Francesco Acquaviva

Francesco Acquaviva d'Aragona (14 October 1665 – 9 January 1725) was an Italian Cardinal, who served as ambassador of Spain to the Holy See.

Life Francesco Acquaviva was born 14 October 1665 in Naples, the son of Giosia III Acquaviva d'Aragona, 14th Duke of Atri, and Francesca Caracciolo;

He obtained a doctorate in utroque iure, both canon and civil law from the University of Fermo. He served as Vice-legate in Fermo, and was made a domestic prelate 25 November 1688. The following year, he was appointed Vice-legate in Ferrara. Francesco Acquaviva was consecrated titular archbishop of Larissa 22 December 1697. He was very loyal to Philip V, and sold his silverware to help the king bear the costs of the long war of succession and, in a critical moment, also saved the first wife of that sovereign, Luisa Maria Gabriella of Savoy. He participated in matters such as arranging the marriage of King Philip V and Princess Isabella Farnese of Parma, on 20 August 1714. He resided at the Palazzo di Spagna in Rome.

In 1709, he was named Cardinal-protector of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere. He served as Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals from 26 January 1711 until 2 March 1712. Francesco Acquaviva participated in the conclave of 1721, which elected Pope Innocent XIII, and the conclave of 1724, which elected Pope Benedict XIII.

He was buried at Rome in the Church of Santa Cecilia.

Episcopal Lineage Cardinal Scipione Rebiba Cardinal Giulio Antonio Santorio (1566) Cardinal Girolamo Bernerio, OP (1586) Archbishop Galeazzo Sanvitale (1604) Cardinal Ludovico Ludovisi (1621) Cardinal Luigi Caetani (1622) Cardinal Ulderico Carpegna (1630) Cardinal Paluzzo Paluzzi Altieri degli Albertoni (1666) Cardinal Gaspare Carpegna (1670) Cardinal Francesco Acquaviva (1697)