Nicolò Albertini (c. 1250 – 27 April 1321) was an Italian Dominican, statesman, and Cardinal.
He was born at Prato in Italy. His early education was directed by his parents, both of whom belonged to illustrious families of Tuscany. At the age of sixteen (1266) he entered the Dominican Order in the Convent of Santa Maria Novella at Florence, and was sent to the University of Paris to complete his studies.
He preached in Italy with success, and his theological lectures were especially well attended at Florence and at Rome. He was entrusted by his superiors with various important duties and governed several houses. He was made Procurator-General of the whole order of St. Dominic by Blessed Nicolo Bocassini, then Master General, and was afterwards elected Provincial of the Roman Province. In 1299, Pope Boniface VIII made him Bishop of Spoleto and soon afterwards sent him as Papal Legate to the Kings of France and England, Philip IV and Edward I, with a view to reconciling them, a seemingly hopeless task.
Albertini succeeded in his mission. The Pope in full consistory thanked him, and made him Vicar of Rome. Pope Benedict XI was particularly attached to Albertini, with whom he had lived a long time in the same cloister. Shortly after his accession to the Papacy (22 October 1303) he made Albertini Cardinal-Bishop of Ostia, which office he held for almost eighteen years.
The civil wars that in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries had devastated a great part of Italy, especially Tuscany, Romagna, and the Trevisan Mark, caused the Pope again to invest the new Cardinal with the dignity of Apostolic Legate, and to send him to restore peace in those disturbed provinces.
His authority was also extended to the Dioceses of Aquila, Ravenna, Ferrara, and those in the territory of Venice. He was well received by the people of Florence, but after many futile efforts to effect a reconciliation between the Guelphs and the Ghibellines he left the city and placed it under interdict.
On 29 June 1312, in the name of Clement V, he crowned Henry of Luxembourg Holy Roman Emperor at Rome. Albertini is the leading figure in the trial that exonerated the Dominican, Bernardo da Montepulciano, from the charge of killing this king by giving him a poisoned host for Communion. He crowned Robert of Naples, son and successor of Charles II, King of Sicily.
He was Dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals from August 1312 until his death at Avignon. He was buried in the Dominican Church there.
The Cardinal of Ostia was known for his great love for the poor, especially for the poor of the City of Prato. He also gave generously to religious houses and towards the erection of churches. At Avignon he established a community of nuns similar to those founded by St. Dominic at San Sisto in Rome. He obtained for his Order the office of "Master of the Sacred Palace", that has always been held by a Dominican.
Two small works are all that are known of his writings. One is a treatise on Paradise, the other on the manner of holding assemblies of Bishops.
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Nicola Boccasini |
Cardinal-bishop of Ostia 1303–1321 |
Succeeded by Regnaud de la Porte |
| Preceded by Francesco |
Bishop of Spoleto 1299–1303 |
Succeeded by Giovanni IV |
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed (1913). Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company.