The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church - Biographical Dictionary (original) (raw)

The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church

Biographical Dictionary Pope Sixtus IV (1471-1484) Consistory of May 15, 1480 (VI)

(24) 1. FREGOSO, Paolo (1428-1498)

Birth. 1428, Genoa. Of the Oltregiogo line of the family. Son of Battista I Fregoso, doge of Genoa, and his second wife, Ilaria Guinigi, of the signori of Lucca. His last name is also listed as Campofregoso and Campofrigoso. He was called the Cardinal of Genoa.

Education. (No information found).

Sacred orders. After a stormy youth, he entered the ecclesiastical state (no further information found).

Early life. Canon of the cathedral chapter of Savona, July 23, 1448. Protonotary apostolic. Abbot commendatario of the Cistercian abbey of S. Andrea di Sestri Ponente, 1452; the commendam was revoked after his promotion to the see of Genoa. At the request of his brother Pietro, doge of Genoa, he was elevated to the episcopate.

Episcopate. Elected archishop of Genoa, February 7, 1453; resigned the see on February 13, 1495 in favor of Cardinal Jorge da Costa, who received the see in commendam; Cardinal Fregoso reserved the right of return; at the resignation of the latter, he received the see in commendam on July 29, 1496 and occupied it until his death. Consecrated, April 12, 1456 (no further information found). Pushed away the French from Genoa and defeated them on July 17, 1461. With permission from Pope Pius II, he had himself named doge of Genoa on May 14, 1462, in replacement of his cousin Luigi; he had to retire on May 31, 1462 because of his violence. Retook the position of doge on January 8, 1463; but without much success, he had to expatriate himself on April 20, 1464. Owner and commandant of a privateer fleet from 1464 to 1477. Abbot commendatario of the abbey of S. Bernardo di Fontevivo, 1470.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of May 15, 1480; received the title of S. Anastasia several days later. He had equipped for Genoa a fleet of twenty-one ships which he conducted to Civita Vecchia and S. Paolo fuori le mura, where he arrived on June 30, 1481; he was received by the pope in public consistory; the pope celebrated the remaining ceremonies of his elevation to the cardinalate and gave the ring of legate and the standard of the fleet, which he commanded with the title of admiral of the Holy Roman Church; he went to Naples and there he joined the fleet of the king, Ferdinando I, to besiege the Turks at Otranto; arrived there on September 10; the pope ordered him to try to persuade the enemy and to try to take Valona; returned to Civita Vecchia at the beginning of October, where Pope Sixtus IV went to see him to refute his objections until October 17, but without success; he returned to Genoa with his vessels. Named bishop of Ajaccio in commendam in 1482; occupied the see until his death. Became doge of Genoa for the third time from November 25, 1483 to January 6, 1488, when he was forced to abdicate because of his tyranical rule; he went to Rome, where he arrived on December 8, 1488 and resided next to the basilica of Ss. XII Apostoli. Did not participate in the conclave of 1484, which elected Pope Innocent VIII. Accompanied Pope Innocent VIII to Ostia on November 15, 1489 and returned with him to Rome three days later. Opted for the title of S. Sisto ca. 1489 (1). On January 9, 1492, he resigned the commendam of the monastery of S. Maria de Clairval à Fontevivo, diocese of Parma. Participated in the conclave of 1492, which elected Pope Alexander VI. Named legate in Campania on August 31, 1492. Named administrator of the see of Accia, Corsica, March 26, 1493; occupied the post until February 21, 1494. On April 6, 1495, he was in Naples with King Charles VIII of France and on June 1, accompanied him to Rome. On January 14, 1496, he returned to Rome from a legation in Liguria.

Death. March 22, 1498, Rome. Buried in the basilica of Ss. XII Apostoli, Rome.

