pope from 1471 to 1484. He founded the Sistine Chapel where the team of artists he brought together and introduced the Early Renaissance to Rome with the first masterpiece of the city's new artistic age.-Biography:Francesco was born to a modest...
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| Ascanio Sforza Ascanio Maria Sforza Visconti was an Italian Cardinal of the Catholic Church, generally known as a skilled diplomat who played a major role in the election of Rodrigo Borgia as Pope Alexander VI.-Early years:...
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MilanMilan in Italy, is the capital of the region of Lombardia and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while the urban area is the fifth largest in the E.U. with an estimated population of 4.3 million...
ese |
Cardinal-Deacon of Ss. Vito e Modesto |
1484, March 6
created in pectoreIn pectore is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to refer to appointments to the College of Cardinals by the Pope when the name of the newly appointed cardinal is not publicly revealed...
; published March 17, 1484 |
Sixtus IVPope Sixtus IV , born Francesco della Rovere, was Pope from 1471 to 1484. He founded the Sistine Chapel where the team of artists he brought together and introduced the Early Renaissance to Rome with the first masterpiece of the city's new artistic age.-Biography:Francesco was born to a modest...
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House of Sforza Sforza was a ruling family of Renaissance Italy, based in Milan.-History:The dynasty was founded by Muzio Attendolo, called Sforza , a condottiero from Romagna serving the Angevin kings of Naples...
, ruling family member of Milan |
Giovanni de' MediciPope Leo X was Pope from 1513 to his death. He was the last non-priest to be elected Pope. He is known primarily for the sale of indulgences to reconstruct St. Peter's Basilica and his challenging of Martin Luther's 95 theses. He was the second son of Lorenzo de' Medici, the most famous ruler of...
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Florentine Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence...
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Cardinal-Deacon of S. Maria in Domnica Santa Maria in Domnica — also known as Santa Maria alla Navicella — is a basilica church in Rome.-History:The church was built in ancient times, close to the Vigiles 5th cohort's barracks. The church was built no later than the 7th century...
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1489, March 9 |
Innocent VIIIPope Innocent VIII , born Giovanni Battista Cybo , was Pope from 1484 until his death.-Early years:...
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Future Pope Leo XPope Leo X was Pope from 1513 to his death. He was the last non-priest to be elected Pope. He is known primarily for the sale of indulgences to reconstruct St. Peter's Basilica and his challenging of Martin Luther's 95 theses. He was the second son of Lorenzo de' Medici, the most famous ruler of...
, Ruling family member of Florence |
| Federico Sanseverino |
NeapolitanNaples in Italy, is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples. The city is known for its rich history, art, culture, architecture, music and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,800 years old...
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Cardinal-Deacon of S. Teodoro San Teodoro may refer to:*Italy**San Teodoro , comune in the Province of Messina, Lombardy**San Teodoro , comune in the Province of Olbia-Tempio, Sardinia**San Teodoro , 6th century church of Rome*Philippines...
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1489, March 9 (created in pectore In pectore is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to refer to appointments to the College of Cardinals by the Pope when the name of the newly appointed cardinal is not publicly revealed...
) |
Innocent VIIIPope Innocent VIII , born Giovanni Battista Cybo , was Pope from 1484 until his death.-Early years:...
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Not published before death of Innocent VIII In pectore is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to refer to appointments to the College of Cardinals by the Pope when the name of the newly appointed cardinal is not publicly revealed...
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Absent Cardinals
There is no evidence that any of the four absent cardinals made an attempt to reach Rome for the conclave.
| Elector |
Nationality |
Order and title |
Elevated |
Elevator |
Notes |
| Luis Juan del Mila y Borja |
SpanishSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain , is a country located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. [The Spanish constitution does not establish any official denomination of the country, even though España , Estado español and Nación española are used interchangeably...]
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Cardinal-Priest of Ss. IV Coronati Santi Quattro Coronati is an ancient basilica in Rome. The church dates back to the 4th century, and is devoted to four anonymous saints and martyrs. The complex of the basilica with its two courtyards, the fortified Cardinal Palace with the St...
