AREZZO, TOMMASO. - Cardinal, titular bishop of the suburbicarian see of Sabina and Chancellor of the Holy Roman Church, b. at Orbetello on 16 Dec. 1756, d. at Rome on 3 Feb. 1833. In 1773, at the age of 17, he obtained the deanery of the cathedral of Agrigento by dispensation of age and residence. He was vice-legate at Bologna (1785), governor at Fermo (1791), at Perugia (1793), and general governor of the Marches at Macerata (1797). In 1802 he received sacred orders, renouncing his primogeniture in favour of his younger brother. He 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 Apr. 1802, he avoided the renewal of schism in the Catholic clergy. His letters to Card. Consalvi show a good knowledge of the environment. He also wrote a detailed report on the dioceses of Polotsk, Lucca and Brest-Litovsk. On 14 June 1804, owing to the imprudent declaration of Vernégue, his mission was interrupted. At Dresden (1804–1806) he was authorised to negotiate a concordat with the King of Saxony. On 9 Nov. 1806, at Berlin, Napoleon sought to induce him to persuade the Pope to adhere to the Continental System; but he strongly advised against II. In revenge, the Emperor exiled him to Corsica in 1808, whence he fled to the court of Victor Emmanuel of Sardinia, refusing in 1812 to take the oath of allegiance to the usurper. After 1814, when order was restored, he was created Cardinal of the title of S. Pietro in Vincoli (1816) and later legate at Ferrara from 1818 to 1830. In 1820 A. opted for the suburbicarian see of Sabina and from 1830 to 1833 held the Apostolic Chancellorship.