Bibliography. Cardella, Lorenzo. Memorie storiche de' cardinali della Santa Romana Chiesa. Rome : Stamperia Pagliarini, 1793, III, 215-217; Chacón, Alfonso. Vitæ, et res gestæ Pontificvm Romanorum et S. R. E. Cardinalivm ab initio nascentis Ecclesiæ vsque ad Vrbanvm VIII. Pont. Max. 2 volumes. Romae : Typis Vaticanis, 1630, II, col. 1345; "Essai de liste générale des cardinaux. VII. Les cardinaux de la fin du XVe siècle". Annuaire Pontifical Catholique 1933. Paris : Maison de la Bonne Presse, 1933, p. 158; Eubel, Conradus and Gulik, Guglielmus van. Hierarchia Catholica Medii Aevi. Volumen II (1431-1503). Münich : Sumptibus et Typis Librariae Regensbergianae, 1914; reprint, Padua : Il Messagero di S. Antonio, 1960, pp. 19, 44, 49, 50, 52, 53, 61, 65, 79 and 167.

Webgraphy. La famiglia Fregoso, in Italian; and his portrait.

(1) This is according to Eubel, Hierarchia Catholica Medii Aevi, II, 61. "Essai de liste générale des cardinaux. VII. Les cardinaux de la fin du XVe siècle". Annuaire Pontifical Catholique 1933, p. 158, says that he opted for the title of S. Sisto not before March 9, 1489 but soon after August 10, 1490. The title of S. Anastasia was assigned to Cardinal Antonio Gentile Pallavicino by Pope Innocent VIII on March 9, 1489.

(25) 2. ORSINI, O.S.B., Cosma (1420s-1481)

Birth. 1420s, Rome. Son of Gentile Migliorati, of the signori of Fermo, and Elena Orsini, Venetian patrician and Roman noble, sister of Cardinal Latino Orsini (1448). His last name should have been Migliorati, but he used Orsini, his mother's last name. His first name is also listed as Cosimo. Cousin of Cardinal Giovanni Battista Orsini (1483). He was called Cardinal Orsini. The family gave the church several popes and cardinals: Celestine III (1191-1198); Nicholas III (1277-1280); Benedict XIII (1724-1730); Matteo Orsini (1262); Latino Malabranca Orsini, O.P. (1278); Giordano Orsini (1278); Napoleone Orsini (1288); Francesco Napoleone Orsini (1295); Giovanni Gaetano Orsini (1316); Matteo Orsini, O.P. (1327); Rinaldo Orsini (1350); Giacomo Orsini (1371); Poncello Orsini (1378); Tommaso Orsini (1383?); Giovanni Battista Orsini (1483);Giordano Orsini, iuniore (1405); Franciotto Orsini (1517); Flavio Orsini (1565); Alessandro Orsini (1615); Virginio Orsini, O.S.Io.Hieros. (1641); and Domenico Orsini d'Aragona (1743).

Education. Entered the Order of St. Benedict (Benedictines).

Priesthood. Ordained (no further information found). Abbot nullius of the Benedictine monastery of S. Maria of Farfa, August 8, 1477, after the resignation of Giovanni Orsini.

Episcopate. Elected archbishop of Trani, April 1, 1478; occupied the see until his death. Consecrated (no information found).

Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of May 15, 1480; received the title of S. Sisto shortly after; received the red hat in the patriarchal Vatican basilica on June 3, 1480; on that date, he opted for the title of Ss. Nereo ed Achilleo.

Death. Wednesday November 21, 1481, Bracciano. The following day he was transferred to the abbey of S. Maria of Farfa and buried there in a marble mausoleum.

Bibliography. Cardella, Lorenzo. Memorie storiche de' cardinali della Santa Romana Chiesa. Rome : Stamperia Pagliarini, 1793, III, 217; Chacón, Alfonso. Vitæ, et res gestæ Pontificvm Romanorum et S. R. E. Cardinalivm ab initio nascentis Ecclesiæ vsque ad Vrbanvm VIII. Pont. Max. 2 volumes. Romae : Typis Vaticanis, 1630, II, col. 1273; "Essai de liste générale des cardinaux. VII. Les cardinaux de la fin du XVe siècle". Annuaire Pontifical Catholique 1933. Paris : Maison de la Bonne Presse, 1933, p. ; Eubel, Conradus and Gulik, Guglielmus van. Hierarchia Catholica Medii Aevi. Volumen II (1431-1503). Münich : Sumptibus et Typis Librariae Regensbergianae, 1914; reprint, Padua : Il Messagero di S. Antonio, 1960, pp. 19, 44, 64, 65 and 254.

