**PIO da Carpi, Family.**
The family’s origins can be traced to a certain Pio, who in 1177 served as *podestà* of Modena. One of his descendants, Egidio, was expelled from Modena in 1264 along with other Ghibelline leaders. In 1331, Guido, Egidio’s son, and his cousin Manfredo became vicars of Modena under John of Bohemia and took control of the city. However, an alliance formed against John forced them to cede the city to the Este family, receiving in exchange Carpi for Manfredo and San Felice for Guido. For nearly two centuries, the Pio family clashed with the Este, who sought to dominate Carpi while offering other fiefs in the Modenese region in compensation. In 1450, Alberto Pio, a captain in the service of Francesco Sforza, defected to the Savoyards, who permitted him to add their name to his own.
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Roberto Palmarocchi
The family rose to prominence in the 16th century through Alberto (b. 1475), son of Lionello I and Caterina Pico, sister of the renowned Giovanni. His tutors included Aldo Manuzio, whom he always supported, and Gregorio da Spoleto. He amassed a vast collection of Latin, Greek, and Hebrew books, was a friend of Ariosto, and earned a reputation as a distinguished theologian. He married Cecilia Gonzaga of Mantua and became embroiled in family disputes, stoked by the Este of Ferrara, who coveted his Carpi fief. In 1500, he traveled to the court of Maximilian, King of Germany, and represented him at the Roman Curia during the League against Venice (1508–10). By 1512, he was imperial ambassador to Rome and enjoyed great favor under Leo X. During the 1523 conclave, he aligned with the Medici and the French faction, of which he was a staunch supporter, alongside Gian Matteo Giberti and Lodovico di Canossa, Bishop of Bayeux. Together, they worked to keep Clement VII in an anti-imperial stance, prompting the envoy of Charles V to remark: *"Carpi is a devil: he knows everything and meddles in everything; the Emperor should either win him over or destroy him."* He accompanied Clement VII to Castel Sant’Angelo during the Sack of Rome in 1527 and was later sent by the Pope to King Francis I. Charles V then stripped him of Carpi, which on 8 April 1530 was infeudated to Alfonso d’Este. He died in Paris in January 1531, leaving two daughters. A diplomat and humanist, in 1526 he sent Erasmus of Rotterdam a meticulously crafted *Responsio* in manuscript form, later printed in Paris in 1529 with Erasmus’s reply. Alberto responded with his *XXIII Libri in locos lucubrationum variarum Erasmi Roterdami* (Paris and Venice, 1531), aiming to counter Luther by critiquing Erasmus. After Alberto’s death, Erasmus wrote an *Apologia* against him (Basel, 1531).
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**Rodolfo**, cardinal, son of Lionello II (Alberto’s brother) and Maria Martinengo, was born on 2 May 1500. A doctor of philosophy from Padua and a Knight of the Order of Malta, he served as a secret chamberlain to Clement VII (1523–34), employing him in diplomatic intrigues. Appointed Bishop of Faenza on 13 November 1528, he governed through vicars, seeking to purge Protestant influence and reform abuses. In August 1533, he convened a reform synod. He resigned the see in favor of his brother Teodoro on 10 October 1544 and, through the favor of Charles V, was given the Diocese of Agrigento, though he did not reside there. Named nuncio to France on 26 July 1530, he accompanied the Pope to the Council of Nice (29 May 1533) and returned to Rome with him on 21 November 1533. Reappointed nuncio to France by Paul III on 9 January 1535, his mission included announcing the Council, defending papal neutrality, curbing English political influence, and securing support against corsair raids. Created cardinal on 12 December 1536 alongside Pole, Carafa, Sadoleto, del Monte, and Aleandro, he left France in April 1537. Reassigned there on 19 December 1537, he negotiated the peace between Charles V and Francis I, which continued at the second Council of Nice in May–June 1538. Paul III left him as legate in Rome on 12 August 1541 during his journey to the Council of Lucca and again in February 1543 when the Pope traveled to Bologna and then Busseto. Rodolfo served once more as legate to France under Julius III in September 1551, aligning with imperial interests. He authored, among other works, a manuscript *Discorso a Carlo V Cesare del modo di dominare* (1543). He participated in the 1550 conclave and, in that of 1559 on 6 September, there was an attempt—repeated unsuccessfully in the following days—to elect him pope through homage.
He was already a member of the Roman Inquisition under Paul III and remained an influential and zealous promoter of the Catholic Reformation in subsequent pontificates. As protector of the Capuchins, he convened their superiors in Rome in 1542 following the apostasy of Ochino to vouch for their orthodoxy. He was the only protector the Jesuits ever had and the first member of the Compagnia della Grazia founded by St. Ignatius. He was also a benefactor of the Sanctuary of Loreto. A man of his age, he built a villa on the Quirinal and amassed a library (later bequeathed to the scholar Latino Latini) in his palace on Campo Marzio, along with statues, bronzes, antiquities, and paintings. Named Bishop of Ostia and dean on 18 May 1562, he died in the Curia on 2 May 1564, leaving a reputation as *"a man of great virtue, learning, and prudence in affairs, with experience and sound judgment."* Pius V, who had been a close friend, erected a monument to him at his tomb in Santa Trinità dei Monti. Even Felice Peretti (Sixtus V) had benefited from his support.
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From the branch of the Pio family settled in Ferrara, descended **CARLO EMANUELE**, born in 1578, who was created a cardinal deacon by Clement VIII on 9 June 1604. He spent his life in the Curia, generously aiding Abbot F. Ughelli in his *Italia sacra*. He died as Bishop of Ostia on 19 July 1641. His nephew, son of Ascanio and Porzia Mattei, **CARLO II**, born on 9 April 1622, after a youth spent in military service, became a cleric of the Camera and treasurer. Innocent X created him a cardinal deacon on 2 March 1654. On 2 August 1655, he was appointed Bishop of Ferrara and died as Bishop of Sabina on 13 February 1689.
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