BERTRANDO del POGGETTO (BERTRAND DU POUJET). — Born at Castelnau-Montattier (Lot) around 1280, died on 1 February 1352, cardinal bishop of Ostia. He owed his rapid career to Giovanni XXII, of whom he was once falsely thought to be the natural son; shortly after his election (1316), the latter promoted him to cardinal of the title of S. Marcello. The Pontiff, intent on restoring the Guelf party in Italy during the vacancy of the Empire (he did not recognize Ludovico il Bavaro as legitimate), sent B. to Italy as legate, especially against the Visconti of Milan. When the attempt to subdue them by force proved fruitless, since B. lacked sufficient troops, he resorted to spiritual penalties, excommunicating the Visconti and placing Milan under interdict. The city, compelled to do so, entered into negotiations, while Matteo Visconti abdicated the lordship in favor of his son Galeazzo, dying shortly afterward (June 1322).
In 1323 B. succeeded in organizing a genuine crusade, and Monza, Alessandria, and Tortona had already fallen when Ludovico il Bavaro intervened by exerting pressure on the Ghibellines of Italy, especially Can Grande della Scala of Verona; once aid had been brought to Milan, B.’s fortunes began to decline. B. then attempted a new enterprise against Bologna, which fell entirely into his power in 1324. He aimed to consolidate papal sovereignty in Emilia and Romagna, but the situation remained precarious because of the cunning and intractability of the local lords, until 1330. When, in 1331, Cardinal B. held discussions with Giovanni di Boemia, Guelfs and Ghibellines joined in a league, arranged at Castelbaldo (Padua), against the foreigner, and soon entered into conflict. The legate and Giovanni di Boemia planned the resistance, but were defeated at Ferrara (April 1333), and an uprising that broke out in Bologna forced the legate to flee (March 1334). He took refuge in Avignon, and the Italian enterprise came to an unfortunate end. The remainder of his life, after the disappearance of Giovanni XXII, passed obscurely and without distinction.