Webgraphy. The Orsini family and cardinals, in English, The Catholic Encyclopedia.

(26) 3. CLUGNY, Ferry de (ca. 1430-1483)

Birth. Ca. 1430, Autun, Bourgogne, France. Of the marquises of Montlyon and Raigny. Eldest son of Henri de Clugny, seigneur of Conforgien and of Joursenvault, and Pierrette Coullot. He was called the Cardinal of Tournai.

Education. Studied at the University of Bologna and obtained a doctorate in utroque iure, both canon and civil law.

Early life. Member of the grand council of Philippe le Bon, duke of Bourgogne. Master of ordinary requests of the duke's court. Asked by the duke to assist, in the name of the clergy, to the redaction of the customs of the duchy of Bourgogne; he could not fullfil the functions because he was sent in an embassy. Charged with several embassies, notably the one to Rome before Pope Callixtus III in 1456, together with Geoffroy de Toisy, seigneur Mimeure; and later to Mantua in 1459, with the duke of Clèvez, before Pope Pius II, to plan the war against the Turks; he also obtained from the pontiff the ratification and confirmation of the treaty of Arras and of all that had been done by Pope Eugenius IV and his successors; he sent the acts to the chamber des comptes of Bourgogne. In that same year, 1459, the duke agreed to promote him to the sees of Autun or Mâcon, whichever became vacant first. Lieutenant of the chancellor of Bourgogne at the see of Autun, December 2, 1459. Named protonotary apostolic. He was one of the three ambassadors of Charles le Témeraire to King Louis XI of France in Melun in January 1465; the other two ambassadors had been the marshal of Bourgogne and the bailiff of Saint-Quentin; the fourth was Jean Carondelet. On November 8, 1465, he obtained permission from the cathedral chapter of Autun to have a chapel built to be his sepulchre; the chapel is now called Chapelle dorée. Canon and abbot of Saint-Étienne de l'Etrier, diocese of Autun. Canon and archdeacon of Faverney, archdiocese of Besançon. Official of Autun. Elected bishop of Cavaillon by its cathedral chapter in 1467; the election was never confirmed. In 1468, he unsuccessfully disputed the deanship of the church of Amiens. Later, provost of the collegiate church of Saint-Barthélemy de Béthune, canon of the cathedral chapter of Cambrai, and archdeacon of Ardennes in Liège. Charged by the duke of Bourgogne in 1468 to negotiate the peace of Péronne and in 1473 the one of Senlis. Abbot commendatario of Saint-Denis, Broqueroie, 1469-1472; and of Tongerlo from June 1, 1470 to May 24, 1471. On May 11, 1472, he resigned the commendam of the Cistercian abbey of La Ferté-sur-Grosne, diocese of Châlons. The duke of Bourgogne named him chancellor of his Order of the Toison d'or on September 15, 1473.

Sacred orders. (No information found).

Episcopate. Elected bishop of Tournai, October 8, 1473, with the consent of King Louis XI of France; he took possession on March 22, 1474; occupied the see until his death. Consecrated, Sunday January 2, 1474, at the cathedral of St Rombaud, Malines, by Pierre de Ranchicourt, bishop of Arras, assisted by Guillaume Vasseur, bishop of Sarepta, by Jean de Boussies, bishop of Gibail, by Jacques, bishop of Daulia (or Juliaden), and by Godefroid Greveray, bishop of Dagnum. On October 20, 1473, he resigned the commendam of the Benedictine abbey of Saint-Pierre de Flavigny, diocese of Autun.In January 1484, he baptized in Sainte-Gudule de Bruxelles Marguerite, daughter of Archduke Maximilian of Austria, future Holy Roman emperor, and Marie de Bourgogne.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal in secret by Pope Paul II in May or June 1471; the creation was not published because of the death of the pope. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of May 15, 1480, while he was absent; received the title of S. Vitale shortly after. In March or May 1482, he was transferred to the deaconry of S. Maria in Domnica, or, most probably, received it in commendam until his death. Arrived in Rome with his family on June 3, 1482; they were coming from Flanders. On June 10, he was received by the pope, who gave him the red hat.

