A cardinal-nephew is a cardinal elevated by a pope who was his uncle, or more generally, his relative. The practice of creating cardinal-nephews originated in the Middle Ages, and reached its apex during the 16th and 17th centuries.Bunson, Matthew. 1995. "Cardinal Nephew." The Pope Encyclopedia. Crown Trade Paperbacks. . From the Avignon Papacy (1309–1377) until Pope Innocent XII's anti-nepotism bull, Romanum decet pontificem (1692), nearly every pope who appointed cardinals appointed at least one relative to the College of Cardinals,Until Pope Innocent XII, the only exceptions were popes who did not appoint the cardinals at all (Pope Pius III, Pope Marcellus II, Pope Urban VII, Pope Leo XI) and Pope Adrian VI (who appointed only one cardinal). including every Renaissance-era pope.
Although nephews were the most common relation to be elevated to the College, other family members included sons and grandsons (whether legitimate, illegitimate, or adopted), brothers, grandnephews, cousins and even uncles.Vidmar, John. 2005. The Catholic Church Through The Ages: A History. Paulist Press. . At least 15, and possibly as many as 19 cardinal-nephews were later elected pope (Gregory IX, Alexander IV, Adrian V, Gregory XI, Boniface IX, Innocent VII, Eugene IV, Paul II, Alexander VI, Pius III, Julius II, Leo X, Clement VII, Benedict XIII, and Pius VII, perhaps also John XIX, Benedict IX, if they were really promoted cardinals, as well as Innocent III and Benedict XII, if in fact they were related to their elevators). One became antipope (John XXIII), and two or three were canonized (Charles Borromeo, Guarinus of Palestrina, and perhaps Anselm of Lucca, if in fact he was really elected cardinal).
Similarly created cardinals include cardinal-nephews of antipopes and papal relatives made cardinals by other popes.
Notes on symbols Because statements concerning the familial ties of popes and cardinals prior to the 14th century are often of much later origin, some sources regard their factual accuracy as dubious. Thus, individuals are marked with: , when the existence of the familial relationship is disputed, or , when their promotion to the cardinalate is disputed. Occupants of the curial office of the Cardinal Nephew are denoted with †.
11th century
Elevating popeCardinal-nephewDate of elevationRelationshipNotesBenedict VIII(1012–1024)Lotario (or Loctarius), seniorecirca 1015CousinAuthors which affirm his cardinalate do not mention any documentary proof to attest his existence and promotion (cf. The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church: consistory of 1015; retrieved 15 September 2009; and Cardella, vol. I pt 1, p. 93). His name does not appear in the papal registers of that time (cf. Regesta Imperii Online. Abhandlung II. Band 5 (Papstregesten 911–1024) and Abhandlung II. Band 5 (Papstregesten 1024–1058) ; retrieved 15 September 2009; Ph. Jaffè: Regesta pontificum Romanorum ab condita ecclesia ad annum post Christum natum MCXCVIII, vol. I, Leipzig 1885, p. 506-529; P. F. Kehr: Italia Pontificia, vol. I, Berlin 1906; J. P. Migne: Patrologia Latina, vol. 139 col. 1577–1638, vol. 141 col. 1115–1156 and 1343–1370) and is not mentioned in the genealogies of the family of Pope Benedict VIII; ; F. Gregorovius, History of the City of Rome in the Middle Ages, Vol. 4 pt. 1, London 1905, p. 6 and 19. Therefore, the existence of this cardinal remains uncertain.Giovanni, UnknownBrotherFuture Pope John XIXAccording to his biography in ; and he was a layman at the time of his election to the papacyTeofilatto, UnknownNephewNephew to both Benedict VIII and John XIXFuture Pope Benedict IXMiranda, S. 1998. "11th Century (999–1099)." Florida International University. Retrieved 25 June 2009.According to Genealogie-Mittelalter ; retrieved 1 September 2009; he was a layman when elected pope. Biographical entries by and ; do not mention his cardinalateJohn XIX(1024–1032)Pietro1024For the date of promotion see Regesta Imperii Online. Abhandlung III. Band 5 (Papstregesten 1024–1058) nr 71 ; retrieved 15 September 2009CousinGenealogie-Mittelalter: Petrus von Silva Candida; retrieved 15 September 2009Benedict IX(1032–1044, 1045, 1047–1048)Giovannibefore April 1044NephewHüls, p. 138 no. 1Alexander II(1061–1073)St. Anselm of LuccaCirca 1062Brother or nephew Urban II(1088–1099)Odon de ChâtillonCirca 1095Nephew
12th century
Elevating popeCardinal-nephewDate of elevationRelationshipNotesCallixtus II(1119–1124)Etienne de Bar1120NephewMiranda, S. 1998. "12th Century (1099–1198)." Florida International University. Retrieved 25 June 2009. Innocent II(1130–1143)Gregorio Papareschi1134/1137Nephew Pietro Papareschi17 September 1143BrotherLucius II(1144–1145)Ubaldo19 May 1144Cousin or nephewSt. Guarinus of Palestrina22 December 1144RelativeMiranda, S. 1998. "Consistory of December 1144". Florida International University. Retrieved 25 June 2009.Adrian IV(1154–1159)Boso Breakspeare21 December 1156NephewZenker, pp. 149–150; Robinson, pp. 254–255; cf. Brixius, pp. 113–114Lucius III(1181–1185)Uberto AllucingoliCirca 1182NephewGerardo18 December 1182NephewClement III(1187–1191)Lotario de' Conti22 September 1190UnknownFuture Pope Innocent IIINiccolò ScolariNephewKartusch, pp. 284–28; Maleczek, pp. 97–98.Celestine III(1191–1198)Bobo20 February 1193RelativeMiranda, S. 1998. "Consistory of 1193". Florida International University. Retrieved 25 June 2009.Maleczek, p. 111Giovanni di San PaoloNephewInnocent III(1198–1216)Ugolino dei Conti di Segni19 December 1198CousinFuture Pope Gregory IXMiranda, S. 1998. "13th Century (1198–1303)." Florida International University. Retrieved 25 June 2009.Giovanni dei Conti di Segni3 June 1200CousinOttaviano dei Conti di Segni27 May 1206Maleczek, pp. 289–290CousinStefano Conti5 March 1216UnknownMiranda, S. 1998. "Consistory of 1216 (X)". Florida International University. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
13th century
Elevating popeCardinal-nephewDate of elevationRelationshipNotesGregory IX(1227–1241)Rinaldo Conti18 September 1227UnknownFuture Pope Alexander IVWilliams, George L. 2004. Papal Genealogy: The Families and Descendants of the Popes. McFarland & Company. . p. 32.Niccolò dei Conti di SegniDecember 1228NephewEubel, Vol. I, pp. 6 and 43; Miranda, S. 1998. "Consistory of December 1228". Florida International University. Retrieved 25 June 2009.Riccardo Annibaldeschi di Molaria1238UnknownMiranda, S. 1998. "Consistory of 1237". Florida International University. Retrieved 25 June 2009.Innocent IV(1243–1254)Guglielmo Fieschi28 May 1244NephewOttobono FieschiDecember 1251NephewFuture Pope Adrian VUrban IV(1261–1264)Anchero Pantaleone22 May 1262NephewGregory X(1271–1276)Vicedomino de Vicedominis3 June 1273UnknownIt is a widely disseminated misconception that he was elected but died before proclamation.Levillain, 2002, p. 657.Giovanni Visconti1275UnknownMiranda, S. 1998. "Consistory of 1275". Florida International University. Retrieved 25 June 2009.Nicholas III(1277–1280)Latino Malabranca Orsini12 March 1278NephewGiordano OrsiniBrotherWilliams, 2004, p. 37.Honorius IV(1285–1287)Giovanni Boccamazza22 December 1285RelativeNicholas IV(1288–1292)Pietro Colonna16 May 1288RelativeDeCormenin, Louis Marie, and de Lahaye, vicomte de Louis-Marie. 1857. A Complete History of the Popes of Rome (PDF link).Boniface VIII(1294–1303)Benedetto II Caetanibetween 23 January and 13 May 1295NephewWilliams, 2004, p. 38.Giacomo Tomasi Caetani (Iacopo Tommasi)17 December 1295UnknownFrancesco CaetaniUnknownLeonardo Patrasso2 March 1300Uncle
14th century