AREZZO, TOMMASO. – Cardinal, suburbicarian bishop of Sabina and chancellor of the Holy Roman Church, born in Orbetello on 16 December 1756, died in Rome on 3 February 1833. In 1773, at the age of 17, he obtained the deanship of the cathedral of Agrigento with dispensations from the requirements of age and residence. He was vice-legate in Bologna (1785), governor in Fermo (1791), in Perugia (1793), and governor-general of the Marches at Macerata (1797). In 1802 he received sacred orders, renouncing his birthright in favor of his younger brother. A. was one of the most distinguished ecclesiastical diplomats in the first half of the 19th century. Appointed titular archbishop and nuncio to the tsar of Russia on 27 April 1802, he prevented the schism from re-emerging among the Catholic clergy. His letters to Cardinal Consalvi demonstrate a good knowledge of the milieu. He also wrote a detailed report on the dioceses of Polotsk, Luck, and Brest-Litowsk. On 14 June 1804, because of Vernégue’s extradition, his mission was interrupted. In Dresden (1804–1806) he was authorized to negotiate a concordat with the king of Saxony. On 9 November 1806, in Berlin, Napoleon sought to induce him to persuade the Pope to join the Continental Blockade; but he strongly advised the contrary. To take revenge, in 1808 the emperor exiled him to Corsica, from where he fled to the court of Vittorio Emanuele of Sardinia, refusing in 1812 to swear the oath to the despot. After 1814, once order had been restored, he was appointed car-
(photo Enc. Cutt.) AREZZO, TOMMASO — Portrait, drawing by Francesco Giangiacomo engraved by G. Lepri — Rome, Museum of the Risorgimento.