Home > Giacomo Antonelli

He was educated for the priesthood, but, after taking minor orders, gave up the idea of becoming a priest, and chose an administrative career. Created secular prelate, he was sent as apostolic delegate to Viterbo, where he early manifested his reactionary tendencies in an attempt to stamp out Liberalism. Recalled to Rome in 1841, he entered the office of the papal secretary of state, but four years later was appointed pontifical treasurer-general. Created cardinal ( June 11, 1847), he was chosen by Pius IX to preside over the council of state entrusted with the drafting of the constitution.

On March 10 1848 Antonelli became premier of the first constitutional ministry of Pius IX, a capacity in which he displayed consummate duplicity. Upon the fall of his cabinet Antonelli created for himself the governorship of the sacred palaces in order to retain constant access to and influence over the pope. After the assassination of Pellegrino Rossi ( November 18, 1848) he arranged the flight of Pius IX to Gaeta, where he was appointed secretary of state.

Notwithstanding promises to the powers, he restored absolute government upon returning to Rome ( April 12April 12 is the 102nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (103rd in leap years). There are 263 days remaining. Events 467 Anthemius is elevated to Emperor of the Western Roman Empire 1204 The Fourth Crusade sacks Constantinople 1606 The Union Jack i, 1850Events January 4 The first American ice-skating club is formed ( Philadelphia, Pennsylvania). January 29 Henry Clay introduces the Compromise of 1850 to the United States Congress February 28 University of Utah opens in Salt Lake City, Utah March 7 United) and violated the conditions of the surrender by wholesale imprisonment of Liberals. In 1855Events Births January 5 King Camp Gillette, inventor († 1932) January 21 John Moses Browning, inventor († 1926) January 28 William Seward Burroughs, inventor of the calculator († 1898) March 13 Percival Lowell, astronomer († 19 he narrowly escaped assassination. As ally of the Bourbons of Naples, from whom he had received an annual subsidy, he attempted, after 1860, to facilitate their restoration by fomenting brigandage on the Neapolitan frontier. To the overtures of RicàsoliBettino, baron Ricasoli ( March 29, 1809 October 23, 1880), Italian statesman, was born at Broglio. Left an orphan at eighteen, with an estate heavily encumbered, he was by special decree of the grand duke of Tuscany declared of age. and entrusted with th in 1861, Pius IX, at Antonelli's suggestion, replied with the famous "Non possumus," but subsequently (1867) accepted, too late, Ricàsoli's proposal concerning ecclesiastical property.

After the September Convention (1864) Antonelli organized the Legion of Antibes to replace French troops in Rome, and in 1867 secured French aid against GaribaldiGiuseppe Garibaldi ( July 4, 1807 June 2, 1882) was a brilliant guerrilla fighter and Italy's most famous soldier of the Risorgimento. He was called the "Hero of Two Worlds" in tribute to his military adventures in both South America and Europe. He was bo's invasion of papal territory. Upon the reoccupation of Rome by the French after Mentana , Antonelli again ruled supreme, but upon the entry of the Italians in 1870 was obliged to restrict his activity to the management of foreign relations. He wrote, with papal approval, the letter requesting the Italians to occupy the Leonine city, and obtained from the Italians payment of the Peter's pence (5,000,000 lire) remaining in the papal exchequer, as well as 50,000 scudithe first and only instalment of the Italian allowance (subsequently fixed by the Law of Guarantees, March 21March 21 is the 80th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (81st in leap years). There are 285 days remaining. Events 1556 In Oxford, Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer is burned at the stake. 1788 A fire destroys 856 buildings in New Orleans and, 1871Events January January 18 The member-states of the North German Confederation unite into a single nation-state known as the German Empire. The King of Prussia is declared the first German Emperor as Wilhelm I of Germany. January 28 France surrenders to en) ever accepted by the Holy See.

At Antonelli's death the Vatican finances were found to be in disorder, with a deficit of 45,000,000 lire. His personal fortune, accumulated during office, was considerable, and was bequeathed almost entirely to members of his family. To the Church he left little and to the pope only a trifling souvenir. From 1850 until his death he interfered little in affairs of dogma and church discipline, although he addressed to the powers circulars enclosing the Syllabus (1864) and the acts of the Vatican Council (1870).

His activity was devoted almost exclusively to the struggle between the papacy and the Italian Risorgimento, the history of which is comprehensible only when the influence exercised by his unscrupulous, grasping and sinister personality is fully taken into account. He died on the 6th of November 1876.

This article incorporates text from the public domain 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica. 1911 Britannica