PETRONI, RICCARDO (Richardus de Senis). — Cardinal, jurist, b. at Siena in 1250 to an illustrious and noble family, d. at Genoa on 10 (or 26) Feb. 1314.
After completing his legal studies at Bologna, he was called to teach Roman law at Naples around 1270. Boniface VIII appointed him vice-chancellor of the Holy Roman Church and entrusted him, together with Guglielmo Mandagozzo and Berengario Fredoli, with a new compilation of the Decretals and the drafting of the Liber Sextus. After the promulgation of this work, he was created cardinal with the deaconry of S. Eustachio (4 Dec. 1208). Ciaccionio and others accused him of having favored Musciatto and the other conspirators against Boniface in the dispute with Philip the Fair and in the attack at Anagni. Oldonio denied the charge or suggests that P. repented, since at the Council of Vienne he defended the memory of the Pope. Digard proved P.’s guilt (his relations with Musciatto, his attempted flight from Anagni after the popular reaction and his refuge in a convent) and alludes to his change of heart (his refusal to join Philip’s invitation to summon a council at Lyon for the condemnation of Boniface). Clement V sent him as apostolic legate to Genoa, where he died. He is buried in the cathedral of Siena in the famous continuous-narrative sarcophagus by Tino da Camaino. He was a patron and benefactor; he had monasteries, hospitals, and churches built in the Sienese territory. Of his juridical works there remain twenty-six glosses on codices Vat. lat. 1413 (Digest) and 1428 (Code), published by Meyers, and the Casus libri Sexti. He also served as inquisitor against the sect of the Dulgini.