Donato, Luigi

Donato, Luigi, an Italian cardinal, was a native of Venice, and entered the Franciscan order at an early age. He was one of the founders of the school of theology in the University of Bologna, which, in the papal schism of the; 14th century, declared for Urban VI. In 1379 Urban rewarded Donato for this service by causing him to be chosen general of the Franciscan orders. In 1380 he was created cardinal of St. Mark, and in the next year was sent by Urban on a mission to Charles' III, king of Naples, for his want of success in which mission the pope arrested him, January 13, 1385. He was charged with conspiracy, along with five other cardinals, and was put to the torture in presence of the pope himself. He was afterwards decapitated. — Sismondi, Hist. des Republiques Italiennes, 7:241; Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, 14:539.