The papal conclave from August 26–29, 1484 elected Pope Innocent VIII

Pope Innocent VIII

Pope Innocent VIII , born Giovanni Battista Cybo , was Pope from 1484 until his death.-Early years:Giovanni Battista Cybo was born at Genoa of Greek extraction...

 after the death of Pope Sixtus IV

Pope Sixtus IV

Pope Sixtus IV , born Francesco della Rovere, was Pope from 1471 to 1484. His accomplishments as Pope included the establishment of the Sistine Chapel; the group of artists that he brought together introduced the Early Renaissance into Rome with the first masterpiece of the city's new artistic age,...

.

The election

At the death of Sixtus IV, the conclave

Papal conclave

A papal conclave is a meeting of the College of Cardinals convened to elect a Bishop of Rome, who then becomes the Pope during a period of vacancy in the papal office. The Pope is considered by Roman Catholics to be the apostolic successor of Saint Peter and earthly head of the Roman Catholic Church...

 of cardinals that met to elect his successor numbered thirty-two surviving cardinals, a greater number than at any time since the close of the twelfth century, excepting perhaps for the multiplied rival cardinalatial colleges of the Great Schism

Western Schism

The Western Schism or Papal Schism was a split within the Catholic Church from 1378 to 1417. Two men simultaneously claimed to be the true pope. Driven by politics rather than any theological disagreement, the schism was ended by the Council of Constance . The simultaneous claims to the papal chair...

 (1378–1417).

The immediate context of the election was the nearly unprecedented packing of the College of Cardinals

College of Cardinals

The College of Cardinals is the body of all cardinals of the 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...

 by Sixtus IV, not only in terms of overall size, but also in terms of 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...

s and crown cardinals. As a result, nearly all of the non-Venetian cardinals supported the continuation of Sixtus IV's policies of isolation towards the Republic of Venice

Republic of Venice

The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...

, specifically the Peace of Bagnolo

Peace of Bagnolo

The War of Ferrara ending with the Peace of Bagnolo, was fought in 1482-1484 between Ercole I d'Este, duke of Ferrara, and the Papal forces mustered by Ercole's personal nemesis, Pope Sixtus IV and his Venetian allies...

. However, the two factions of cardinals differed over whether the church ought to prioritize the continuation of the Italian League or should prioritize papal power (especially vis-a-vis Naples) over the preservation of the peace. Cardinal Borja lead the first faction and Cardinal della Rovere the second; these factions were roughly aligned with the Orsini and Colonna families, respectively.

The conclave was carried out by the largest non-schismatic College since the eleventh century. Because of an intense dispute between the Colonna and Orsini, the city of Rome was marked more far more civil unrest during the sede vacante

Sede vacante

Sede vacante is an expression, used in the Canon Law of the Catholic Church, that refers to the vacancy of the episcopal see of a particular church...

than was to be expected historically; as a result, Cardinal Barbo bribed Girolamo Riario 8000 ducats to withdrawal from the city for the duration of the conclave.

