CARVAJAL, BERNARDINO LÓPEZ de. — Cardinal, born at Plasencia in Estremadura in 1456, died in Rome on 16 Dec. 1523. Master of theology and papal cubicularius, he was successively bishop of Astorga (27 Aug. 1488), of Badajoz (23 Jan. 1489), and of Cartagena (27 March 1493); he was created cardinal on 20 Sept. 1493 by Alessandro VI and sent as legate to Germany in July 1496.
A spirit well disposed toward reform, but proud and intolerant, he fell out with Giulio II; in Feb. 1504, he allowed Cesare Borgia, who had been entrusted to his custody, to escape; in Sept. 1510 he was one of the five cardinals who opposed the Pope following the peace he had made with Venice to the detriment of France, and together with them, on 16 May 1511, he dared to convoke a council at Pisa under the pretext of reform, citing the Pope there as well. On 24 Oct. the latter excommunicated C. and two of his colleagues. When the Council of Pisa proved futile, C. sought refuge in France. But as soon as Leone X was elected pope, he began to negotiate with him. C. then recognized as legitimate the Lateran Council that Giulio II had set up in opposition to that of Pisa, and in the Consistory of 27 June 1513, after promising obedience, he was absolved and restored to favor, receiving the red hat once again.
Thanks to the precedence he had not lost, he became bishop of Ostia on 24 July 1521. His literary activity is reflected in his speeches, including the one for the Conclave of 1492, which was printed.