Paolo di Campofregoso explained

Type:cardinal
Honorific-Prefix:His Eminence
Paolo di Campofregoso
Church:Catholic
Archdiocese:Genoa
See:Genoa
Appointed:1453
Term Start:1453
Ended:1498
Predecessor:Giacomo Imperiale, O.S.B
Successor:Giovanni Maria Sforza
Ordination:unknown
Consecration:7 February 1453
Consecrated By:Pope Nicholas V
Cardinal:1480
Created Cardinal By:Pope Sixtus IV
Rank:Cardinal-Priest
Birth Name:Paolo di Campofregoso
Birth Date:1427
Birth Place:Genoa, Republic of Genoa
Death Date:22 March 1498
Death Place:Rome, Papal States
Parents:Lodovico di Campofregoso, Doge of Genoa
Coat Of Arms:Stemma cardinalizio di Paolo Fregoso.svg
Order:37th Lifetime Doge of the Republic of Genoa
Term Start1:14 May 1462
Term End1:31 May 1462
Predecessor1:Lodovico di Campofregoso
Successor1:Lodovico di Campofregoso
Term Start2:8 January 1463
Term End2:16 April 1464
Predecessor2:Lodovico di Campofregoso
Successor2:Dogeship vacant
Term Start3:25 November 1483
Term End3:6 January 1488
Predecessor3:Battista Fregoso
Successor3:Dogeship vacant
Birth Date:1427
Birth Place:Genoa, Republic of Genoa
Death Place:Rome, Papal States

Paolo di Campofregoso (Genoa, 1427 – Rome, 22 March 1498) was a Genoese aristocrat and Italian Cardinal who was three times Doge of the Republic of Genoa, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Genoa from 1453 to 1498 and Bishop of Ajaccio from 1493 to 1498.[1]

Biography

The son of doge Battista Fregoso, he was convinced by Pope Nicholas V to study ecclesiastical matters at Pavia. In 1448, once finished with his studies, he was appointed canon of the cathedral of Savona, and in 1453 he became abbot of the Cistercian convent of Sant'Andrea at Savona. The same year, aged only 26, he was appointed archbishop of Genoa by request of his brother Pietro, the current doge. Pietro had become doge for the first time in 1450, succeeding his cousin Lodovico, who had resigned for unknown reasons. His rule ended in 1458 when the city surrendered itself to King Charles VII of France.

Further strife with his cousin caused Lodovico to cede the title of doge to Paolo on 14 May 1462. His rule ended after just fifteen days, as he was replaced by five captains. The latter, in turn, lasted for only a week, after which Lodovico di Campofregoso was restored as doge: now the hate between Paolo, the city's archbishop, and Lodovico, the city's political chief, reached its apex. Paolo succeeded him as doge in January 1463 and had Lodovico detained in the castle of Castelletto. The following year, after a series of questionable deeds (such as menacing the expulsion of the Adorno family from Genoa, and the endless strife within the Fregoso family), the Council of the Elders deposed him, accepting the protection of the House of Sforza, which lasted until 1477.

Life as cardinal

In 1480 he was created cardinal in Rome. In that year he participated as papal admiral for an expedition alongside the Neapolitan fleet of Ferdinand I against the Turks at Otranto. In 1483 Paolo di Campofregoso was elected as doge of Genoa for the third time; however, this time a popular rebellion forced him to flee his city in 1488, being succeeded by another submission to the Sforzas. He subsequently lived in exile in Piedmont, Veneto and Rome. In 1490 he received the cardinal title of San Sisto, and took part in the conclave of 1492.

Later years

In 1495 he resigned from archbishopric of Genoa, but the following year he was appointed to that post again. In his late life he participated in the struggle to expel Charles VIII of France from Genoa.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FREGOSO, Paolo . 2023-11-05 . Treccani . it.