Court and Politics in Papal Rome, 1492 1700

This study describes power and politics in Rome and the role of the papacy in European politics during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. It attempts to overcome the traditional historiographical approach to the role of the papacy during this period by focusing on the actual mechanisms of power in the papal court--political, personal, spiritual, and ceremonial. Based on new research in Italian and other European archives, it charts the transition from a political to a primarily spiritual power between the Renaissance and the Peace of Westphalia.

"Scholarly and...useful." Catholic Library World"This strong collection comprises ten original essays that elucidate how power was exercised and represented in the early modern papal court. Attention to institutional structures is complemented by sensitivity to how individuals negotiated paths through those structures to exert power and influence." Choice"Ten sharply focused essays offer insights into the development of policies and practices of the papal court in the early modern period, addressing the latest historiographical discussions...This spectrum of helpful analyses will expand the understanding of students of the papacy and early modern methods and mechanics of government." Religious Studies Review"These ten essays... richly advance our knowledge of the complex institution of the papacy, 'sovereigns without dynasty', from Alexander VI to Innocent XI." Sixteenth Century Journal

"Court and Politics in Papal Rome, 1492-1700 is an innovative book, showing the exciting directions in which Roman scholarship is moving, as well as the richness and relevancy of such scholarship for the history of early modern Europe as a whole. One can only hope that the display of such vast archival riches and such thoughtful and exacting scholarship will inspire others to enter the field." Renaissance Quarterly"Scholarly and...useful." Catholic Library World"This strong collection comprises ten original essays that elucidate how power was exercised and represented in the early modern papal court. Attention to institutional structures is complemented by sensitivity to how individuals negotiated paths through those structures to exert power and influence." Choice"Ten sharply focused essays offer insights into the development of policies and practices of the papal court in the early modern period, addressing the latest historiographical discussions...This spectrum of helpful analyses will expand the understanding of students of the papacy and early modern methods and mechanics of government." Religious Studies Review"These ten essays... richly advance our knowledge of the complex institution of the papacy, 'sovereigns without dynasty', from Alexander VI to Innocent XI." Sixteenth Century Journal"An impressive collection of essays." H-Catholic"This collection of essays seem to respond very well to the intents of the editors." Seventeenth_Century News

An account of the role of the papacy in early modern European politics.

This book describes power and politics in Rome and the role of the papacy in early modern European politics. It attempts to overcome the traditional historiographical approach to the papacy during this period by focusing on the actual mechanisms of power in the papal court - political, personal, spiritual and ceremonial.

Introduction Gianvittorio Signorotto and Maria Antonietta Visceglia; 1. A turning-point in the history of the factional system in the Sacred College: the power of the pope and cardinals in the age of Alexander VI Marco Pellegrini; 2. The court and the city in the ceremony of the possesso in the sixteenth century Irene Fosi; 3. 'Rome, workshop of all the practice of the world': from the letters of cardinal Ferdinando de' Medici to Cosimo I and Francesco I Elena Fasano Guarini; 4. The 'world's theatre': the court of Rome and politics in the first half of the seventeenth century Mario Rosa; 5. Factions in the Sacred College in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries Maria Antonietta Visceglia; 6. The Secretariat of State as the pope's special ministry Antonio Menniti Ippolito; 7. The cardinal protectors of the crowns in the Roman curia during the first half of the seventeenth century: the case of France Olivier Poncet; 8. The squadrone volante: 'independent' cardinals and European politics in the second half of the seventeenth century Gianvittorio Signorotto; 9. Roman avvisi: information and politics in the seventeenth century Mario Infelise; 10. Hegemony of the social scene and zealous popes, 1676-1700 Renata Ago.