Death. Tuesday October 7, 1483, of an apoplexy, Rome. On the following day, he was buried in the church of S. Maria del Popolo, Rome, where the nine days of obsequies began on Thursday October 16 (1).

Bibliography. Berton, Charles. Dictionnaire des cardinaux, contenant des notions générales sur le cardinalat, la nomenclature complète ..., des cardinaux de tous les temps et de tous les pays ... les détails biographiques essentiels sur tous les cardinaux ... de longues études sur les cardinaux célèbre ... Paris : J.-P. Migne, 1857 ; Facsimile edition. Farnborough ; Gregg, 1969, cols. 688-690; Cardella, Lorenzo. Memorie storiche de' cardinali della Santa Romana Chiesa. Rome : Stamperia Pagliarini, 1793, III, 217-218; Chacón, Alfonso. Vitæ, et res gestæ Pontificvm Romanorum et S. R. E. Cardinalivm ab initio nascentis Ecclesiæ vsque ad Vrbanvm VIII. Pont. Max. 2 volumes. Romae : Typis Vaticanis, 1630, II, col. 1274; "Essai de liste générale des cardinaux. VII. Les cardinaux de la fin du XVe siècle". Annuaire Pontifical Catholique 1933. Paris : Maison de la Bonne Presse, 1933, p. 158-159; Eubel, Conradus and Gulik, Guglielmus van. Hierarchia Catholica Medii Aevi. Volumen II (1431-1503). Münich : Sumptibus et Typis Librariae Regensbergianae, 1914; reprint, Padua : Il Messagero di S. Antonio, 1960, pp. 19, 45, 46, 65, 67and 253.

Webgraphy. His image, arms, tomb, family and biographical data, in French; his genealogy, son of nos. 16 and 17; his tomb, in the church of S. Maria del Popolo, Rome; and his arms, cathedral of Autun, France.

(1) This is the text of his epitaph taken from Chacón, Vitæ, et res gestæ Pontificvm Romanorum et S. R. E. Cardinalivm, II, col. 1274: HIC. IACET. DOMINVS. FERRICVS. CLVNIACO. NATIONE. BVRGVNDVS. VTRIVSQUE DOCTOR. TITVLI. S. VITALIS. PRESBYTER. CARDINALIS. EPISCOPVS. TORNACENSIS. QVI. OBIIT. DIE. MARTIS. VII. OCTOBRIS. ANNO. SALVTIS. MCDLXXXIII. ORATE. DEVM. PRO SALVTE. ANIMÆ. EIVS.

(27) 4. SAVELLI, Giovanni Battista (ca. 1422-1498)

Birth. Ca. 1422 (1), Rome. Son of Nicola Savelli, signore of Palombara and Castel Gandolfo, Roman noble. Of an aristocratic family which included Pope Honorius IV (1285-1287); and Cardinals Bertrando Savelli (1216); Giacomo Savelli (1539) Silvio Savelli (1596); Giulio Savelli (1615); Fabrizio Savelli (1647); and Paolo Savelli (1664). He was called the Cardinal Savelli.

Education. (No information found).

Early life. Protonotary apostolic. Governor of Bologna, 1468-1470. Governor of Marca before February 1474.

Sacred orders. (No information found).

