BONELLI, MICHELE

BONELLI, Michele. — Cardinal, b. at Bosco in the diocese of Tortona on 25 Dec. 1541, d. at Rome on 20 Mar. 1598. Nephew on his mother’s side of Pius V, he first studied at the German College in Rome, then, having entered the Dominicans, at the University of Perugia. On 6 Mar. 1566 he was created by Pius V cardinal of the title of S. Maria sopra Minerva and entrusted with the administration of the Papal States. In 1568 he was named chamberlain, but soon resigned this office. In 1571 he became abbot of S. Michele della Chiusa and prior of the Order of Malta in Rome. On 19 June of the same year he was appointed legate to Spain, Portugal, and France. He held numerous posts under Gregory XIII, including the protectorship of the kingdom of Hungary and the duchy of Savoy. On 19 May 1585 Sixtus V elected him vicar general of Rome and the Papal States with authority to carry out reforms in the clergy, and in 1587 bishop of Albano. He was buried in S. Maria sopra Minerva, where Cardinal Pietro Aldobrandini had a sumptuous mausoleum erected to his memory. He wrote reports of his legations.