Salviati, Giovanni

Salviati, Giovanni, an Italian cardinal, was born at Florence, March 24, 1490. He became cardinal in 1517, then administrator of the Church at Fermo, and, in 1520, bishop of Ferrara. His cousin, Clement VII, sent him to quiet the troubles in Parma, and also, in 1526, on a mission to Charles V at Madrid, to solicit the release of Francis I and the recall of the imperial troops which had invaded the Papal States. Not being able to prevent the sack of Rome by the soldiers of the constable de Bourbon, Salviati went to implore the aid of the king of France in favor of the Holy See. By his mediation the treaty of the Holy League was signed, May 29, 1527, between Clement VII, Francis I, and Henry VII; and, in spite of many obstacles, he also brought about a peace between Charles V and the Holy See. From Francis I he received, in 1520, the diocese of Oleron, and, in addition, that of Saint- Papoul, besides several rich abbeys. In 1543 he became bishop of Albano, and in 1546 of Porto. The home of Salviati at Rome was the resort of men of genius, who always found in him a generous patron. He died at Ravenna, Oct. 28, 1553.