Decio Azzolino

Decio Azzolino the ( * April 11, 1623 in Fermo, † June 8, 1689 in Rome) was younger Cardinal of the Roman church of Sant Adriano al Foro and confidant of former Swedish Queen Christina.

Life

Decio Azzolino was the son of Pompeo Azzolino and Giulia Ruffo and came from an old noble family. His great-uncle was Cardinal Decio Azzolino the Elder. After attending the seminar in Ripatransone he studied in his native city of Fermo philosophy, theology and jurisprudence. In addition, he also dealt with rhetoric, Greek and Roman literature, poetry and period art. Since his father and his uncle had held offices in the Vatican Secretariat of State, he also made ​​in the service of the Roman Church rapid progress. He received his priestly ordination around the mid- 1640s - years and was accompanied by his appointment as secretary. Already in 1653 he became secretary of the Holy College of Cardinals in 1654 and even elevated to Cardinal of Sant Adriano al Foro. He moved in 1683 to the titular church of Santa Maria in Trastevere, from 1684 to 1689, the Santa Prassede. Pope Alexander VII put the educated and beautiful spiritual Cardinal exiled to Rome, former Swedish Queen Christina as a confidant and in particular financial advisor to, but could not prevent Christina indebted high. It is not entirely certain, but it is often argued that Christina and he should have had a love affair. She puts him as your heir, but he died only a few weeks after her death, after organizing her funeral in St. Peter's Basilica.

Decio Azzolino belonged to the more liberal and free-spirited thinking of the Catholic Church and the Cardinal Association Squadrone Volante, who could each assert their candidates in the conclaves of 1655 and 1667. He is buried in the oratory of Santa Maria in Vallicella, Rome.

• Cardinal (17th century)
• Born in 1623
• Died in 1689
• Man