Paolo di Campofregoso


Paolo di Campofregoso
Paolo di Campofregoso, Cardinal and Doge of Genoa
ChurchCatholic
ArchdioceseGenoa
SeeGenoa
Appointed1453
Installed1453
Term ended1498
PredecessorGiacomo Imperiale, O.S.B
SuccessorGiovanni Maria Sforza
Other post(s)
Orders
Ordinationunknown
Consecration7 February 1453
by Pope Nicholas V
Created cardinal1480
by Pope Sixtus IV
RankCardinal-Priest
Personal details
Born
Paolo di Campofregoso

1427
Died22 March 1498
Rome, Papal States
ParentsLodovico di Campofregoso, Doge of Genoa
Coat of armsPaolo di Campofregoso's coat of arms
Paolo di Campofregoso
37th Lifetime Doge of the Republic of Genoa
In office
14 May 1462 – 31 May 1462
Preceded byLodovico di Campofregoso
Succeeded byLodovico di Campofregoso
In office
8 January 1463 – 16 April 1464
Preceded byLodovico di Campofregoso
Succeeded byDogeship vacant
In office
25 November 1483 – 6 January 1488
Preceded byBattista Fregoso
Succeeded byDogeship vacant
Personal details
Born1427
Genoa, Republic of Genoa
Died22 March 1498(1498-03-22) (aged 70–71)
Rome, Papal States

Paolo di Campofregoso (Genoa, 1427 – Rome, 22 March 1498) was a Genoese aristocrat and Italian Cardinal who was three times Doge of the Republic of Genoa, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Genoa from 1453 to 1498 and Bishop of Ajaccio from 1493 to 1498.[1]

Biography

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Ducat of Paolo di Campofregoso, coined between 1483 and 1488.

The son of doge Battista Fregoso, he was convinced by Pope Nicholas V to study ecclesiastical matters at Pavia. In 1448, once finished with his studies, he was appointed canon of the cathedral of Savona, and in 1453 he became abbot of the Cistercian convent of Sant'Andrea at Savona. The same year, aged only 26, he was appointed archbishop of Genoa by request of his brother Pietro, the current doge. Pietro had become doge for the first time in 1450, succeeding his cousin Lodovico, who had resigned for unknown reasons. His rule ended in 1458 when the city surrendered itself to King Charles VII of France.

Further strife with his cousin caused Lodovico to cede the title of doge to Paolo on 14 May 1462. His rule ended after just fifteen days, as he was replaced by five captains. The latter, in turn, lasted for only a week, after which Lodovico di Campofregoso was restored as doge: now the hate between Paolo, the city's archbishop, and Lodovico, the city's political chief, reached its apex. Paolo succeeded him as doge in January 1463 and had Lodovico detained in the castle of Castelletto. The following year, after a series of questionable deeds (such as menacing the expulsion of the Adorno family from Genoa, and the endless strife within the Fregoso family), the Council of the Elders deposed him, accepting the protection of the House of Sforza, which lasted until 1477.

Life as cardinal

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In 1480 he was created cardinal in Rome. In that year he participated as papal admiral for an expedition alongside the Neapolitan fleet of Ferdinand I against the Turks at Otranto. In 1483 Paolo di Campofregoso was elected as doge of Genoa for the third time; however, this time a popular rebellion forced him to flee his city in 1488, being succeeded by another submission to the Sforzas. He subsequently lived in exile in Piedmont, Veneto and Rome. In 1490 he received the cardinal title of San Sisto, and took part in the conclave of 1492.

Later years

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In 1495 he resigned from archbishopric of Genoa, but the following year he was appointed to that post again. In his late life he participated in the struggle to expel Charles VIII of France from Genoa.[citation needed]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "FREGOSO, Paolo". Treccani (in Italian). Retrieved 2023-11-05.
[edit]
Political offices
Preceded by Doge of Genoa
14 May 1462 – 31 May 1462
Succeeded by
Government of Four Captains
Preceded by Doge of Genoa
8 January 1463– April 1464
Succeeded by
Subjection to
Duchy of Milan
Preceded by Doge of Genoa
25 November 1483 – 6 January 1488
Succeeded by
Subjection to
Duchy of Milan