Colonna, Giovanni (2)

Colonna, Giovanni an Italian prelate, was made cardinal by pope Honorius in 1216, and was present as legate at the taking of Damietta by St. Louis. Falling into the hands of the Saracens he was condemned to be sawn, asunder, but his courage won the admiration of his captors, and he was set at liberty. He founded the hospital of the Lateran at Rome, and died there in 1255, leaving Historia Sacra, which is in MS., besides some Letters on the Holy Land, to be found in Ughelli. See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.