Marino Caracciolo facts for kids

Portrait of Marino Caracciolo from his grave in the Duomo of Milan.

Marino Caracciolo (born 1468 – died 28 January 1538) was an important cardinal and diplomat from Naples. He worked for Emperor Charles V, a very powerful ruler of his time.

Early Life and Education

Marino Caracciolo was born in Naples, which was then part of the Kingdom of Naples. His family was one of the most important and well-known in the region. When he was young, he moved to Milan. There, he was educated under the guidance of Cardinal Ascanio Sforza, who was a significant figure at the Milanese court.

A Career in Diplomacy

Marino Caracciolo began his career as a diplomat, which means he represented his ruler in other countries or courts.

First Diplomatic Roles

In 1513, he became an ambassador for Duke Massimiliano Sforza of Milan. He was sent to the Pope's court in Rome. A few years later, in 1515, he was given the title of Apostolic Protonotary. This was a high-ranking position in the Catholic Church. In the same year, he also represented the Duke of Milan at an important meeting called the Fifth Council of the Lateran.

Working for the Pope and Emperor

In 1518, Marino Caracciolo became a Papal Nuncio to Spain. A Nuncio is like an ambassador for the Pope. The next year, he was a Nuncio at the Diet of Augsburg. A "Diet" was a formal assembly or meeting. At the Diet of Worms in 1520, he worked alongside another cardinal, Girolamo Aleandro. Their job was to speak against Martin Luther, who was starting a new religious movement.

After Charles V became Emperor, Marino Caracciolo started working for him. He served as an ambassador for the Emperor in England and in Venice.

Becoming a Cardinal

In 1524, Marino Caracciolo was made the Bishop of Catania. A bishop is a high-ranking church leader who oversees a specific area. He actually gave up this title three times so that other members of his family could have it. In the same year, he also received large areas of land in the Duchy of Milan. These included the County of Vespolate and later the County of Gallarate.

On May 21, 1535, Pope Paul III made him a Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church. This is one of the highest positions in the Catholic Church, just below the Pope. However, the Pope kept this news a secret for a while, a practice known as in pectore. He was officially welcomed at the Pope's court on November 12, 1535. A few days later, on November 15, he received his red hat and was given the title of Cardinal Deacon of Santa Maria in Aquiro.

Governor of Milan

In 1536, Emperor Charles V appointed Marino Caracciolo as the Governor of Milan. This was a very important role. However, his power was focused only on civil and economic matters, like managing the city's money and laws. The military power, which involved leading armies and defense, was given to Alfonso d'Avalos.

Death and Burial

Marino Caracciolo passed away in 1538. He is buried in the famous Duomo of Milan, a large cathedral. His funeral monument, which is a special memorial, is believed to have been created by an artist known as Bambaia.

See also

In Spanish: Marino Caracciolo para niños