ABSTRACT
Pope Gregory died on 10 April 1585. The popular mood regarding the deceased pope was not always benevolent: indeed, it was during the conclave that people could give vent to the frustration that had built up during the years of the previous reign. After a conclave lasting 13 days Felice Peretti was elected; he took the name of Sixtus V. Sixtus V made his mark in both the political and musical spheres. A few days after his election, he ratified the Compagnia dei Musici di Roma. The temporal power exercised by a pope was fully comparable to that of an absolute monarch, with one fundamental difference: kings are born, while popes are made. French diplomats lost no time in trying to ingratiate themselves with the new pope, who made no attempt to conceal his feelings of gratitude towards Cardinal d'Este. The possible motive for conflict between the pope and Luigi d'Este could have been the murky affair of Vittoria Accoramboni.
