Fiesco, Niccolo

Fiesco, Niccolo an Italian prelate, was bishop of Frejus and of Touloni. On the recommendation of Louis XII, pope Alexander VI appointed him, in May 1503, cardinal-priest of St. Nicolas inter imagines, afterwards with the title of the Twelve Apostles. Some time later Niccolo obtained the archbishopric of Embrun, and also that of Ravenna. According to the account'of his contemporaries, he was a just and liberal counsellor of popes Alexander VI, Julius II, and Adrian VI. It is said that he refused to be a candidate for the papacy in competition with Giulio de' Medici (Clement VII), the successor of Adrian VI. Fiesco died June 14, 1524. See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.