sign in sign up
<<
Home , Apostolic Palace, Ascanio Sforza, College of Cardinals, Colonna family, Domenico della Rovere, Eamon Duffy

Conclave 1492: The of a

A Reacting to the Past Microgame

Instructor’s Manual Version 1 – August 2017

William Keene Thompson Ph.D. Candidate, History University of California, Santa Barbara [email protected]

Table of Contents

Game Summary 1

Procedure 3

Biographical Sketches and Monetary Values 4

Role Distribution and Vote Tally Sheet 6

Anticipated Vote Distributions 7

Conclave Ballot Template 8

Role Sheets (23 Cardinals) 9

Additional Roles 33

Extended Gameplay and Supplementary Readings 34

William Keene Thompson, UC Santa Barbara [email protected]

Conclave 1492: The Election of a Renaissance Pope

The Situation It is August 1492. Pope Innocent VIII has died. Now the Sacred must meet to choose his successor. The office of Pope is a holy calling, born of the legacy of the first of , who was one of ’s most trusted . The Pope is therefore ’s vicar on , the temporal representation of divine authority and the pinnacle of the hierarchy. However, the position has also become a political role, with the Holy a temporal ruler of the in the center of the and charged with protecting the interests of the Church across . As such, the position requires not only spiritual vision but political acumen too, and, at times ruthlessness and deception, to maintain the church’s position as a secular and spiritual power in . The Cardinals must therefore consider both a candidate’s spiritual and political qualifications to lead the Church. Although the conclave is a spiritual gathering, the political situation in Europe, and the Italian peninsula in particular, cannot be ignored. The Papal States, ruled directly by the Pope through his , often act as a buffer between the Kingdom of , the Duchy of , and various other parties. Whoever is elected Pope must therefore be a sound spiritual leader for the church and an astute secular ruler of its temporal possessions. will need to balance the claims of , Milan, Naples, , , , and , among others, to parts of the Italian peninsula, Europe, and the wider world. There is also the ever-present threat of invasion by the Muslim Turks, who conquered in 1453 and now have a foothold in the . Political failure could cost the church valuable territory and influence, while spiritual failure to reform and lead the church could cost it the loyalty of faithful Catholics across Europe. Each Cardinal has their own interests, loyalties, and agendas going into the conclave. Some are the junior members of Europe's ruling (such as the Sforza, Medici, Carafa, Orsini, and Colonna) and thus have family interests to defend, while others have financial interests to protect, such as the accumulation of lucrative church offices. Few, even in the Sacred College, are without sin. Many Cardinals, have moral failings to cover up, such as common wives, mistresses, homosexual relationships, illegitimate children, and a variety of other past crimes. Some Cardinals are truly devout men, who wish to serve God and choose the best leader for the church, but many are men of their age, more concerned with worldly things than spiritual. Despite their different backgrounds and motivations, every Cardinal cares deeply about the William Keene Thompson, UC Santa Barbara [email protected]

Catholic Church as an institution and wants a strong leader to guide it—although most would also like the choice to benefit their own interests in some way. Some of the more pious Cardinals may choose to back the candidate who will be the best leader of the church, while others may find it expedient to back the candidate who will do the most to advance their shared political interests. Still others may find themselves beholden to a candidate who either possesses damning information about them or offers them lucrative rewards for their support. While each Cardinal is a of the church they are not all on equal footing. Some are more experienced, better connected, wealthier, or more cunning than others. As such, not every cardinal is , a natural candidate for election. However, there are other offices to which Cardinals may aspire, such as Vice- (Secretary of ), of the Sacred College (Presiding Officer), Sub-Dean, and Camerlengo (Treasurer). Each of these offices is in the gift of the newly elected Pope and candidates may offer the promise of appointments to these offices (among other things) in attempt to win the election.

The Setting There are currently 27 Cardinals of the Church, 23 of whom will be in attendance for the conclave. Four Cardinals (2 Spanish and 2 French) are unable to attend for various reasons. Tradition dictates that the college meets in the Apostolic , where it will be sequestered during deliberation and voting, with no one allowed to enter or leave until a new Pope has been chosen. For the first time, the venue for the conclave will be the Sistine . Previously known as the Cappella Magna, the has since been renamed for Pope Sixtus IV, who restored it from 1477 to 1482. During that restoration a team of Renaissance painters created a series of on the walls depicting the Life of and the Life of Christ. The ceiling is painted azure blue with golden stars spread across it to represent the heavenly host. ’s famous will not be painted over it for almost another twenty years. Within the walls of this chapel the of the church will seek guidance of the to decide who should lead the universal church. Each Cardinal has their own role description, noting their background, goals, and motivations going into the conclave.

