CONDULMER, FRANCESCO

CONDULMER, FRANCESCO. — Cardinal, nephew of Eugenio IV, born in Venice. Created cardinal by his uncle on 19 September 1431 and appointed camerlengo, he wielded considerable power under him during the first years of the pontificate. He was taken prisoner by the Romans during the revolution of 1434; at the beginning of January 1440 he ceded the camerlengato to Ludovico Trevisan, patriarch of Aquileia, and became vice-chancellor. In 1444 he was sent to Venice to arm ten ships and, together with others equipped by the Pope, proceeded to the Dardanelles to prevent the Turks from transporting troops from Asia Minor in support of the army fighting in Europe against the Christians led by Cardinal Giuliano Cesarini, but he did not succeed in his aim. He took part in the election of Nicolò V (6 March 1447), who immediately sent him to Tivoli to meet Alfonso, King of Naples. He died on 30 October 1453; since 1443 he had been bishop of Porto.