Fabrizio Spada
Fabrizio Spada (* 1643, † June 15, 1717 ) was a cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. At the height of his career, he held the office of Cardinal Secretary of State.
Life
Fabrizio Spada was a member of the Italian noble family Spada. The rise of this family began with Fabrizio Spada's great-grandfather Paolo Spada, who amassed a fortune with not getting proper business conduct and took advantage of this, among other things, to allow his children a social career. His third son Bernardino Spada was the first member of the family, which the cardinal's hat was awarded. This used his influence also in such a way that his nephew Orazio Spada could marry that were found from the Roman aristocracy Maria Veralli. Fabrizio Spada was the second son of this union. His great-uncle made sure that his relative was given a thorough education, as he was apparently also provided very early for an ecclesiastical career.
After a thorough education, he studied in Perugia subjects, which included, among others, rhetoric, logic, physics, Greek and French. This study served to prepare for a career at the papal curia, as the popes of the early modern period were also rulers of the Papal States, which ranged from Bologna and Ferrara in the north to Benevento in the south. To manage this territory, curia needed not only experienced theologians, but also lawyers, and government lawyers.
Fabrizio Spada Bernardino Spada important supporter died in 1661, before Fabrizio Spada had secured a promising starting position in the Vatican. His career was so in the first four years does not go beyond entry-level positions as prothonotary and court clerk. It was only in April 1668, he was appointed secretary of a committee which had to take care of the administration of the provinces of the Papal States. In 1672 he was ordained nuncio at the court of the Duke of Savoy and titular Archbishop of Patras. 1674 was an appointment as nuncio at the French court. Nuncios who successfully filled this role were later appointed cardinal rule. Such positions were therefore quite popular, even if the respective nuncio had to bear the costs of the Office appropriate representation of itself. However, in the case of Fabrizio Spada other reasons prevented the most promising candidates actually came into play. The appointment of the most eligible for this position in question Francesco Bonvisi would not have been possible without the annoyance of the former Kardinalnepot Giacomo Rospigliosi. Other candidates preferring to remain in Rome because they had chance to get the nomination as cardinal, without perceiving the costly items in Paris. Fabrizio Spada was therefore a compromise candidate for this position, the connections of his father Orazio Spada and his uncle Bernardino Rocci certainly also played a role.
Working as Nuncio ended on 27 August 1675th Already on 27 May 1675 Pope Fabrizio Spada had made a cardinal with the title of Church of San Crisogono. 1708 he moved to the titular church of Santa Prassede. According to the historian Arne Karsten so much the diplomatic services was crucial, as the desire of the Pope, to snub the collection of the Paris unpopular nuncio to the French King Louis XIV.
Under Pope Innocent XI. came the career of the newly appointed Cardinal again in a standstill. Six years was the legate of Urbino. Pope Innocent XII. other hand, Fabrizio Spada appointed Cardinal Secretary of State. Under Clement XI. the other hand, ended this career. The last two decades of life, he was a member of numerous committees of the papal administration. He was regarded as a hard-working and always ready.
On June 15, 1717 he died. He was buried in the family chapel in the church of Santa Maria in Vallicella.