Azara, José Nicolás de, Marchese di Nibbiano

AZARA, JOSÉ NICOLAS de, Marchese di NIBIANO. - Aragonese politician and diplomat, b. 1730, d. 1804. He was a follower of the philosophy and systems of the encyclopedists. Appointed general agent of Spain in Rome in 1765, he resided there for no fewer than thirty-two years, taking a most active part in all the affairs of his nation, beginning with the suppression of the Society of Jesus. He engaged in much intrigue in the Conclave from which Clement XIV emerged. He also undertook several diplomatic missions to the Bourbon courts of Parma and Paris; but in 1776 he is found once again in Rome as chargé d’affaires for Spain to Pio VI, and from 1784 as ambassador, ever a friend of the leading men of letters and artists, as well as of the popes. In 1796 he obtained from General Napoleone that the city of Rome should be spared occupation; in token of gratitude, the city struck a medal in his honour and also bestowed upon him the title of Roman patrician. When Rome was taken two years later following the assassination of General Duphot and Pio VI was exiled, he did all in his power on behalf of the city, of Pio VI, and of Pio VII, both in Italy and in France, where he was twice ambassador, leaving Rome with regret, for he called it his second homeland. He published the works of the painter Mengs (Madrid 1780), those of Virgilio and Orazio (Parma 1791, 1793), and of other Latin classics; he wrote on Garcilaso de la Vega, the Venerable Palafox, and other subjects.