Cardinalate. Created cardinal secretly by Pope Paul II in May or June 1471, together with three other prelates; they were not published out of consideration for the king of France; for that reason and because of the opposition of Cardinal Latino Orsini, they were not admitted to the conclave of August 1471. Legate in Perugia. Created cardinal deacon in the consistory of May 15, 1480; received the deaconry of Ss. Vito e Modesto shortly after; received the red hat in the patriarchal Vatican basilica on June 3, 1480. He was confirmed as legate a latere of Perugia and its district was confirmed on June 16, 1480; he left Rome for his legation on July 12; returned to Rome on December 2, 1480. Named legate to Genoa to reestablish the peace between the Fregoso and the Adorno families and to supervise the arming of the papal fleet against the Turks, December 4, 1480; he left Rome for his legation on December 20, 1480; returned on June 30, 1481 by the Tiber river, with the vessels that he had armed; went to S. Paolo fuori le mura, where the pope received him and blessed the fleet; later, in consistory celebrated on the same day, he presented a complete account of his mission to Genoa. Went to Perugia and returned from that legation to Rome on November 24, 1481; went back to Perugia and returned to Rome on May 18, 1482. In the fight with the Orsinis, he fell in disgrace with Pope Sixtus IV and was accused of treason in consistory on January 2, 1483; in spite of his denial, he was held hostage at the Vatican, lodged with Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere; the following day, he was transferred to Castello Sant'Angelo together with Cardinal Giovanni Colonna; he was ill until November 15, 1483, when he was liberated; on that same day, he attended a consistory; his innocence was recognized. Opted for the deaconry of S. Nicola in Carcere Tuliano shortly after, or on March 17, 1484. Participated in the conclave of 1484, which elected Pope Innocent VIII. Legate in Bologna in 1484. Participated in the conclave of 1492, which elected Pope Alexander VI.

Episcopate. Administrator of the see of Mallorca, August 31, 1492; occupied the post until March 27, 1493. Legate in Spoleto, August 31, 1492. Archpriest of the patriarchal Liberian Basilica from September 1492 until his death. On December 31, 1493, he escorted King Charles VIII of France at his entrance in Rome; in the convention between the king and the pope, signed on January 15, 1495, the cardinal's legation in Spoleto was confirmed. He was in Naples with the king in April 1495. After the deparure of the king from Italy, the cardinal remained away from Rome for a year and a half; he returned on December 22, 1496, with Bishop Pietro of Cesena, who accompanied him. He was received by the pope the following evening. He had a reputation for worldliness and luxury.

Death. September 18, 1498, in his family's domain of Castel Gandolfo. His body was transferred to Rome and buried in the church S. Maria in Aracoeli (2).

Bibliography. Cardella, Lorenzo. Memorie storiche de' cardinali della Santa Romana Chiesa. Rome : Stamperia Pagliarini, 1793, III, 218-219; Chacón, Alfonso. Vitæ, et res gestæ Pontificvm Romanorum et S. R. E. Cardinalivm ab initio nascentis Ecclesiæ vsque ad Vrbanvm VIII. Pont. Max. 2 volumes. Romae : Typis Vaticanis, 1630, II, cols. 1265 and 1345; "Essai de liste générale des cardinaux. VII. Les cardinaux de la fin du XVe siècle". Annuaire Pontifical Catholique 1933. Paris : Maison de la Bonne Presse, 1933, p. ; Eubel, Conradus and Gulik, Guglielmus van. Hierarchia Catholica Medii Aevi. Volumen II (1431-1503). Münich : Sumptibus et Typis Librariae Regensbergianae, 1914; reprint, Padua : Il Messagero di S. Antonio, 1960, pp. 19, 43, 43, 44, 46, 47, 49, 50, 52, 54, 67, 68, and 184.

Webgraphy. The Savelli family by Norbert M. Borengässer, in German, Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon; his tomb, church of S. Maria in Aracoeli, Rome, Requiem Datenbank; his epitaph, Requiem Datenbank.

