Benedetti

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

VINCENT, COUNT DE, a French diplomatist of Italian extraction, born in Bastia, Corsica, April 29, 1817; was educated for public service, held consulates in Cairo, Palermo, Malta, and Tunis; and was Secretary of the Congress of Paris in 1856, and drew up the protocols of the treaty then agreed upon. In 1861 he was appointed Ambassador to Italy, and in 1864 to Prussia. In 1870 Benedetti was under orders to protest against the candidature of Prince Leopold of the house of Hohenzollern for the crown of Spain. He became so importunate in trying to carry out these orders that he was forbidden to seek further interviews with King William. The Ambassador had reiterated the demands of his government to the King while the latter was taking a walk on committing the promenade at Ems, thus co and abusing and abusing a breach of court etiquette, his privileges as an ambassador. The refusal of the King to again receive Benedetti gave great offense in France, and was made a pretext for declaring war within a few days. After the fall of the Empire, Benedetti withdrew from public life. In 1871 he published a pamphlet charging Bismarck with the whole responsibility, to which the latter made a vigorous reply. Benedetti was author of "Studies in Diplomacy," an English translation of which appeared in 1895. He died in Paris, March 28, 1900. BENEDICT I., POPE, succeeded John III., 575; died in 578, and was himself succeeded by Pelagius II. BENEDICT II. succeeded Leo II., 384; died in 685, and was succeeded by John V. BENEDICT III. succeeded Leo IV., 855. During his pontificate, the Saracens were ravaging Apulia and Campania. He died in 858, and was succeeded by Nicholas I. BENEDICT IV., succeeded John IX., about 900. He crowned Louis, son of Boson, Emperor and King of Italy. He died in 903, and was succeeded by Leo V. BENEDICT V. succeeded Leo VIII. in 964, and was appointed by the Romans in opposition to Leo VIII. The Emperor Otho, supporter of Leo, appeared before Rome with an army, reduced the city to famine, and a new assembly of the clergy declared to be null the election of Benedict, who was exiled. He died in 965. BENEDICT VI. succeeded John XIII. in 972. After the death of the Emperor Otho I., the Romans imprisoned Benedict, who was strangled in the castle of St. Angelo, in 974. BENEDICT VII., of the family of Conti, elected in 975. During his pontificate, the Emperor Otho II. came repeatedly to Rome, where he died in 984. Benedict died about the same time, and was succeeded by John XIV. BENEDICT VIII., of the same family, succeeded Sergius IV., in 1012. In 1016, the Saracens from Sardinia having landed on the coast of Tuscany, Benedict attacked and defeated them. He crowned the Emperor Henry II., and his wife, in the Church of St. Peter. He died in 1024, and was succeeded by his brother, John XIX. BENEDICT IX., a relative of the two preceding Popes, succeeded John XIX. in 1034. He was then very young, some say only 10 years old. He was distinguished by his licentiousness and profligacy, and by the state of anarchy in which Rome was plunged during his and pontificate. He was deposed in 1048, died in a convent in 1054, being succeeded by Leo IX. BENEDICT X. was elected by a faction after the death of Stephen IX., in 1058; but the Council of Siena nominated Nicholas II. Benedict did not submit till the following year, when Nicholas made his entrance into Rome. He died in 1059. BENEDICT XI., a Dominican, succeeded Boniface VIII., in 1303. Contemporary historians speak highly of his character and virtues. He died in 1304, and was succeeded by Clement V. BENEDICT XII., JACQUES FOUR- NIER, a native of France, succeeded John XXII., in 1334, the Popes residing then at Avignon. His strictness in enforcing discipline among the monastic orders excited many enemies against him, who endeavored to cast aspersions upon his character. He died in 1342, and was succeeded by Clement VI. BENEDICT XIII., Cardinal Orsini, succeeded Innocent XIII., in 1724, but it was with difficulty that he could be made to accept the pontificate. Benedict lived with the greatest frugality, and has been called more a monk than a Pope. His great fault was his implicit confidence in Cardinal Coscia, to whom he left the entire management of his government, and who much abused it. He died in February, 1731. His works were published in 1728, in three volumes folio. He was succeeded by Clement XII. BENEDICT XIV. was born at Bologna in 1675, of the noble family of Lambertini. In 1728 he received a cardinal's hat; and in 1731 was nominated Archbishop of Bologna. On the death of Clement XII. (1740), he succeeded to the Papal throne. He reformed abuses, introduced good regulations, cultivated letters, encouraged men of learning, and was a patron of the fine arts. His tolerance exposed him to the censure of the rigorists among the College of Cardinals. Without exhibiting anything like indifference to the doctrines of the Church of which he was the head, he showed urbanity and friendliness toward all Christians. The Protestants of Germany revered Benedict. With regard to France, he carefully avoided everything that could in the least encourage the fanatical party in that country in reviving the persecution against the Protestants of Languedoc. Benedict was learned, not only in theology, but in history and literature, and had also a taste for the fine arts. His works were published at Rome, in 12 volumes quarto. He died in 1758, and was succeeded by Clement XIII. BENEDICT XV., Giacomo della Chiesa, born near Genoa in 1854. He was consecrated to the Church from his youth and educated for holy orders at Rome, being ordained a priest in his twenty fourth year. From his first active years he seemed marked for an executive POPE BENEDICT XV. career. In 1883 he was appointed Secretary to the Nunciature at Madrid as chief aid to Cardinal Rampolla. After returning to Rome four years later he held various positions in the Secretariate there. His advancement after he had reached his thirty-fifth year was rapid. In 1900 he became a prelate of Church-the following year Consultor of the Holy Office. In 1907 he was advanced to be Archbishop of Bologna. He became a Cardinal in 1914, shortly be fore the election which advanced him to the Papal chair on Sept. 3, 1914. During the World War he remained neutral, and, at various times, sought to bring about peace. See WORLD WAR.