Papal conclave, October 1503
Encyclopedia
The papal conclave, October 1503 elected Giuliano della Rovere as Pope Julius II
to succeed Pope Pius III
. The conclave
took place during the Italian Wars
barely a month after the papal conclave, September 1503
, and none of the electors had travelled far enough from Rome to miss the conclave. The number of participating cardinals was thirty-eight, the College of Cardinals
having been reduced by the election of Piccolomini as Pius III, who did not elevate cardinals.
Mostly because of the lack of a conclave capitulation
, the conclave took only ten hours, the shortest in history.
had been marked by the Italian Wars
, surrounded by the forces of Louis XII of France
, Ferdinand II of Aragon
, and Cesare Borgia
, the former cardinal-nephew
of Pope Alexander VI
. Georges d'Amboise
had been the favorite of Charles VIII, Piccolomini (who was the favorite of the bookmakers gambling on papal elections
) had been elected, and the candidacy of della Rovere was also a strong papabile
.
Pius III had died after just 26 days in office. This was insufficient time for the Cardinals to disperse very far, so they were all able to return for the new conclave.
The cardinal electors were the same as those that had convened in September, minus Piccolomini who had previously been elected, and then died.
Georges d'Amboise
also accepted the candidacy of della Rovere, regarding his own candidacy as impossible and della Rovere as the least threatening of the Italian cardinals to the French interests.
Ascanio Sforza
and his faction were standoffish at first, but vote for della Rovere on the first scrutiny due to various promises of favors. The vote was "unanimous" for della Rovere on the first ballot, with the exception of his own vote. Louis XII of France
who had opposed Piccolomini a month earlier—exclaiming about Cesare "that son of a whore has prevented Rouen
from becoming pope!"— accepted the election of della Rovere, although they would soon be at war once Julius II formed the Catholic League.
Unlike most contemporary conclaves, there was no conclave capitulation
, making the conclave the shortest ever, less than ten hours.
Pope Julius II
Pope Julius II , nicknamed "The Fearsome Pope" and "The Warrior Pope" , born Giuliano della Rovere, was Pope from 1503 to 1513...
to succeed Pope Pius III
Pope Pius III
Pope Pius III , born Francesco Todeschini Piccolomini, was Pope from September 22 to October 18, 1503.-Career:...
. 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...
took place during the Italian Wars
Italian Wars
The Italian Wars, often referred to as the Great Italian Wars or the Great Wars of Italy and sometimes as the Habsburg–Valois Wars, were a series of conflicts from 1494 to 1559 that involved, at various times, most of the city-states of Italy, the Papal States, most of the major states of Western...
barely a month after the papal conclave, September 1503
Papal conclave, September 1503
The papal conclave, September 1503 elected Pope Pius III to succeed Pope Alexander VI. Due to the Italian Wars, the College of Cardinals was surrounded by three potentially hostile armies, loyal to Louis XII of France, Ferdinand II of Aragon, and Cesare Borgia .The participation of thirty-nine...
, and none of the electors had travelled far enough from Rome to miss the conclave. The number of participating cardinals was thirty-eight, 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...
having been reduced by the election of Piccolomini as Pius III, who did not elevate cardinals.
Mostly because of the lack of a conclave capitulation
Conclave capitulation
A 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...
, the conclave took only ten hours, the shortest in history.
Background
The previous conclave in SeptemberPapal conclave, September 1503
The papal conclave, September 1503 elected Pope Pius III to succeed Pope Alexander VI. Due to the Italian Wars, the College of Cardinals was surrounded by three potentially hostile armies, loyal to Louis XII of France, Ferdinand II of Aragon, and Cesare Borgia .The participation of thirty-nine...
had been marked by the Italian Wars
Italian Wars
The Italian Wars, often referred to as the Great Italian Wars or the Great Wars of Italy and sometimes as the Habsburg–Valois Wars, were a series of conflicts from 1494 to 1559 that involved, at various times, most of the city-states of Italy, the Papal States, most of the major states of Western...
