Sfondrati, Paolo, 1514-1587

Gregory XIV (1535-1591) served as Pope from 1590 to 1591.

Pope Gregory XIV was born Niccolò Sfondrati on February 11, 1535 in Somma Lombardo, near Milan, to Francesco Sfondrati and Anna Visconti. His father had taught law in Padua before being appointed a cardinal in 1544, and Niccolò followed a similar path. He studied law in Perugia and Padua, and in 1560 was appointed bishop of Cremona. In this role he attended the Council of Trent between 1561 and 1563. In 1583 he was appointed a cardinal by Pope Gregory XIII, before being selected as pope on December 5, 1590.

During his pontificate, Gregory XIV generally maintained the policies set by his predecessors. He opposed the reign of Henry IV of France, sending an army under the command of his nephew Ercole Sfondrati to support the Catholic League. He also made his nephew Paolo Camillo Sfondrati a cardinal, and appointed him as his secretary of state. These appointments generated some dissatisfaction among other cardinals, being seen as nepotism. Pope Gregory XIV died in Rome on October 16, 1591.

Paolo Sfondrati (1514-1587) was a Milanese senator and diplomat.

Paolo Sfondrati was born in 1514 to Francesco Sfondrati and Anna Visconti. The Sfondrati family were prominent politicians in Milan, and he followed his father into public service. Sfondrati was baron of Valsassina and count of Riviera, and married Sigismonda d'Este, daughter of the Marquis of S. Martino. They had six children, including Paolo Camillo, Ercole, and Francesco.

In Milan Sfondrati served as a senator, as well as a diplomat to the court of Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy. He also remained in contact with his brother, Niccolò, who would become pope Gregory XIV in 1590. Paolo Sfondrati died in Turin on April 23, 1587.

From the guide to the Paolo Sfondrati correspondence, 1561-1562, 1600s, (L. Tom Perry Special Collections)

Gregory XIV (1535-1591) served as Pope from 1590 to 1591.

Pope Gregory XIV was born Niccolò Sfondrati on February 11, 1535 in Somma Lombardo, near Milan, to Francesco Sfondrati and Anna Visconti. His father had taught law in Padua before being appointed a cardinal in 1544, and Niccolò followed a similar path. He studied law in Perugia and Padua, and in 1560 was appointed bishop of Cremona. In this role he attended the Council of Trent between 1561 and 1563. In 1583 he was appointed a cardinal by Pope Gregory XIII, before being selected as pope on December 5, 1590.

During his pontificate, Gregory XIV generally maintained the policies set by his predecessors. He opposed the reign of Henry IV of France, sending an army under the command of his nephew Ercole Sfondrati to support the Catholic League. He also made his nephew Paolo Camillo Sfondrati a cardinal, and appointed him as his secretary of state. These appointments generated some dissatisfaction among other cardinals, being seen as nepotism. Pope Gregory XIV died in Rome on October 16, 1591.

Paolo Sfondrati (1514-1587) was a Milanese senator and diplomat.

Paolo Sfondrati was born in 1514 to Francesco Sfondrati and Anna Visconti. The Sfondrati family were prominent politicians in Milan, and he followed his father into public service. Sfondrati was baron of Valsassina and count of Riviera, and married Sigismonda d'Este, daughter of the Marquis of S. Martino. They had six children, including Paolo Camillo, Ercole, and Francesco.

In Milan Sfondrati served as a senator, as well as a diplomat to the court of Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy. He also remained in contact with his brother, Niccolò, who would become pope Gregory XIV in 1590. Paolo Sfondrati died in Turin on April 23, 1587.

From the guide to the Paolo Sfondrati correspondence, 1561-1562, 1600s, (L. Tom Perry Special Collections)