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1456, February 20
created in pectoreIn pectore is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to refer to appointments to the College of Cardinals by the Pope when the name of the newly appointed cardinal is not publicly revealed...
; published September 17, 1456 |
Callixtus IIIPope Calixtus III , né Alfonso de Borja, was Pope from April 8, 1455 to his death in 1458.-Biography:...
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Archpriest of the Sacred College; bishop of Lérida; de facto retired
Cardinal-nephewA 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...
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| Pedro González de Mendoza Pedro González de Mendoza was a Spanish cardinal and statesman.-Biography:He was born at Guadalajara in New Castile, the chief lordship of his family...
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SpanishSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain , is a country located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. [The Spanish constitution does not establish any official denomination of the country, even though España , Estado español and Nación española are used interchangeably...]
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Cardinal-Priest of S. Croce in GerusalemmeThe Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem is a Roman Catholic basilica in Rome. It is one of the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome.According to tradition, the basilica was consecrated around 325 to house the Passion Relics brought to Rome from the Holy Land by St. Helena of Constantinople, mother...
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1473, May 7 |
Sixtus IVPope Sixtus IV , born Francesco della Rovere, was Pope from 1471 to 1484. He founded the Sistine Chapel where the team of artists he brought together and introduced the Early Renaissance to Rome with the first masterpiece of the city's new artistic age.-Biography:Francesco was born to a modest...
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Archbishop of Toledo; Had not left Iberian PeninsulaThe Iberian Peninsula, or Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe and includes modern-day Spain, Portugal, Andorra and Gibraltar and a very small area of France. It is the westernmost of the three major southern European peninsulas—the Iberian, Italian, and Balkan peninsulas...
since elvation
Crown cardinal of the Catholic MonarchsThe Catholic Monarchs is the collective title used in history for Queen Isabella I of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon. The title of "Catholic King and Queen" was bestowed on them by the Pope Alexander VI. They married on October 19,1469, in the city of Valladolid; Isabella was eighteen...
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| André d'Espinay |
FrenchFrance , officially the French Republic , is a country located in Western Europe, with several overseas islands and territories located on other continents. Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean...
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Cardinal-Priest of Ss. Silvestro e Martino ai Monti |
1489, March 9 |
Innocent VIIIPope Innocent VIII , born Giovanni Battista Cybo , was Pope from 1484 until his death.-Early years:...
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Archbishop of Bordeauxis a port city on the Garonne River in southwest France, with one million inhabitants in its metropolitan area at a 2008 estimate. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture of the Gironde department...
, and Lyon||-||}Lyon , often Anglicized as Lyons, is a city in east-central France in the region Rhône-Alpes, situated between Paris and Marseille. Its name is pronounced in French and Arpitan, and or in English...
; Crown cardinal of Charles VIII of FranceCharles VIII, called the Affable, , was King of France from 1483 to his death. Charles was a member of the House of Valois...
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| Pierre d'Aubusson Pierre d'Aubusson was a Grand Master of the order of St. John of Jerusalem and a zealous opponent of the Ottoman Empire.Pierre probably joined the Knights of St...
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FrenchFrance , officially the French Republic , is a country located in Western Europe, with several overseas islands and territories located on other continents. Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean...
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Cardinal-Deacon of S. Adriano |
1489, March 9 |
Innocent VIIIPope Innocent VIII , born Giovanni Battista Cybo , was Pope from 1484 until his death.-Early years:...
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Grand Master of Knights HospitallerThe Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes, and of Malta is a Roman Catholic order based in Rome, Italy...
