Napoleon, Giacoppo

Napoleon, Giacoppo a Roman prelate of great note, was the descendant of the distinguished Roman house of the Orsini, and flourished after the opening of the 14th century. He was the head and representative of the Italian cardinals at the time of the decease of pope Clement V in 1314, whom he had greatly disliked and bitterly opposed in all his measures, and exerted himself in the elevation of James of Cahors as pope John XXII. Cardinal Napoleon was a great favorite with the Romans, and therefore enjoyed much influence at the papal court. He was the cardinal of St. Peter's, and known generally only as such. Upon the decease of pope Gregory XI in 1376, the papal conclave had great difficulty in choosing a successor. The cardinal of St. Peter's aspired to the pontificate, and the Romans anxiously looked for his elevation; but the conclave considered him too old, and the archbishop of Bari was elevated as pope Urban VI. During the insurrection consequent upon the election of pope Innocent VII, the cardinal was killed in 1404. See Milman, Hist. Lat. Christianity, 7:16, 477, 478.