Ercole Consalvi

Ercole Consalvi , born the June 8th 1757 with Rome, dead the June 24th 1824 at the same place, statesman and dignitary of the Roman Catholic church, Cardinal Secretary of State of Black and white VII of 1800 with 1806 and of 1814 with 1823.

Youth and career curiale

Born in a noble family originating in Pisa and having raised at the 18th century the name of Consalvi, Ercole between at the 14 years age to the Séminaire of Frascati, where it wakes up the interest of the cardinal of York, bishop of the diocese. It continues then studies of ecclesiastical history and right to the Académie of the noble ecclesiastics. In 1783, it enters the Roman Curie as private chamberlain. It made a brilliant career there, becoming in 1790 prelate voter ( voter ) of the Supreme court of the apostolic Signature and in 1792 listener of the Rote Roman.

In 1796, it is named assessor of the military commission charged to prevent the revolutionary disorders. When Berthier enters Rome to the head of the French troops, on February 15th 1798, Consalvi is stopped and thrown in the jails of the Château Saint-Angel. Exiled then in the Italian countryside, it joined Naples. After having tried in vain to join Black and white VI in exile, it settles with Venice.

Secretary of State

From 1800 to 1806

It is there that starting from December 1st, 1799 the Conclave is held. Consalvi, 42 years old, is selected as secretary of the conclave. Whereas this one enlise during more than three months, in particular because of the Exclusive of the emperor of Austria against the cardinal Gerdil, Consalvi rejoins the cardinals on the name of the Chiaramonti cardinal, bishop of Imola, which is elected the March 14th 1800 under the name of Pie VII. The following day, the new pope names Consalvi pro-secretary of State; he will raise it with the dignity of cardinal, and Secretary of State, the August 15th according to.

Consalvi then has the freehands to reorganize the Papal States, abused by the revolutionary upheaval. It is surrounded prelates progressists and constitutes four commissions cardinalices charged to think of the reform of the institutions.

the administration of the Papal States is opened to the laic civils servant, chosen among the aristocracy.
the freedom of the trade is established for the foodstuffs, the distributions of corn at low prices are stopped.
the Billon is withdrawn from circulation in order to suppress the Inflation.
a tax reform melts 35 different taxes and taxes in only one size ( dativa ), personal and real.
Rome is refitted: ancient monuments are restored, of the walks arranged along the the Tiber and the statues discovered during the excavations transported in the museums of the Vatican. It protects the sculptor Antonio Canova.

Parallel to these reforms, it signs after 13 month of negotiations a Concordat with France then another with the République cisalpine. In 1804, it persuades Pie VII to agree to crown Napoleon Bonaparte. However, Napoleon believes it his enemy and via the cardinal Fesch, request with insistence his reference. In 1806, Pie VII ends up yielding: the June 17th, Consalvi leaves the chancery of State.

The exile

When France invades the Papal States again on May 17th 1809, Consalvi is constrained to leave Rome. It is withdrawn with Paris where it lives in discretion, refusing the pension offered by the government. In 1810, it refuses to attend the marriage of Napoleon and Marie-Louise of Austria, with the reason which the pope did not come to a conclusion about the disability of the first union of the emperor with Joséphine de Beauharnais. Furious, Napoleon orders that the goods of Consalvi and the 12 other cardinals in the same case are confiscated, and that themselves are private of their row. Consalvi and the other prelates must then dress themselves in black like simple priests, thus gaining the nickname of “black cardinals”. The June 11th, it is exiled with Rheims, where it starts to write its memories.

Released in 1813, it joined Pie VII. After the abdication of Napoleon in 1814, it gains Rome where it is at once named Secretary of State.

From 1814 to 1823

The first task of Consalvi is then diplomatic. It develops the relations of the the Holy See beyond their the usual, thus meeting Alexandre I {{er}} of Russia in 1814, then prince-regent of England, future circle George IV. It takes share with the Congrès of Vienna where it obtains the restitution of the Papal States within the limits pre-revolutionists, except for Avignon and of the Comtat Venaissin. It gains there the admiration of Lord Castlereagh, ambassador of Great Britain, which writes “it is our Master with all”.

It also takes again its effort of reform, by abolishing the privileges of the nobility in the pontifical cities, by promulgating a new civil code and penal, by reorganizing education and cleansing finances. He also fights against the Carbonarisme.

In parallel, he concludes from the legal settlements with France, the Bavaria and the Sardinia (1817), the Prussia (1821), the Hanover (1823).

End

With died of Black and white VII in August 1823, it leaves the chancery of State. Itself dies shortly after. Its body is buried in San Lorenzo while its heart rests with the the Pantheon.

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