NICCOLÒ GUIDI DI BAGNO – Cardinal, brother of Cardinal GIOVANNI FRANCESCO, was born in Rimini in 1584 and was destined for the priesthood. Abandoned for family reasons, he devoted himself to a military career. He served as general of the papal army during the Valtellina War in 1624 and later as governor of the Marca of Ancona and the province of Ferrara. In 1642, after the death of his wife, he returned to ecclesiastical life. He served as nuncio to France from 1643 to 1656 and was created cardinal by Alexander VII in 1657. He died in Rome on 23 August 1663.
BIBL.: L. Cardella, *Memorie storiche de’ cardinali*, VII, Rome 1793, pp. 126–127; P. Litta, *Famiglie celebri italiane*, suppl., I, “Guidi di Romagna”, pl. VII; J. Dedieu, s.V. in *DHG*, VI, col. 219; Pastor, XIV, 1, pp. 3 ff.