Cardinal electors

Elector	Nationality	Order	Title	Elevated	Elevator	Notes
Rodrigo Borja Pope Alexander VI Pope Alexander VI , born Roderic Llançol i Borja was Pope from 1492 until his death on 18 August 1503. He is one of the most controversial of the Renaissance popes, and his Italianized surname—Borgia—became a byword for the debased standards of the Papacy of that era, most notoriously the Banquet...	Spanish	Cardinal-bishop	Bishop of Porto e Santa Rufina, administrator of Valencia			Dean of the College of Cardinals 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... ; future Pope Alexander VI; 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...
Giuliano della Rovere Pope Julius II Pope Julius II , nicknamed "The Fearsome Pope" and "The Warrior Pope" , born Giuliano della Rovere, was Pope from 1503 to 1513...		Cardinal-bishop	Bishop of Ostia e Velletri, bishop of Bologna, administrator of Avignon			Future Pope Julius II; 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...
Oliviero Carafa Oliviero Carafa Oliviero Carafa was an Italian cardinal and diplomat of the Renaissance. Like the majority of his era's prelates, he displayed the lavish and conspicuous standard of living that was expected of a prince of the Church...		Cardinal-bishop	Bishop of Albano
Marco Barbo Marco Barbo Marco Barbo of Venice was a cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church and patriarch of Aquileia who served in the capacity of cardinal-nephew to his third cousin Pietro Barbo, Pope Paul II. In Rome he resided in the Palazzo di San Marco, as did the Venetian pope, who elected not to remove to the...	Venetian	Cardinal-bishop	Bishop of Palestrina, patriarch of Aquileia			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...
Giovanni Battista Zeno Giovanni Battista Zeno Giovanni Battista Zeno 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....	Venetian	Cardinal-bishop	Bishop of Frascati			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...
Giovanni Michiel	Venetian	Cardinal-priest	Title of S. Marcello			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...
Stefano Nardini		Cardinal-priest	Title of S. Maria in Trastevere, archbishop of Milan
Giovanni Battista Cibo Pope Innocent VIII Pope Innocent VIII , born Giovanni Battista Cybo , was Pope from 1484 until his death.-Early years:Giovanni Battista Cybo was born at Genoa of Greek extraction...		Cardinal-priest	Title of S. Cecilia, bishop of Molfetta			Elected Pope Innocent VIII
Giovanni Arcimboldo		Cardinal-priest	Title of S. Prassede, bishop of Novara
Philibert Hugonet	French	Cardinal-priest	Title of Ss. Giovanni e Paulo, bishop of Macon
Jorge da Costa Jorge da Costa He held a very large number of ecclesiastical offices. He was Archbishop of Lisbon 1464-1500 and 108th Archbishop of Braga 1486-1501.He was the confessor of Afonso V of Portugal. From 1478 he was in exile in Rome, having clashed with John II of Portugal, at that point in power though not yet... , O.Cist.	Portuguese	Cardinal-priest	Title of Ss. Marcellino e Pietro, archbishop of Lisbon
Girolamo Basso della Rovere Girolamo Basso della Rovere Girolamo Basso della Rovere was an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church.Basso della Rovere was the son of Giovanni Basso and his wife Luchina della Rovere of the House of della Rovere and sister of Pope Sixtus IVHe was bishop of Albenga in 1472, and then Bishop of Recanati in 1476...		Cardinal-priest	Title of S. Crisogono, bishop of Recanati			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...
Pietro Foscari		Cardinal-priest	Title of S. Nicola fra le Immagini
Giovanni Vincenzo Acquaviva d'Aragona Giovanni Vincenzo Acquaviva d'Aragona Giovanni Vincenzo Acquaviva d'Aragona was a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church...	Neapolitan	Cardinal-priest	Title of S. Sabina
Raffaele Riario 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 was a patron of the arts...		Cardinal-priest	Title of S. Lorenzo in Damaso			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...
Domenico della Rovere Domenico della Rovere -Biography:He was born at Vinovo, near Turin, and was a relative of Pope Sixtus IV, and took advantage of the latter's extensive nepotism.In 1478 he was appointed as Bishop of Tarantaise succeeding his brother, Cristoforo. In the same year, on 10 February, he was created cardinal of San Vitale by...		Cardinal-priest	Title of S. Clemente, archbishop of Turin			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...
Giovanni Conti Giovanni Conti Giovanni Conti was a deputy of the Kingdom of Italy and a senator in the Italian Republic.He was born in Montegranaro, Marche. He became member of the Italian Republican Party in 1912 and was elected into the Italian Parliament in 1921.He died in Rome in 1957.- References : Italian Wikipedia...		Cardinal-priest	Title of Ss. Nereo ed Achilleo, archbishop of Conza
Juan Margarit i Pau	Spanish	Cardinal-priest	Title of S. Vitale, bishop of Gerona
Giovanni Giacomo Sclafenati 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:*...		Cardinal-priest	Title of S. Stefano al Monte Celio, bishop of Parma
Francesco Todeschini-Piccolomini Pope Pius III Pope Pius III , born Francesco Todeschini Piccolomini, was Pope from September 22 to October 18, 1503.-Career:...		Cardinal-deacon	Deacon of S. Eustachio, bishop of Siena			Future Pope Pius III
Gabriele Rangone Gabriele Rangone Gabriele Rangone O.Min.Obs. was a Cardinal of the Catholic Church. He was bishop of Eger lat. Agria.He was made a cardinal on 10 December 1477 by Pope Sixtus IV.... , O.Min.Obs.		Cardinal-deacon	Deacon of Ss. Sergio e Bacco, bishop of Agrigento
Giovanni Battista Savelli 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...		Cardinal-deacon	Deacon of S. Nicola in Carcere Tulliano
Giovanni Colonna Giovanni Colonna Giovanni Colonna is a contemporary Italian scholar of ancient Italy and, in particular, the Etruscan civilization.Colonna is a professor at the Sapienza University of Rome where he has taught since 1980. He took his first degree at Rome in 1957, studying under Massimo Pallottino...		Cardinal-deacon	Deacon of S. Maria in Aquiro
Giovanni Battista Orsini Giovanni Battista 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....		Cardinal-deacon	Deacon of S. Maria Nuova
Ascanio Sforza 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:...		Cardinal-deacon	Deacon of Ss. Vito e Modesto

Absentee cardinals

Elector	Nationality	Order	Title	Elevated	Elevator	Notes
Luis Juan del Milà	Spanish	Cardinal-priest	Title of Ss. IV Coronati, bishop of Lérida
Thomas Bourchier	English	Cardinal-priest	Title of S. Ciriaco, archbishop of Canterbury
Jean Balue Jean Balue Jean Balue was a French cardinal and minister of Louis XI.He was born of very humble parentage at Angle in Poitou, and was first patronized by the bishop of Poitiers. In 1461 he became vicar-general of the bishop of Angers. His activity, cunning and mastery of intrigue gained him the appreciation...	French	Cardinal-bishop	Bishop of Albano, bishop of Angers
Pedro González de Mendoza 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. He was the fourth son of Íñigo López de Mendoza, marqués de Santillana, deceased 1458, and one of the cadet brothers of Diego Hurtado de Mendoza, 1...	Spanish	Cardinal-priest	Title of S. Croce in Gerusalemme, archbishop of Sevilla and administrator of Sigùenza
Charles II, Duke of Bourbon Charles II, Duke of Bourbon Charles II, Duke of Bourbon , the son of Charles I, Duke of Bourbon and Agnes of Burgundy, was a member of the House of Bourbon...	French	Cardinal-priest	Title of Ss. Silvestro e Martino ai Monti, archbishop of Lyon
Pierre de Foix, le jeune	French	Cardinal-deacon	Deacon of Ss. Cosma e Damiano, bishop of Vannes
Paolo Fregoso	Genoese	Cardinal-priest	Title of S. Anastasia, archbishop of Genoa