Borgia, Gaspare

BORGIA, CASPARE. - Cardinal, b. at Villalpando on 26 June 1580, d. at Madrid on 28 Dec. 1635. He was the son of Francesco B., Duke of Gandia, and Giovanna di Velasco. Having graduated in theology at the University of Alcalá de Henares, he became a canon and then archdeacon of Toledo Cathedral. On 17 Aug. 1611 he was created by Paolo V cardinal of the title of S. Susanna, later exchanged for that of S. Croce in Gerusalemme. He came to Rome as extraordinary ambassador of Spain to the Holy See, then became ordinary ambassador of Filippo IV and took part in the conclaves of Gregorio XV and Urbano VIII. In 1626 he was appointed by Filippo IV viceroy of Naples, succeeding the celebrated Duke of Osuna, and, two years later, councillor of state. Already bishop of Albano, he obtained the archbishopric of Siviglia in 1632, but took possession of his diocese only in 1638, following the bull of Urbano VIII concerning the residence of bishops. In that same year he was elected president of the Council of Aragon. In 1641 he had a provincial synod convened at Albano through his vicar general. On 15 March 1645 he was appointed bishop of Toledo by Innocenzo X. He was very generous toward the poor and also gave and collected money for the war against the Turks.