Alberoni

Alberoni, GIULIO, cardinal and statesman, was born in 1664 at Firenzuola in Parma. Though he was but the son of a poor vine-dresser, his great abilities soon attracted notice, and led to his being carried by the Duc de Vendôme, as secretary, to France and Spain. In 1713 the Duke of Parma employed him as his agent in Madrid, and here he quickly gained the favour of Philip V. of Spain. He at first made use, in carrying out his plans, of the influence of the celebrated Princess Orsini, then hoodwinked her into promoting the king's marriage with Elizabeth Farnese, whose first act after her arrival was to demand the banishment of the Princess. Alberoni now (1714) became prime minister of Spain, and was made a cardinal by Clement XI. three years later. His internal administration was liberal and wise, and he did much to develop the resources of Spain, and to encourage industry and economy, while he remodelled the army and the fleet, and increased the foreign commerce. To gratify the queen, whose ambition extended beyond the aggrandisement of her own family to the restoration of the ancient splendour of the Spanish crown, he suddenly invaded Sardinia, in violation of the Peace of Utrecht. This unexpected audacity made England, France, Austria, and Holland form, in 1719, the 'Quadruple Alliance.' But Alberoni was not dismayed. Even when the Spanish fleet in the Mediterranean was destroyed by an English one, he contemplated an extensive war by land, in which all the European powers would have been entangled. He patronised the Pretender to annoy England, and the French Protestants to annoy Louis. He sought to unite Peter of Russia and Charles XII. with him, to plunge Austria into a war with the Turks, to stir up an insurrection in Hungary, and to bring about the downfall of the Regent in France. But Philip lost courage, and concluded a treaty of peace, the chief condition of which was that the cardinal should be dismissed. He was ordered to leave Spain without delay, the queen herself consenting to his banishment. He fled to Italy, where, threatened with imprisonment by Pope Clement XI., he hid his head in a monastery at Bologna, from March 1720 till April 1721. On the death of the pope in 1721, he repaired to Rome, and took part in the election of Innocent XIII., who, like his two successors, befriended the great exile. Alberoni, however, soon retired to Piacenza, and spent his remaining years in watching over a seminary which he had founded earlier, and which he richly endowed. He died at Piacenza, June 16, 1752. See Life by Bersani (1862).