CARVAJAL, Bernardino López de. — Cardinal, b. at Plasencia in Estremadura in 1456, d. at Rome on 16 Dec. 1523. Master in theology and papal chamberlain, he was successively bishop of Astorga (27 Aug. 1488), of Badajoz (23 Jan. 1489) and of Cartagena (27 Mar. 1493); he was created cardinal on 20 Sept. 1493 by Alexander VI and sent as legate to Germany in July 1496.
Of a disposition well disposed to reform but proud and intolerant, he fell out with Julius II; in Feb. 1504 he allowed Cesare Borgia, whom he had in 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 with them on 16 May 1511 dared to summon a council at Pisa, under the pretext of reform, even summoning the Pope. The latter on 24 Oct. excommunicated Carvajal together with two of his colleagues. When the Council of Pisa proved fruitless, Carvajal sought refuge in France. But as soon as Leo X was elected pope, he began to negotiate with him. Then Carvajal acknowledged the legitimacy of the Lateran Council which Julius II had set up against that of Pisa, and in the Consistory of 27 June 1513, after giving a promise of obedience, he was absolved and readmitted to favour, receiving the red hat once more.
Thanks to the precedence he had not lost, he became bishop of Ostia on 24 July 1521. His literary activity is attested by his discourses, among which that for the Conclave of 1492 was printed.
Niccolò del Re