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The Theater that was Rome « People « Clement XI (Giovanni Francesco Albani)

cleric; noble; archeologist; patron; ruler

Variant Names

Albani, Giovanni Francesco
Giovanni Francesco Albani

Dates

b. 1649, Urbino

d. 1721, Rome

Occupation(s)

ruler
noble
archeologist
patron

Biography

Giovanni Francesco Albani received a degree in law at Urbino in 1688, and then moved to Rome to take up an ecclesiastic career at S. Lorenzo in Damaso. He became active in the intellectual life of Rome, participating in the salons of the Cartari and the Favoriti, in meetings of the Accademia degli Umoristi, and the intellectual events around the 'Accademia reale of Queen Christina of Sweden.

In 1677 he joined the court of Innocent XI and became the governor of Rieti, Sabina and Orvieto. In 1683 he returned to Rome to become vicar and judge of St. Peter's, where he became a canon in 1688. He became a cardinal in 1690, ending up with the title of S. Salvatore in Capite in 1700. In the same year, he was elected pope (23 November 1700) with the name of Clement XI.

In 1703 he

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Clement XI was the 243rd man to serve as leader of the Catholic Church and the 11th of such individuals to choose Clement as his name.

This article will try to distinguish him from the many other popes by showcasing his life, papal legacy and even give a few personal tidbits about the man at the end.

Pope Clement XI Profile

Pontiff number	Pontificate	English / Latin Name	Birth name	Date and Place of birth	Age at start/ end of papacy
#243	23 November 1700 – 19 March 1721 (20 years, 116 days)	Clement XI CLEMENS Undecimus	Giovanni Francesco Albani	23 July 1649 Urbino, Marche, Papal States	51 / 71

Life Before the Papacy.

Giovanni Albani was born to nobility on both sides: his mother, Elena Mosca, was high nobility from Bergamo and his father Carlo Albani was descended from the Staccoli family of northern Albania. He received education at the Roman college, becoming quite skilled at Latin and earning doctorates in canon and civil law. He also frequented the academy of Queen Christina of Sweden.

He served as papal p

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Pope Clement XI

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(GIOVANNI FRANCESCO ALBANI).

Born at Urbino, 23 July, 1649; elected 23 November, 1700; died at Rome 19 March, 1721. The Albani were a noble Umbrian family. Under Urban VIII the grandfather of the future pope had held for thirteen years the honourable office of Senator of Rome. An uncle, Annibale Albani, was a distinguished scholar and was Prefect of the Vatican Library. Giovanni Francesco was sent to Rome in his eleventh year to prosecute his studies at the Roman College. He made rapid progress and was known as an author at the age of eighteen, translating from the Greek into elegant Latin. He attracted the notice of the patroness of Roman literati, Queen Christina of Sweden, who before he became of age enrolled him in her exclusive Accademia. With equal ardour and success, he applied himself to the profounder branches, theology and law, and