SEDE VACANTE 1700

(September 27, 1700—November 23, 1700)

	AG Obv.: NON • VOS • RELINQUAM • ORPHANOS (in exergue:) ANNO \| IVBIL The Holy Spirit, in clouds, surrounded by rays. (in exergue:) Episcopal Coat-of-Arms
	SEDE • VACA NTE • MDCC Arms of Giovanni Battista Card. Spinola, Chamberlain of the Holy Roman Church (1698-1719), crossed keys behind, surmounted by the Ombrellone Berman, p. 162 #2330.

	Æ 27mm SEDE • V ACANTE Shield with the Borghese coat of arms, surmounted by clerical hat, with six tassels on each side (signifying episcopal status)
	Ornamental shield, with inscription: PAVLVS \| BVRGHESIVS \| CONCLAVIS \| GVBERNATOR \| 1700

"L' origine de tant de médailles remonte à l'époque où le conclave se tenait toujours au palais du Vatican, et où l'on interdisait à tout le monde, pendant tout le temps de sa durée, l'entrée de la cité Léonine, c'est-à-dire du quartier appelé le Borgo. Alors tous ceux qui, soit pour leurs affaires, soit pour tout autre motif, devaient se rendre dans ce quartier du Borgo, étaient arretés en tête du pont Saint-Ange ou de tout autre pont communiquant avec le Vatican; on ne laissait passer que ceux qui étaient porteurs d'une médaille expressément frappée pendant la vacance du siége au nom de l'un des personnages nommés ci-dessus."

X. Barbier de Montault, Le Conclave (Roma 1878) 19.

GIAMBATTISTA CARDINAL SPINOLA, iuniore (1646–1719) was the nephew of Giulio Card. Spinola and Giambattista Card. Spinola, seniore. He was Governor of Rome and Vice-Chamberlain of the Holy Roman Church between July 28, 1691 and December 12, 1695, when he was created Cardinal Deacon of S. Cesareo in Palatio. He became Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church on November 24, 1698, and held the office until his death on March 19, 1719.

The Dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals was François de la Tour-d'Auvergne .(d. 1715), who, at the time, was in disfavor with Louis XIV. His benefices had been confiscated along with his private fortune, and he was, in fact, living in exile in Rome (Picot, xxxvi).

DON PAOLO BORGHESE (1663–1701) was the second son of Giovanni Battista Borghese, Principe Borghese and Principe di Sulmona, and Donna Eleonora Boncompagni, daughter of the Duke of Sora; his elder brother, Don Marcantonio, succeeded to the titles in 1717. Don Paolo was Governor of the Conclave of 1700.

Death of Pope Innocent

Pope Innocent XII (Pignatelli) died on September 27, 1700, at the worst possible time for Europe. The impending Spanish succession was promising to embroil France, Spain, the Empire and many others in a bloody struggle. Innocent had finally pronounced in favor of Philippe de Bourbon, Duke of Anjou, grandson of Louis XIV. This was contrary to the interests of the Empire, whose candidate, the Archduke Charles of Austria (Emperor Charles VI, 1711-1740), would by no means give way. The mediation of a strong pope would be useful; the struggle to obtain a compliant pope would produce great difficulties. The Conclave of 1700 began on October 9, and lasted a total of 46 days. There were sixty-six cardinals, of whom fifty-seven took part. Three Spanish cardinals, the Portuguese cardinal, two Imperial cardinals were absent, and the Polish cardinal, Radziejowski (nephew of King John Sobieski).

Early Favorites and a Veto

Cardinal Galeazzo Marescotti was an early favorite, despite his age (73), but the French faction successfully blocked him with a Veto (exclusiva). When Marescotti had been Nuncio in Poland (1668-1670) he had (according to Louis XIV, or rather Madame de Maintenon) worked against the interests of France. Other 'soggeti papabili' were Cardinals Bandino Panciatici, Leandro Colloredo and Giambattista Spinola (who came within ten votes of success).

Election of Cardinal Albani

On the day that the news of the death (November 1) of King Charles II of Spain reached the conclave, the cardinals settled down and unanimously elected Giovanni Francesco Cardinal Albani, the influential advisor of Alexander VIII and Innocent XII. At his desperate request, Albani was given three days to consider his response. At the end of the grace period, another vote was taken. Of the 58 cardinals, he had received 57 votes. Finally, on November 23, Cardinal Albani consented to his election, taking the name Clement XI. On the same day (or on the 30th, according to Moroni) he was consecrated a bishop, having only become a priest in September.

The coronation took place on December 8. On Sunday, April 8, 1701, the new pope took possession of the Lateran Basilica.

Bibliography

See: Picot, Mémoires pour servir a l'histoire ecclésiastique, pendant le dix-huitième siècle seconde édition Tome I (Paris 1815) xxxvi-xl;. Giuseppe de Novaes, Elementi della storia de' Sommi Pontefici Volume 12 (Roma 1822), 9-13. G. Moroni, Dizionario di erudizione storico-ecclesiastica Vol. XIV (Venezia 1842) 60-61. Alexis François Artaud de Montor, Histoire des souverains Pontifes Romains, Volume VI (Paris 1851), pp. 239-242. Francesco Petruccelli della Gattina, Histoire diplomatique des conclaves Volume III (Paris 1865) 411-458. Ludwig Wahrmund, Das Ausschliessungs-recht (jus exclusivae) (Wien 1888) 178-184.