Busy defending RhodesRhodes is a Greek island approximately southwest of Turkey in eastern Aegean Sea...
from the Turks |
Procedures
As dictated by the prescriptions
Ubi periculumUbi periculum was a document promulgated by Pope Gregory X during the Second Council of Lyon in 1274 that established the papal conclave as the method of selection for a pope...
and
Ne Romani, the conclave should have begun on August 4, ten days after the death of Innocent VIII; however, the conclave was delayed to await the slow arrival of the aged Gherardo, bearing a letter from Venice's
Council of TenThe Council of Ten, or simply the Ten, was, from 1310 to 1797, one of the major governing bodies of the Republic of Venice. Although its actions were often secretive, it was generally considered to be fair and effective by the citizens of the Republic....
urging his acceptance into the College. The cardinals had decided as early as their first meeting on July 24 to use the
Sistine ChapelSistine Chapel is the best-known chapel in the Apostolic Palace, the official residence of the Pope in Vatican City. It is famous for its architecture, evocative of Solomon's Temple of the Old Testament, and its decoration which has been frescoed throughout by the greatest Renaissance artists...
for the balloting and assembly of the conclave.
Johann BurchardJohann Burchard was born c. 1450 at Niederhaslach, now Bas-Rhin, Alsace, France. Of humble origins, he was educated by the collegial chapter of St. Florent in Niederhaslach and eventually became secretary to the Bishop of Strasbourg...
, the
GermanGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium,...
papal master of ceremonies, who presided over the conclave, as well as the previous one in 1484, kept an extensive diary, noting that each cardinal was provided:
The Mass of the Holy Spirit (celebrated by Giuliano della Rovere rather than Borja who as Dean would traditionally have been the celebrant) and then a speech by
Bernardino Lopez de CarvajalBernardino López de Carvajal was a Spanish Cardinal.He was a nephew of Cardinal Juan Carvajal, and advanced rapidly in the ecclesiastical career at Rome, whither he came during the pontificate of Pope Sixtus IV...
, a Spaniard and the ambassador to
Ferdinand and IsabellaThe Catholic Monarchs is the collective title used in history for Queen Isabella I of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon. The title of "Catholic King and Queen" was bestowed on them by the Pope Alexander VI. They married on October 19,1469, in the city of Valladolid; Isabella was eighteen...
, on the "evils afflicting the Church" preceded the beginning of the conclave on August 6, 1492. Another Spaniard, Gonzalo Fernandez de Heredia, archbishop of
TarragonaTarragona is a city located in the south of Catalonia and east of Spain, by the Mediterranean Sea. It is the capital of the Spanish province of the same name and the capital of the Catalan comarca Tarragonès...
, was appointed prefect of the Vatican. Two important offices during
sede vacanteSede vacante is an expression, used in the Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church, that refers to the vacancy of the episcopal see of a particular church...
were filled with compatriots of Cardinal Borja, and it is believed tha they both were chosen by Borja in his capacity as Dean to strenghten his posistion before the conclave.
The remainder of August 6 was consumed by the drafting and subscription to the
conclave capitulationA conclave capitulation is a capitulation drawn up by the College of Cardinals during a papal conclave, attempting to constrain the actions of the pope elected by the conclave. Generally, all cardinals would swear to uphold it if elected pope, and the capitulation would be finished before the first...
, which—although not extant—is known to have restricted the number of new cardinals which could be created by the new pope.
Vote count
Nationality of Cardinal Electors
| Country |
Number of Electors |
RomeRome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated municipality , with over 2.7 million residents in , while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat to be 3.46 million. The metropolitan area of Rome is estimated by OECD to have a population of 3.7 million...
, SavonaSavona is a seaport and comune in the northern Italian region of Liguria, capital of the Province of Savona, in the Riviera di Ponente on the Mediterranean Sea....
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4 |
GenoaGenoa is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria. The city has a population of about 610,000 and the urban area has a population of about 900,000...
, MilanMilan in Italy, is the capital of the region of Lombardia and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while the urban area is the fifth largest in the E.U. with an estimated population of 4.3 million...
, NaplesNaples in Italy, is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples. The city is known for its rich history, art, culture, architecture, music and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,800 years old...
, VeniceVenice is a city in northern Italy, the capital of the region Veneto, a population of 271,367 . Together with Padua, the city is included in the Padua-Venice Metropolitan Area . The city historically was an independent nation...
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3 |
| Florence Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence...
