Aleandro, Girolamo

Aleandro, Girolamo Cardinal, born Feb. 13, 1480, at Motta, on the confines of Friuli and Istria. He studied at Venice, where he became acquainted with Erasmus, and applied himself with great success to the Chaldee and Arabic languages. In 1508 Louis XII called him to France, where he became rector of the university of Paris. In 1519 Pope Leo X sent him as nuncio into Germany to oppose Luther, and, during his absence, in 1520, made him librarian of the Vatican. Aleander, who was papal legate at the diet of Worms, spoke for three hours against Luther, and drew up the edict which condemned him (Munter, Beitr. zur Kirch. — Gesch. p. 48). In 1523 he caused the burning of two monks at Brussels. He afterward became archbishop of Brindisi and nuncio in France, and was made prisoner by the Spaniards at the battle of Pavia, 1525. After his liberation he was created cardinal of St. Chrysogono, 1538, and died at Rome, February 1, 1542. — Landon, Eccles. Dict. 1, 227.