CASONI, FILIPPO. - Cardinal, b. March 6, 1733 at Sarzana, d. Oct. 9, 1811 at Rome. After completing his studies in Rome, at the Collegio Nazareno, he became governor of Narni and of Loreto. During the revolutionary period he was vice-legate of Avignon. The harsh winter of 1788, which had destroyed the harvest, brought about in March 1789 a series of riots in the Avignon region, which C. succeeded in overcoming with free distributions of grain.
Subsequently, however, the French events had repercussions also among the inhabitants of Avignon, and the vice-legate was forced to make certain concessions, such as the institution of the national guard, in order to calm the agitation of those he governed. In the face of the pressing demands of the innovators, C. tried to gain time, but did not succeed. He had to accept the establishment of new municipal councils, whose actions reduced the pontifical sovereignty and the authority of the vice-legate in this domain of the Holy See to a mere shadow. Pius VI was painfully impressed by this state of affairs, and sent an apostolic commissioner to the side of the vice-legate, so that he might restore the old order. But the attempt at restoration failed, and on June 11, 1790 C. had to leave Avignon.
He withdrew first to Carpentras, then to Chambéry, and finally to Rome. In May 1794 he was appointed nuncio to Madrid, where he remained until 1800. On Feb. 23, 1801 Pius VII created him cardinal of the title of S. Maria degli Angeli delle Terme. In June 1806, after the resignation of Consalvi, who had become hateful to Napoleon, he was appointed secretary of State, but only briefly, because the cardinal, now over seventy and infirm, already in March 1808 renounced the office.
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Silvio Furlani