, PortugalPortugal , officially the Portuguese Republic , is a country located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of mainland Europe and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south and by Spain to the north and east...
, SpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain , is a country located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. [The Spanish constitution does not establish any official denomination of the country, even though España , Estado español and Nación española are used interchangeably...]
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1 |
The first ballot ("scrutiny"), held on August 8, was said to have resulted in nine votes for Carafa, seven for Borja, Costa, and Michiel, and five for Giuliano della Rovere, with Sforza notably receiving zero votes.
The second ballot produced: nine for Carafa, eight for Borja, seven for Michiel, and five for Giuliano della Rovere.
According to the Florentine Ambassador, one of the guards of the conclave, as of August 10, there had been three unsuccessful ballots, favoring Costa and Carafa, but in no way indicating Borja might be chosen. According to Sigismondo de' Conti, papal secretary and chronicler, the vote was unanimous on the fourth ballot, taken early in the morning on August 11, although Borja had only 15 votes prior to the
accessusAccessus is a term applied to the voting in conclave for the election of a pope, by which a cardinal changes his vote and accedes to some other candidate. Accessus voting was first used in the papal conclave, 1455...
; other accounts say Borja received all the votes except for his own, which he gave to Carafa.
According to the
Catholic EncyclopediaThe Catholic Encyclopedia, also referred to today as the Old Catholic Encyclopedia, is an English-language encyclopedia published in the United States. The first volume appeared in March 1907 and it was completed in April 1914...
, the election of Rodrigo Borja "almost entirely due to" Giambattisti Orsini.
Allegations of simony
The Venetian envoy to Milan informed his confrère in Ferrara: "that by simony and a thousand villanies and indecencies the papacy has been sold, which is a disgraceful and detestable business", adding that he expected Spain and France to withhold their support from the new pontiff. After the conclave, a ubiquitous epigram within Rome was: "Alexander sells the Keys, the Altar, Christ Himself—he has a right to for he bought them."
On August 10, after the third ballot, Ascanio Sforza allegedly came to believe his own ambitions of being elected pope were impossible and became succeptable to Borja's offer: the office of Vice-Chancellor and the associated Palazzo Borgia, the Castle of Nepi, the bishopric of Erlau (with annual revenue of 10,000 ducats) and other benefices. Sforza was also reputed to have received four mule-loads of silver (some sources say gold), which Borja ordered to be delivered immediately after the deal was struck. The price of the other Cardinals was as follows: Orsini, the fortified towns of
MonticelliMonticelli is a small village, a frazione of the comune of Teramo in the Abruzzo region of Italy. It has previously been called Monticulo and Monticello.-History:The origins of Monticelli date back to at least the 10th century...
and
SorianoSoriano may refer to:People* Alfonso Soriano, Dominican baseball player for the Chicago Cubs * Antero Soriano, Philippine senator* Edward Soriano, lieutenant-general, U.S. Army * Eliseo Soriano, Philippine religious broadcaster...
, the legation of the
MarchesMark and march refer to a border region similar to a frontier, such as the Welsh Marches, the borderland between England and Wales.In contrast to a buffer zone, a march could be dominated by a single given country, and rather than being demilitarized, it could be strongly fortified for defence...
, and the bishopric of Cartagena (with annual revenue of 5,000 ducats); Colonna, the abbey of
SubiacoSubiaco may refer to:*Subiaco, Italy, site of St. Benedict's first monastery*Subiaco, Western Australia, suburb of Perth*City of Subiaco, local government municipality in Perth, Western Australia centred on the suburb of the same name...
and its environs (with annual revenue of 3,000 ducats); Savelli,
Civita CastellanaCivita Castellana is a town in the province of Viterbo, 65 km north of Rome.Mount Soracte lies about 10 km to the south-east.-History:...
and the bishopric of Majorca; Pallavicini, the bishopric of Pampeluna (Pamplona); Michiel, the suburbicarian see of Porto; Riario, Spanish benefices with annual income of 4,000 ducats and the return of a house in the Piazza Navona (which Sforza had occupied) to the children of Count Girolamo. Sanseverino's compensation included Rodrigo Borgia's house in Milan. Cardinals Sclafenati and Domenico della Rovere were to receive abbacies and/or benefices. Cardinals Andicino della Porta and Conti followed Sforza, whom they had originally supported.
