Alessandro Cardinal Farnese

Alessandro Cardinal Farnese, detail of a painting by Titian, 1546

Alessandro Cardinal Farnese (5 October 1520–2 March 1589) was an Italian cardinal and diplomat, the grandson of Pope Paul III (who also bore the name Alessandro Farnese), and the son of Pier Luigi Farnese, Duke of Parma who was murdered in 1547.

[edit] Biography

Born at Valentano (current province of Viterbo), he studied at Bologna, and was appointed administrator of the Diocese of Parma. On 18 December 1534 he was appointed Cardinal Deacon of the Title of Sant'Angelo by Paul III, and received many other offices and benefices, becoming Vice-Chancellor of the Holy Roman Church, Governor of Tivoli, Archpriest of St. Mary Major Basilica, Archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica, Administrator of Jaen, Spain, of Vizeu, Portugal, of Würzburg, Germany and of Avignon, France. In 1536 he became Bishop of Monreale, Sicily, and in 1552 he founded Jesuit college there. He became Bishop of Massa in 1538, Archbishop of Tours in 1553, and Archbishop of Cahors; Bishop of Benevento, of Montefiascone, and Cardinal-Bishop of Ostia and Velletri and Dean of the College of Cardinals in 1580.

He also became a Papal Legate, arranging peace between the perpetually warring Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor and Francis I of France. In 1546 he accompanied the troops sent by the pope to the aid of Charles V against the Schmalkaldic League. In 1580, he was the unsuccessful candidate for the papacy. Among the buildings that Cardinal Farnese built or restored are the Church of the Gesù in Rome, the Villa Farnese at Caprarola, and the Farnese palace near Lake Bracciano, and the monastery Tre Fontane.

The Cardinal's daughter, Clelia, married Giangiorgio Caesarini.

Farnese was buried before the high altar in the Church of Gesù.

Preceded by Etienne Poncher	Archbishop of Tours 1553–1554	Succeeded by Simon de Maillé
Preceded by Giovanni Cardinal Monroe	Dean of the College of Cardinals 1580–1589	Succeeded by Giovanni Cardinal Serbelloni