Christian Rome Volume 2; A Historical View of Its Memories and Monuments, 41-1867 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1898 Excerpt: ... the Conclave; this delay became a source of freah fears; for the French and Spanish armies were approaching, and news had already arrived that 4000 men. acting under the orders of the Marchese di Saluzzo, had seized the town of Ostia. The Cardinals then ordered the streets to be barricaded, placed 20,000 men under the command of a foreign captain for the defence of the town, and, in order to avoid collision, forbade the Orsini and Prospero Colonna to enter Rome during the sitting of the Conclave. This prohibition was ill observed, for Fabio Orsini entered the city at the head of his troops and committed further pillage. Meanwhile, after a month's delay, Cardinal Piccolomini was elected Pope and assumed the name of Pius III in memory of his uncle Pius II. He was a retiring and virtuous man, regular in his habits, and extremely gentle. Unfortunately his reign only lasted a few days. His successor was Giuliano della Rovere, Cardinal of S. Pietro-in-vincoli, who had been raised to the purple by his uncle Sixtus IV, and who by untiring energy had made himself one of the most important members of the Sacred College. He took the title of Julius II. because, according to some, he wished to render homage to the military genius of Julius Caesar whose career he envied; but more likely he merely wished to retain his baptismal name. Julius was both high minded and ambitious. Ranke says of him, "His noble soul was filled with great schemes for the advantage of the whole of Italy," and M. Leo adds, "for, in spite of all his weaknesses and passions, this Pope was one of the finest characters of that period." (1) While the pontificate of Alexander VI lasted, Cardinal della Rovere was in league with the French; he even kept away from Rome for a long time remaining at Ostia, ...