(1) This is according to "Essai de liste générale des cardinaux. VII. Les cardinaux de la fin du XVe siècle". Annuaire Pontifical Catholique 1933, p. 159; his epitaph, note 2, below, says that he lived seventy-one years and twelve days; he died on September 18, 1498, therefore, he probably was born on September 6, 1427. There is a discrepancy between Chacón's transcription and the text of the epitaph that appears in the photograph, linked above, which says that the cardinal lived ANN. LXX., and, accordingly, he must have been born in 1422.
(2) This is the text of his epitaph taken from Chacón, Vitæ, et res gestæ Pontificvm Romanorum et S. R. E. Cardinalivm, II, 1345: IOANNES. BAPTISTA. SABELLVS. S. R. E. DIAC. CARDINALIS. TEMPORVM. VARIETATE. AC. MALIGNITATE. BIS. AD. CARDINALATVM. ELECTVS. EST. IN. MOLE. HADRIANI. DETENTVS. SEMPER. TAMEN. HONORIFICE. LIBERATVS. SVB. PAVLO. XYSTO. INNOCENTIO. ALEXANDRO. DVCATVS. BONONIÆ. MARCHIÆ. GENVÆ. LEGATVS. PLENE. ET. CLARE. FVNCTVS. FRAGILITAT. HVMANI. GENERIS. MEDITAT. MONVMENTVM. VIVENS. SIBI. POSVIT. VIXIT. ANNOS. LXXI. DIES. XII.

(28) 5. COLONNA, Giovanni (1456-1508)

Birth. 1456 (1), Rome. Son of Prince Antonio Colonna, prince of Salerno, and his third wife, Imperiale Colonna. Grand-nephew of Pope Martin V. Nephew of Cardinal Prospero Colonna (1426). Other cardinals from the different branches of the family were Giovanni Colonna (1212); Giacomo Colonna (1278); Pietro Colonna (1288); Giovanni Colonna (1327); Agapito Colonna (1378); Stefano Colonna (1378); Pompeo Colonna (1517); Marco Antonio Colonna, seniore (1565); Ascanio Colonna (1586); Girolamo Colonna (1627); Carlo Colonna (1706); Prospero Colonna (1739); Girolamo Colonna (1743); Prospero Colonna (1743); Marcantonio Colonna, iuniore (1759); Pietro Colonna (1766), who took the last name Pamphili; and Nicola Colonna, 1785. He was called the Cardinal Colonna.

Education. (No information found).

Early life. Protonotary apostolic.

Sacred orders. (No information found).

Cardinalate. Created cardinal deacon in the consistory of May 15, 1480; received the deaconry of S. Maria in Aquiro shortly after; and the red hat on June 3, 1480 in the patriarchal Vatican basilica.

Episcopate. Administrator of the see of Rieti, November 10, 1480; occupied the post until his death (2). He sided with King Ferdinando I of Naples in his was with the pope; the cardinal's brother, Girolamo, was killed in Rome on April 3, 1482; Cardinal Colonna was accused of treason together with Cardinal Giovanni Battista Savelli and arrested at the Vatican on June 2, 1482; he was placed in the house of Cardinal Girolamo Basso della Rovere and, the following day, he was imprisoned in Castello Sant'Angelo; freed on November 15, 1483 and received in consistory; the fight continued in Rome and he went away; Protonotary Apostolic Lorenzo Addone, pursued, sought refuge in the cardinal's palace in the present Piazza della Pilotta, on March 30, 1484; Cardinal Colonna returned to Rome at the death of the pope, the following August, and was acclaimed by the people. Participated in the conclave of 1484, which elected Pope Innocent VIII. He supported the election of Cardinal Rodrigo Borja y Borja, who had promised him the abbey of Subiaco, but Cardinal Giovanni Battista Cibo was elected as Pope Innocent VIII. Helped Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere maintain the order in Rome in 1485. On September 12, 1486, he returned to Rome from Genoa; arriving before Cardinal Giuliano, whom he took to the patriarchal Vatican basilica. Participated in the conclave of 1492, which elected Pope Alexander VI; Cardinal Borja promised him again the abbey of Subiaco and the surrounding castles; elected as Pope Alexander VI, he gave them to the cardinal. On April 29, 1493, he resigned the commendam of the Cistercian monastery of Bonnecombe, diocese of Rodez. In 1493, the son of the king of Naples went to Ostia to negotiate with him against the Sforza of Milan; he sided with King Charles VIII of France and was after him when the king entered Rome on December 31, 1495; remained with the king until January 28, 1495; and was with him in Naples in April 1495; the cardinal incurred the ire of the pope but was not deprived of the cardinalate as some sources have indicated. He retired to Sicily to escape his critics; he was perennially aided by the king of Spain; his brother Prospero had abandoned the party of the French king. Returned to Rome on December 16, 1496; left for Milan in July 1499. Named legate in Perugia. Returned to Rome on September 6, 1503, to participate in the first conclave of 1503, which elected Pope Pius III. Cardinal protodeacon after the election of the new Pope Pius III. Participated in the second conclave of 1503, which elected Pope Julius II. Abbot commendatario of the monastery of Grottaferrata, 1503; he succeeded the new Pope Julius II. Named archpriest of the patriarchal Lateran basilica in November 1503, succeeding the new Pope Julius II. Archbishop of Messina from 1504 (3). At the laying of the first stone of the new basilica of Saint Peter, on November 18, 1506, he proclaimed in Latin the indulgence granted by the pope.