, surrounded by the forces of Louis XII of France
Louis XII of France
Louis proved to be a popular king. At the end of his reign the crown deficit was no greater than it had been when he succeeded Charles VIII in 1498, despite several expensive military campaigns in Italy. His fiscal reforms of 1504 and 1508 tightened and improved procedures for the collection of taxes...
, Ferdinand II of Aragon
Ferdinand II of Aragon
Ferdinand the Catholic was King of Aragon , Sicily , Naples , Valencia, Sardinia, and Navarre, Count of Barcelona, jure uxoris King of Castile and then regent of that country also from 1508 to his death, in the name of...
, and Cesare Borgia
Cesare Borgia
Cesare Borgia , Duke of Valentinois, was an Italian condottiero, nobleman, politician, and cardinal. He was the son of Pope Alexander VI and his long-term mistress Vannozza dei Cattanei. He was the brother of Lucrezia Borgia; Giovanni Borgia , Duke of Gandia; and Gioffre Borgia , Prince of Squillace...
, the former 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...
of Pope Alexander VI
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...
. Georges d'Amboise
Georges d'Amboise
Georges d'Amboise was a French Roman Catholic cardinal and minister of state. He belonged to the house of Amboise, a noble family possessed of considerable influence: of his nine brothers, four were bishops. His father, Pierre d'Amboise, seigneur de Chaumont, was chamberlain to Charles VII and...
had been the favorite of Charles VIII, Piccolomini (who was the favorite of the bookmakers gambling on papal elections
Gambling on papal elections
Gambling on papal elections has at least a 500-year history. Betting on 16th-century papal conclaves are among the first documented examples of gambling on election outcomes...
) had been elected, and the candidacy of della Rovere was also a strong papabile
Papabile
Papabile 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...
.
Pius III had died after just 26 days in office. This was insufficient time for the Cardinals to disperse very far, so they were all able to return for the new conclave.
The cardinal electors were the same as those that had convened in September, minus Piccolomini who had previously been elected, and then died.
Proceedings
In the month between the conclaves, della Rovere met with Cesare Borgia and the Spanish cardinals, whose support he lacked in the previous conclave, and assured them he would maintain Cesare's command of the papal army and territorial possessions in Italy. Cesare delivered the support of all eleven Spanish cardinals.Georges d'Amboise
Georges d'Amboise
Georges d'Amboise was a French Roman Catholic cardinal and minister of state. He belonged to the house of Amboise, a noble family possessed of considerable influence: of his nine brothers, four were bishops. His father, Pierre d'Amboise, seigneur de Chaumont, was chamberlain to Charles VII and...
also accepted the candidacy of della Rovere, regarding his own candidacy as impossible and della Rovere as the least threatening of the Italian cardinals to the French interests.
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:...
and his faction were standoffish at first, but vote for della Rovere on the first scrutiny due to various promises of favors. The vote was "unanimous" for della Rovere on the first ballot, with the exception of his own vote. Louis XII of France
Louis XII of France
Louis proved to be a popular king. At the end of his reign the crown deficit was no greater than it had been when he succeeded Charles VIII in 1498, despite several expensive military campaigns in Italy. His fiscal reforms of 1504 and 1508 tightened and improved procedures for the collection of taxes...
who had opposed Piccolomini a month earlier—exclaiming about Cesare "that son of a whore has prevented Rouen
Georges d'Amboise
Georges d'Amboise was a French Roman Catholic cardinal and minister of state. He belonged to the house of Amboise, a noble family possessed of considerable influence: of his nine brothers, four were bishops. His father, Pierre d'Amboise, seigneur de Chaumont, was chamberlain to Charles VII and...
from becoming pope!"— accepted the election of della Rovere, although they would soon be at war once Julius II formed the Catholic League.
Unlike most contemporary conclaves, there was no conclave capitulation
Conclave capitulation
A 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...
, making the conclave the shortest ever, less than ten hours.