ALTEMPS (HOHENEMS), MARCUS SITTICH D'

ALTEMPS (HOHENEMS), MARCUS SITTICH d'. — Cardinal, b. at Hohenems (Vorarlberg) in 1533, d. at Rome in 1595. A nephew on his mother’s side of Card. G. A. de’ Medici of Milan, the future Pius IV, he turned very young to a military career under another uncle, the celebrated Gian Giacomo de’ Medici, marquis of Marignano, and later under Cosimo I de’ Medici. His uncle’s election to the papacy marked the beginning of his good fortune. Coming to Rome with his elder brother, he was created Count of the Empire. An accident from which he escaped decided him to take holy orders. Bishop of Cassano in 1560, and in the same year extraordinary nuncio to Germany, cardinal and bishop of Constance in 1561, he was one of the five papal legates to the Council of Trent at the end of the same year. This last appointment was much criticized, since he was only twenty-eight years old and more skilled in arms than in theology. Although he was finally appointed by his uncle legate in the Marches and showered with other benefices, he never held any important office in the Curia. He had built in S. Maria in Trastevere the chapel of the Virgin, where he had the Council of Trent commemorated, and there his body was interred.