The aforementioned Cardinals plus Borja's own vote numbered 14, one short of the required two-third majority. However, Cardinals Carafa, Costa, Piccolomini, Cibò, and Zeno, followed by Medici, were unwilling to be bribed. Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere, followed by Basso, was intractably opposed to Borja's election. Thus, the ninety-six year old Gherardo, the Cardinal Patriarch of Venice, who was paid only 5,000 ducats, constituted the deciding vote.
According to Professor Picotti, who extensively researched the conclave and came to the conclusion that simony had occurred, no accounts of papal income and expenditure exist in the registers of
Introitus et ExitusIntroitus et Exitus Cameræ Apostolicæ is a six-hundred-and-six-volume financial record of the Apostolic Camera of the Holy See, from 1279 to 1524, located in the Vatican Secret Archives. The volumes span the reigns of thirty-two popes from Pope Nicholas III to Pope Clement VII...
for August 1492, and debts from the
Apostolic CameraThe Apostolic Camera, or in Latin Camera Apostolica or Apostolica Camera, is the central board of finance in the Papal administrative system, which at one time was of great importance in the government of the States of the Church, and in the administration of justice, led by the Camerlengo of the...
to Cardinals Campofregoso, Domenico della Rovere, Sanseverino, and Orsini appeared soon afterwards. The Spannocchi bank, which housed much of Borja's wealth, was said to have nearly crashed after the conclave due to the velocity of transactions.
Some sources say that
Charles VIII of FranceCharles VIII, called the Affable, , was King of France from 1483 to his death. Charles was a member of the House of Valois...
had bankrolled 200,000 ducats (plus 100,000 ducats from the
Doge of GenoaThe Republic of Genoa was technically a communal republic in the early Middle Ages, although it was actually an oligarchy ruled by a small group of merchant families, from whom were selected the Doges of Genoa....
) for the election of Giuliano della Rovere, although several otherwise bribable cardinals were hostile to French interference.
Other historians regard politics as a stronger factor within the conclave than pure simony, with the personal rivalvry between Giuliano della Rovere and Ascanio Sforza (who had met to discuss the upcoming conclave in
Castel GandolfoCastel Gandolfo is a small Italian town in Lazio that occupies a height overlooking Lake Albano about 30 km south-east of Rome, on the Alban Hills...
even before Innocent VII had died) substituting for the ancient struggle between Naples and Milan, with the intractability between the two parties making Borja a viable candidate.
Aftermath
When Giuliano della Rovere was elected
Pope Julius IIPope Julius II , nicknamed Il Papa Terribile , was born Giuliano della Rovere. He was Pope from 1503 to 1513. His reign was marked by an aggressive foreign policy, ambitious building projects, and patronage for the arts.-Early life:There is disagreement about Julius' date of birth...
in 1503, he issued a
bullA Papal bull is a particular type of letters patent or charter issued by a pope. It is named after the bulla that was appended to the end to authenticate it....
annulling any papal election brought about by simony, and defrocking and excommunicating any cardinal who sold his vote. Although the twenty-six day reign of
Pope Pius IIIPope Pius III , born Francesco Todeschini Piccolomini, was Pope from September 22 to October 18, 1503.-Career:...
intervened between Alexander VI and Julius II, the alleged unscrupulousness of the Borgia pope was still firmly in the institutional memory of the
Roman CuriaThe Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Roman Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
. While Cardinal during the reign of Alexander VI, Julius II had been assailed politically and often militarily outside the sturdy wall of his Castle of
OstiaOstia may refer to:*Ostia , a municipio of Rome on the Tyrrhenian Sea coast.*Ostia Antica, a township and port of ancient Rome*Ostia Antica , a district of the commune of Rome...
.