MARTINIANA, CARLO GIUSEPPE FILIPPO della. - Born in Torino on 19 June 1724, died in Vercelli on 7 Dec. 1802. Having become a priest, he was spiritual director at the University of Torino; in 1757, bishop of S. Giovanni di Moriana. Pius VI created him cardinal in the Consistory of 1 June 1778 and, in the following year, appointed him archbishop of Vercelli.
He later met Pius VI when, during his journey of deportation to France, on 23 Apr. 1799, he stopped at Crescentino near Vercelli, and M. was the last cardinal to meet that Pontiff. On 20 May 1800, having just returned from the Conclave of Venezia, he had the historic interview in which Napoleon, First Consul, expressed his intention to regulate relations with the Church, a prelude to the Concordat. Pius VII hastened to encourage this favourable disposition by entrusting M. with the initial contacts, which soon became official negotiations entrusted to experienced diplomats.