Federico di Sanseverino

Federico di Sanseverino (died 1516) was an Italian Roman Catholic cardinal of the 16th century. Grandson of the Duke of Urbino, he spent most of his ecclesiastical career as a political operative, first for the Sforza in Milan, and then representing French interests. Most of his colleagues regarded him as a worldly man, more interested in pleasures, hunting and weapons, rather than prayer.

Biography

Federico di Sanseverino was born in Naples in 1462. He was the son of Roberto Sanseverino d'Aragona, a general of the papal army, and his second wife Elisabetta da Montefeltro, natural daughter of the Duke of Urbino Federico da Montefeltro. and occupied that post until 1508. Around 1492, he became provost of the church of Santa Maria in Crescenzago. He was the apostolic administrator of the see of Novara from 30 May 1505 until 24 October 1511.

He became a firm and faithful supporter of the Duke of Milan Ludovico Sforza. Thanks to the influence of Sforza, in the consistory of 9 March 1489, Pope Innocent VIII made him a cardinal deacon in pectore. Because of his youth, his creation was not published during the lifetime of Innocent VIII. During the sede vacante following the death of Innocent VIII, Sanseverino went to Rome, escorted by his brother Gaspare and a group of armed men, to demand his admission to the Sacred College and participation in the conclave. Ludovico's brother, Cardinal Ascanio Sforza, convinced the College of Cardinals to publish Sanseverino's creation on 26 July 1492, and he received the deaconry of San Teodoro. Having assumed the title of Cardinal of S. Teodoro, he joined the Curia in the influential party of Ascanio Sforza, intent on averting the election of Giuliano Della Rovere, to the advantage of Rodrigo Borgia (Pope Alexander VI). According to Ludwig Pastor, 'the corruption during the reign of Pope Innocent VIII had increased to such an extent that it became possible by bribery to procure the election of such a successor as Pope Alexander VI Sanseverino's compensation included Rodrigo Borgia's house in Milan.

His ecclesiastical ambitions were compromised, for some time, on the one hand, because relations had become tense between Rome and Milan and, on the other, due to the distrust of the curial circles towards him because of his reputation as a worldly man, dedicated to pleasures, to hunting and weapons, rather than to prayer. On 1 May 1510 he opted for the deaconry of Sant'Angelo in Pescheria, while continuing to hold the deaconry of San Teodoro in commendam. He was absolved by the pope, ordered to fast for a month, and restored to the College of Cardinals.

From June 1513, he was the cardinal protodeacon. Shortly later, he was named cardinal protector of the Kingdom of France. On 25 June 1515, he was arrested on the pope's orders because it looked like one of his servants had killed a papal guard, but he proved his innocence the next day. In November 1515, he was sent as a papal legate to Francis I of France, who met him outside the gates of Bologna.

He died in Rome on 7 August 1516. He is buried in Santa Maria in Aracoeli.