Bonsi, Giovanni Battista

Bonsi, Giovanni Battista an Italian theologian, was born at Florence in 1554. He received the degree of doctor of law at Padua. He was made bishop of Beziers by the king of France, Henry IV, and took possession of his diocese in 1598. Having concluded the marriage of this king with Marie de Medicis, niece of grand- duke Ferdinand, he obtained the position of grand-almoner of France., Pope Paul V, at the solicitation of Henry IV, gave to him in 1611 the cardinal's hat. He died at Rome: July 4, 1621. A small number of letters written by him are published in vol. 1 of the Bibliotheca Pontificia. See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.