1669–1670 papal conclave

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Papal conclave
1669–70
Dates and location
21 December 1669 – 29 April 1670
Apostolic Palace, Papal States
Elected pope
Emilio Bonaventura Altieri
Name taken: Clement X
← 1667
1676 →

The 1669–70 papal conclave (21 December – 29 April) was convened on the death of

Louis XIV of France
, and a freeing of the cardinals loyal to Spain to vote according to their conscience. Eventually the elderly Altieri was elected with support of the major factions within the College.

Background

Clement IX had primarily named Italian cardinals to the college, only appointing one French and one Spanish cardinal when he needed their assistance to fight back an invasion by the Ottoman Empire in Crete. He created his friends cardinals, with seven of the twelve that he created coming from his native Tuscany.[1] Clement did not feel obligated to appoint a German cardinal because the Holy Roman Emperor had requested his assistance in Hungary.[2] Within days of his death Clement IX had created seven additional cardinals, which brought the number of potential electors to its maximum of seventy.[3]

During his pontificate Clement strove diplomatically to bring Western European nations to the defense of Crete. The Ottomans were planning to advance on the Venetian owned capital of the island at Candia.[4] He intervened in the War of Devolution and helped negotiate a peace, which increased the likelihood that Spain and France would both aid Crete. The French initially sent a small force to aid Crete in 1668, before increasing their troop commitment in 1669. This did affect the outcome of the Ottoman advance, and they captured Candia in September 1669.[3]

Within the College of Cardinals a faction of cardinals that was not loyal to any of the Catholic monarchies had developed; they were called the

conclave of 1655. The name, which translates as Flying Squadron, was given because of their support of candidates who they believed had the best interest of the papacy in mind, rather than candidates supported by the secular monarch.[2] Christina, Queen of Sweden, who had abdicated the Swedish throne and moved to Rome before converting to the Catholic Church, served as the secular supporter of the group, and became particularly close to Decio Azzolino.[5]

Conclave

St Peter's Basilica
, c. 1667–79

The cardinals delayed the conclave until the ambassador of

Alexander VII.[2]

The College of Cardinals at the time did not have any cardinals that stood out as the obvious frontrunner, and the number of

papabili was greater than at most conclaves. Accounts from contemporary sources listed up to 21 cardinals who were considered to have a chance of being elected pope.[7]

Pietro Vidoni had the support of members of the Flying Squadron as well as Christina of Sweden and her ally Azzolino.[3] Also, he was opposed by neither France nor Spain. Francesco Barberini, the Dean of the College of Cardinals, opposed Vidoni because he had not been asked about his candidacy previously.[2]

Scipione Pannocchieschi d’Elci.[8] The exclusion caused d'Elci much embarrassment, and he became sick and quickly died after the French veto was announced.[6] Following d'Elci's exclusion, there was confusion amongst the cardinals about whom they should elect, because none of the existing candidates had the numerical possibility of being elected pope.[7]

The cardinals then attempted to elect Vidoni again, but Chigi was now opposed to him out of anger at the French for excluding d'Elci.

Benedetto Odescalchi, but d'Ailly declared that no one would be allowed to be elected unless they owed loyalty to Louis XIV.[9] The Spanish soon sent word that their cardinals were free to vote for anyone.[6] The letter was brought by courier and announced that Mariana of Austria had not actually excluded Vidoni nor any member of the college.[10]

Election of Clement X

In late April all the factions except the Flying Squadron had disappeared, and the cardinals had agreed to elect Emilio Altieri. On 29 April 1670 Altieri received three votes at the

Clement IX, who had created him a cardinal.[11] At the age of 79, Altieri is the oldest person to have been elected pope.[12]

Notes

  1. ^ Baumgartner 2003, pp. 158–159.
  2. ^ a b c d Baumgartner 2003, p. 159.
  3. ^ a b c Jedin and Dolan 1981, p. 115.
  4. ^ Jedin and Dolan 1981, p. 114.
  5. ^ Baumgartner 2003, p. 158.
  6. ^ a b c d e Baumgartner 2003, p. 160.
  7. ^ a b Freiherr von Pastor 1940, p. 432.
  8. ^ Freiherr von Pastor 1940, p. 434.
  9. ^ a b Freiherr von Pastor 1940, p. 435.
  10. ^ Freiherr von Pastor 1940, p. 436.
  11. ^ a b Freiherr von Pastor 1940, p. 437.
  12. ^ The Guardian 2013.

References

  • Baumgartner, Frederic J. (2003). Behind Locked Doors. Palgrave Macmillan.
    ISBN 0-312-29463-8
    .
  • Freiherr von Pastor, Ludwig (1940) [1891]. Graf, Ernest (ed.). The History of the Popes. Vol. XXXI. Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co. Ltd.
  • "Every Pope ever: the full list". The Guardian. 2013. Archived from the original on 4 June 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  • Jedin, Hubert; Dolan, John Patrick, eds. (1981). History of the Church: The church in the age of absolutism and enlightenment. Crossroad.
    ISBN 9780824500108
    .
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