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:''For the ] (1378-1394) see ].'' | |||
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'''Clement VII''', né '''''Giulio di Giuliano de' Medici''''' (] - ], ]) was ] from ] to ]. | |||
This pope was an illegitimate son of ], who was assassinated in the ] against the ]; he was thus the nephew of ] and cousin of ]. Upon the latter's accession to the ], Giulio became his principal minister and confidant, especially in the maintenance of the Medici interest at ]. | |||
At Leo's death, Cardinal Medici, though unable to gain the Papacy for himself or his ally ], took a leading part in determining the unexpected election of ], to whom he succeeded in the next conclave (November ]). He brought to the Papal throne a high reputation for political ability, and possessed in fact all the accomplishments of a wily diplomatist, but the circumstances of the times required a man of a far different mold. | |||
His worldliness and lack of insight into the tendencies of his age disqualified him from comprehending the great religious movement which then convulsed the church; while his timidity and indecision no less disabled him from following a consistent policy in secular affairs. | |||
At first attached to the interests of the ], he was terrified by the overwhelming success of ] in the ] into joining the other Italian princes in a league with France. This policy in itself was sound and patriotic, but Clement's zeal soon cooled; by his want of foresight and unseasonable economy he laid himself open to an attack from the turbulent Roman barons, which obliged him to invoke the mediation of the Emperor. When this danger seemed over he veered back to his former engagements, and ended by drawing down upon himself the imperialist host, eventually uncertainly led by Charles, Duke of Bourbon, who, compelled to satisfy his clamorous mercenaries by pillage, embraced the opportunity of leading them against Rome. | |||
Rome was assaulted and sacked on ], ], and Clement, who had displayed no more resolution in his military than in his political conduct, was shortly afterwards obliged to surrender himself together with the castle of ], where he had taken refuge. After six months captivity he was released upon very onerous conditions, and for some years subsequently followed a policy of subserviency to the Emperor, endeavouring on the one hand to induce him to act with severity against the Lutherans in Germany, and on the other to elude his demands for a general council. Meanwhile, in Florence, Republican enemies of the Medici took advantage of the chaos to once again expel the family from the city. | |||
Two years later, peace was made between the Papal and Imperial factions, and as part of the deal Charles V agreed to restore the Medici to power in Florence. In 1530, after an 11-month ] the city capitulated, and Clement VII installed his illegitimate son ] as Duke. | |||
One momentous consequence of this dependence on Charles was the breach with England occasioned by Clement's refusal in ], justifiable in point of principle, but dictated by no higher motive than his fear of offending the emperor, to sanction ]'s divorce from ]; this ultimately resulted in the establishment of the independent ]. | |||
Towards the end of his reign Clement once more gave indications of a leaning towards a French alliance, which was prevented by his death in September ]. As a man he possessed few virtues and few vices; as a pontiff he did nothing to disgrace the church and nothing to restore its lustre; his adroitness and dexterity as a statesman were counteracted by his suspicion and irresolution; his administration affords a proof that at eventful crises of the world's history mediocrity of character is more disastrous than mediocrity of talent. | |||
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Predecessor=]| | |||
Successor=]}} | |||
==References== | |||
*Most of this article was originally taken from the 9th edition (1876) of the ]. | |||
==See also== | |||
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Revision as of 22:04, 11 December 2004
this frober project is killing me