BRANCACCI, NICOLA

BRANCACCIO, NICOLA. — Cardinal, born in Naples to a patrician family, died in Florence on 29 June 1412. After graduating in law, he became a canon of the cathedral of Naples. He then went to Avignon to the papal court, where he was appointed papal chaplain and auditor of the palace. On 12 April 1367 he was elected by Urban V as Archbishop of Bari, where he convened a provincial council to discuss reforms concerning clerical conduct. In 1374 he was chosen by Queen Joanna of Naples as her particular counsellor, and on 13 January 1377 he was transferred by Gregory XI to the see of Cosenza. In support of the political intrigues of the queen, he sided with the antipope Clement VII, who on 16 December 1378 created him at Fondi Cardinal of S. Maria in Trastevere, and in 1390 Bishop of Albano. He later also recognized the antipope Benedict XIII. He then adhered to the Council of Pisa in 1409 and took part in the election of the new pope Alexander V, by whom he was confirmed as Cardinal of S. Marco. He was later among the electors of John XXIII at Bologna. He was buried in the church of S. Maria Novella in Florence.