Ascanio Colonna

Ascanio Colonna (1560–1608) was an Italian Cardinal who in his lifetime enjoyed a reputation for eloquence and learning.[1]

His Eminence Ascanio Colonna
Cardinal-Bishop of Palestrina
Ascanio Colonna
Church	Catholic Church
Orders
Consecration	11 June 1606 by Pope Paul V
Personal details
Born	3 Apr 1560
Died	17 May 1608 (age 48) Rome, Italy

Life

Colonna was born in Marino on 27 April 1560, the son of Marcantonio Colonna (who commanded the papal flagship at the Battle of Lepanto) and Felice Orsini. He was educated at the University of Alcala and the University of Salamanca, graduating Doctor of both laws.

In 1581, while studying in Spain, he delivered an oration in commemoration of Anna of Austria, Queen of Spain, printed in Salamanca as Oratio in serenissimae Annae Austriacae Hispanarum et Indiarum reginae funere.[2]

On 16 November 1586 he was appointed a cardinal deacon of Santi Vito, Modesto e Crescenzia by Pope Sixtus V, arriving in Rome 17 February 1587. On 14 January 1591 his titular church was altered to Santa Maria in Cosmedin and he was appointed to the Congregation of the Index.[1]

At the death of Philip II of Spain he delivered an Oratio in funere Philippi II, published in Rome in 1599. He was appointed cardinal protector of Flanders, and in 1605 employed the Fleming Philip Rubens as his secretary and librarian.[3]

In January 1606 he became cardinal priest of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, and in June cardinal bishop of Palestrina and cardinal protector of the Kingdom of Naples. In the same year he intervened in the controversy surrounding the Venetian Interdict with a censure published as Sententia contra reipublicae Venetae episcopos.[4] On 11 June 1606, he was consecrated bishop by Pope Paul V, with Ottavio Bandini, Cardinal-Priest of Santa Sabina, and Carlo Conti, Bishop of Ancona e Numana, serving as co-consecrators.[5][6]

In failing health, he made his will on 14 June 1607. He died in Rome on 17 May 1608, and was buried in the Lateran Basilica. He was survived by a natural son, Marino.[1] In 1611 his personal library was sold to Giovanni Angelo Altemps.[1]

References

1. Franca Petrucci, "Colonna, Ascanio", in Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani, vol. 27 (1982)
2. Available on Google Books
3. Max Rooses, "Rubens (Philippe)", in Biographie Nationale de Belgique, vol. 20, 313-317.
4. Available on Google Books
5. Miranda, Salvador. "COLONNA, Ascanio (1560-1608)". The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church. Florida International University. Archived from the original on 30 April 2018. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
6. Cheney, David M. "Ascanio Cardinal Colonna". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. Retrieved June 16, 2018.

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Guido Luca Ferrero	Cardinal-Deacon of Santi Vito, Modesto e Crescenzia 1587–1588	Succeeded by Bonviso Bonvisi
Preceded by Francesco Sforza	Cardinal-Deacon of San Nicola in Carcere 1588–1591	Succeeded by Federico Borromeo (seniore)
Preceded by Benedetto Giustiniani	Cardinal-Deacon of Santa Maria in Cosmedin 1591–1599	Succeeded by Giovanni Battista Deti
Preceded by Mark Sittich von Hohenems	Archpriest of the Arcibasilica di San Giovanni in Laterano 1595–1608	Succeeded by Scipione Caffarelli-Borghese
Preceded by Enrico Caetani	Cardinal-Priest of Santa Pudenziana 1599–1606	Succeeded by Innocenzo Del Bufalo-Cancellieri
Preceded by Francisco de Ávila Guzmán	Cardinal-Priest of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme 1606	Succeeded by Antonio Zapata y Cisneros
Preceded by Agostino Valier	Cardinal-Bishop of Palestrina 1606–1608	Succeeded by Antonio Maria Gallo