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SEDE VACANTE
(February 1, 1691—July 12, 1691
Alexander VII Ottoboni ruled only sixteen months, but he made gestures toward easing the situation with the French government, attempting to work through back-channels by way of Madame de Maintenon. In this effort he was aided by the Glorious Revolution in England (1688), which brought the Protestant William III of Orange to the English throne, much to the discomfort of Louis XIV. But when the Pope stood firm both on the Gallican Articles and the matter of the regalian rights, and issued a constitution Inter Multiplices on his deathbed nullifying both actions of Louis XIV, all hopes collapsed. The Conclave of 1691 began on February 11 (or 4), with forty-three cardinals in attendance, and lasted a stormy five months, made all the worse near the end by the heat of a Roman summer and riots in the streets of Rome. The French and Imperial ambassadors were at odds, as were important members of their suites with each other. For some time Gregorio Cardinal Barbadigo seemed likely to prevail, but was unable to secure two-thirds. A compromise candidate, Antonio Pignatelli, Archbishop of Naples (Innocent XII, 1691-1700), was elected on July 12. He had received 53 of 61 votes. He was crowned on July 15, and took possession of the Lateran Basilica on April 13, 1692.
G. Novaes, Elementi della storia de' sommi pontefici Vol. XI (Roma 1822) 106-108. Alexis François Artaud de Montor Histoire des souverains pontifes romains VI (Paris 1851) 206-207, repeats Novaes' notes, neither having any insight. G. Moroni, Dizionario di erudizione storico-ecclesiastica Vol. 36 (Venezia 1846) 32-33 adds nothing. © 03/28/2006 |
John Paul Adams, CSUN
john.p.adams@csun.edu
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