ABSTRACT

Universally vilified during his lifetime in a crescendo that, if anything, has increased over the centuries, Francesco Alidosi was “signore” of the insignificant Emilian town of Castel del Rio, near Imola. The facts surrounding Alidosi’s life until the final decade are poorly documented; even the date of birth, given as c. 1455, is incorrect. The actual birthdate, which can be determined by his horoscope, turns out to be a full twelve years later, in 1467. 1 He apparently studied theology at the University of Bologna, and soon after entered the court of Sixtus IV, where he served as “scriptor apostolicus.” In Rome, he became intimate with the pope’s nephew Cardinal Giuliano delta Rovere, who was to play such a dominant role in his life as Pope Julius II. It appears that Alidosi was approached by the Borgia pope Alexander VI to poison Giuliano, but instead he warned his friend and they both fled to France, where they spent a long period of time together. From the moment Giuliano was elected pope, he promoted Alidosi’s career by giving him powerful positions, including that of papal treasurer. In 1505, Alidosi was made a cardinal with the title first of Santi Nereo e Achilleo and then of Santa Cecilia, and was placed in charge of the diocese of Pavia, after which he was often referred to as the Cardinal of Pavia. 2