Giulio Maria della Somaglia

Giulio Maria della Somaglia (29 July 1744 – 2 April 1830))[1] was an Italian cardinal. and Secretary of State under Pope Leo XII. He was known as a staunch zelante cardinal who helped enforce an authoritarian regime in the crumbling Papal States.


Giulio Maria della Somaglia
Cardinal
Archivist of the Vatican Secret Archives
Librarian of the Vatican Apostolic Library
Portrait of Somaglia by Gaspare Landi, c. 1786
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
Appointed1 October 1826
Term ended2 April 1830
PredecessorLuigi Valenti Gonzaga
SuccessorGiuseppe Albani
Other post(s)Secretary of Commission of Roman and Universal Inquisition (1814-30)
Cardinal-Priest of San Lorenzo in Damaso "in commendum" (1818-30)
Vice-Chancellor of the Apostolic Chancery (1818-30)
Cardinal-Bishop of Ostia–Velletri (1820-30)
Prefect of the Congregation of Ceremonies (1820-30)
Dean of the College of Cardinals (1820-30)
Previous post(s)Secretary of the Congregation for Bishops and Regulars (1787-88)
Patriarch of Antioch (1788-95)
Vicar General of Rome (1795-1818)
Cardinal-Priest of Santa Sabina (1795-1801)
Camerlengo of the College of Cardinals (1797-98; 1798-1801)
Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria sopra Minerva (1801-14)
Cardinal-Bishop of Frascati (1814-18)
Cardinal-Bishop of Porto e Santa Rufina (1818-20)
Vice-Dean of the College of Cardinals (1818-20)
Secretary of State (1823-28)
Pro-Prefect of the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith (1824-26)
Orders
Ordination2 June 1787
Consecration21 December 1788
by Hyacinthe-Sigismond Gerdil
Created cardinal1 June 1795
by Pope Pius VI
RankCardinal-Priest (1795-1814)
Cardinal-Bishop (1814-30)
Personal details
Born
Giulio Maria della Somaglia

(1744-07-29)29 July 1744
Died2 April 1830(1830-04-02) (aged 85)
Rome, Papal States
BuriedSanta Maria sopra Minerva
ParentsCarlo Maria Capece Anguillara
Countess Marianna Fenaroli
Alma materLa Sapienza
Coat of armsGiulio Maria della Somaglia's coat of arms
Styles of
Giulio Maria della Somaglia
Reference styleHis Eminence
Spoken styleYour Eminence
Informal styleCardinal
SeeAntioch
Ordination history of
Giulio Maria della Somaglia
History
Episcopal consecration
Consecrated byHyacinthe-Sigismond Gerdil
Date21 December 1788
Episcopal succession
Bishops consecrated by Giulio Maria della Somaglia as principal consecrator
Fabrizio Cimino2 February 1798
Annibale Di Leo2 February 1798
Michele Palmieri2 February 1798
Filippo Speranza2 February 1798
Florido Pierleoni26 September 1802
Giulio Rossi4 November 1804

Della Somaglia was born in Piacenza in 1744 to Count Carlo Maria Cavazzia and Countess Marianna Fenaroli; he was one of five children.[1] He was sent to Rome at the age of twelve and studied at the Collegio Nazzareno and La Sapienza University, acquiring degrees in both canon and civil law.

In 1769 he became domestic prelate of Pope Clement XIV and under Pope Pius VI he was secretary to several curial congregations between 1773 and 1787.[2] Although he was only ordained to the priesthood in 1787, he became titular Patriarch of Antioch the following year; he became a cardinal on 1 June 1795.[1]

In his years as a cardinal della Somaglia played an important role as a negotiator with the revolutionary regime in France. Although he undoubtedly agreed with Pius VI's 1791 condemnation of the French Revolution and was expelled from Rome when Napoleon's army invaded in 1808, he was charged with the examination of the concordat with France several years later. This role served to taint della Somaglia's reputation in the eyes of fellow zelanti cardinals. From 1814 he was Secretary of the Inquisition and Dean of the College of Cardinals in 1820.[2]

In the 1823 conclave, della Somaglia was considered papabile. In 1826 he resigned the post of Secretary of State,[3][4] but continued as Secretary of the Inquisition until his death in 1830. When he died, della Somaglia was the last cardinal still alive elevated by Pius VI.

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Biography page". Treccani.
  2. ^ a b "The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church: Pope Pius VI (1775-1799)". Florida International University.
  3. ^ "Diary of Saint Eugène de Mazenod, 1849-1860, Page 44" (PDF). Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate.
  4. ^ "Diary of Saint Eugène de Mazenod, 1825-26, 1845, 1854, Page 46" (PDF). Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate.
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Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Cardinal-bishop of Frascati
26 September 1814 – 21 December 1818
Succeeded by
Preceded by Cardinal-bishop of Porto
21 December 1818 – 29 May 1820
Succeeded by
Preceded by Cardinal Secretary of State
28 September 1823 – 17 January 1828
Succeeded by
Tommaso Bernetti
(Pro-Secretary)
Preceded by Bishop of Ostia
29 May 1820 – 2 April 1830
Succeeded by
Dean of the College of Cardinals
29 May 1820 – 2 April 1830