Death. September 26, 1508, Rome. Buried in the basilica of Ss. XII Apostoli, Rome (4).

Bibliography. Cardella, Lorenzo. Memorie storiche de' cardinali della Santa Romana Chiesa. Rome : Stamperia Pagliarini, 1793, III, 219-220; Chacón, Alfonso. Vitæ, et res gestæ Pontificvm Romanorum et S. R. E. Cardinalivm ab initio nascentis Ecclesiæ vsque ad Vrbanvm VIII. Pont. Max. 2 volumes. Romae : Typis Vaticanis, 1630, II, cols. 1265 and 1389; "Essai de liste générale des cardinaux. VII. Les cardinaux de la fin du XVe siècle". Annuaire Pontifical Catholique 1933. Paris : Maison de la Bonne Presse, 1933, p. 159-160; Eubel, Conradu and Gulik, Guglielmus van. Hierarchia Catholica Medii Aevi. Volumen II (1431-1503). Münich : Sumptibus et Typis Librariae Regensbergianae, 1914; reprint, Padua : Il Messagero di S. Antonio, 1960, pp. 19, 46, 49, 52, 56, 66, and 221.

Webgraphy. Biography by Franca Petrucci, in Italian, Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani - Volume 27 (1982), Treccani; The Colonna family by James Loughlin, in English, The Catholic Encyclopedia; his genealogy, A3 B2, Libro d'Oro della Nobiltà Mediterranea; his engravings, arms and motto, Araldica Vaticana; The Colonna family by James Loughlin, in English, The Catholic Encyclopedia; his tomb, Requiem Datenbank.

(1) This is according to "Essai de liste générale des cardinaux. VII. Les cardinaux de la fin du XVe siècle". Annuaire Pontifical Catholique 1933, p. 159; his biography in Italian, linked above, says that he was born between 1450 and 1460; his genealogy, linked above, says that he was born in 1457; and his epitaph, note 3, says that he died on September 26, 1508, at fifty-one years and three months.
(2) Città Ducale was detached in 1502 to form a new diocese; it was reincorporated at his request and he administered it from November 8, 1503; at his death, 1508, it was again separated.
(3) This is according to his genealogy, linked above; neither Conradus Eubel and Guglielmus van Gulik, Hierarchia Catholica Medii Aevi. Volumen III (1503-1592) (Münich : Sumptibus et Typis Librariae Regensbergianae, 1935; reprint, Padua : Il Messagero di S. Antonio, 1960), p. 242; nor Pius Bonifatius Gams, Series episcoporum Ecclesiae catholicae (3 v. in 1. Graz : Akademische Druck- u. Verlagsanstalt, 1957), p. 950, mentioned him in the catalogs of occupants of that see.
(4) This is the text of his epitaph taken from Chacón, Vitæ, et res gestæ Pontificvm Romanorum et S. R. E. Cardinalivm, II, col. 1389: IOANNES. COLVNNA. DIACONVS. CARD. PRIMARIVS. ROMANI. NOMINIS. SALVATIS. LIBERTATISQ. PVBLICÆ. CLVMEN. HIC. SITVS. EST. VIXIT. ANNOS. LI. MENSES. TRES. OBIIT. MDCVII. SEPTEMB. XXVI.

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