Pedagogical Goals This microgame is meant to be played during one class period (75–90 minutes), with minimal student preparation beforehand.1 It is best suited to a course covering the history of , the , or during the Renaissance/ period. Some familiarity with the role and importance of the Papacy is presumed. The game shows students that the Renaissance Catholic Church was as much a secular organization as it was spiritual, with political concerns often undermining religious ones at the upper echelons of its leadership. The moral compromises to which the was susceptible were a symptom of larger problems within the Catholic Church. Some endeavored to reform these from within, while others later attacked them from without, leading to the outbreak of the Protestant Reformation within twenty years of this meeting. While playing their roles students should be encouraged to think critically about the motivations and goals of their individual characters. Do they reflect the teachings of Christ and his Apostles or the values of political pragmatism and individualism that found full expression during the Renaissance?

1 Instructors wishing to do so may extend the game to two or three class meetings and assign preparatory reading in advance that students will use in the course of their debates. See the section below on "Extended Gameplay & Supplementary Readings" for more information.

Procedure The conclave will follow the procedure outlined below until a candidate has received 2/3 (14) of electors’ votes.

1. Papabile sermons. Short speeches given by those identifying themselves as papabile, candidates for election. These should be prepared in advance and delivered without using notes. Should emphasize why you are the best person to lead the Church. (Your role sheet will say if you are papabile.)

2. The Assembly. Follow steps A–D below, proceeding to step E once a pope is elected.

a. Discussion (5 minutes). Cardinals are free to have informal discussions within the chapel in order to discuss issues facing the church, campaign for various candidates, and determine who is voting for whom.

b. Speeches (optional, ~3 minutes). If anyone wishes to make a public statement to balloting they should do so after open discussion has ended and before balloting begins.

c. Balloting (~3 minutes). After discussion or speeches each Cardinal will write the name of their favored candidate on a slip of paper, fold it, and drop it into the balloting chalice. Every Cardinal must cast a ballot and all votes are secret.

d. Scrutiny (~5 minutes). After all ballots have been cast, three scrutinizers will be chosen at random from among the Sacred College by drawing names from a . Papabile are not eligible. 1. The first scrutinizer will empty the chalice and the ballots without opening them to ensure that the number cast corresponds to the number of Cardinals present. If there are fewer than 23 then all are destroyed without tallying the votes and balloting must take place again. 2. The second scrutinizer will then read aloud the name written on each ballot and hand it back to the first scrutinizer for . 3. The third scrutinizer will make an record of the votes as they are read aloud and then report the final tally to the college.

e. Election. When all the votes have been tallied, if a candidate has received 2/3 (14) of the Cardinal electors' votes the third scrutinizer will announce the fact. If not, then steps A–C will be repeated until a new Pope has been elected.

3. Proclamation of the Holy Father. The Dean (Giuliano ), (Girolamo Basso della Rovere), (), and the Camerlengo () will then approach the newly elected and ask "Do you accept your as Supreme Pontiff?" to which tradition requires that the Pontiff-elect refuse the offer twice before accepting the third time. If one of these four has been elected Pope they will not be replaced for this step; the other three will proceed.

4. Taking of the . The newly elected pope is then asked "By what name do you wish to be known?" At which point they should reply with their chosen papal name.

5. Announcement of Offices. Finally, the new Pope identifies the Cardinals who will hold the offices of Vice-Chancellor, Dean, Sub-Dean, and Camerlengo. Some Cardinals have appointment to these offices as their end-game goals, so these appointments are significant.

Following the conclusion of these steps we will hold a post-mortem discussion about the outcome of the game versus the historical reality of what really happened in 1492. Conclave 1492 – Biographical Sketches of Cardinals

Borja, Rodrigo* (61) Kingdom of ; Vice-Chancellor; of Valencia; longest- serving member of the college; cardinal-nephew of Pope Callixtus III.

Carafa, Olivero* (62) ; Vice-Dean; Archbishop of Naples; -Cardinal of Ferdinand I of Naples; military commander of papal forces and a papal diplomat.

Cibo di Mari, Lorenzo (42) of Genoa; Archbishop of Benvento; cardinal-nephew of Pope Innocent VIII.

Colonna, Giovanni (36) Rome; Administrator of ; member of the of Rome; bitter rival of Orsini family.

Conti, Giovanni (78) Rome; Archbishop Emeritus of Conza (retired). da Costa, Jorge (86) Kingdom of ; Archbishop of ; Crown-Cardinal of Alfonso V of Portugal; second-oldest member of the Sacred College. de Medici, Giovanni (16) ; second son of Lorenzo de’ Medici, ruler of the Florentine Republic; youngest member of the Sacred College. della Porta, Ardicinio (58) ; Bishop of Aleria; former to the Holy & ; former of several cities in Papal States; recently retired to a monastery, recalled for conclave. della Rovere, Domenico (50) (); Archbishop of ; cousin of Giuliano della Rovere, Girolamo Basso della Rovere, & Rafaele Riario; cardinal-nephew of Pope Sixtus IV. della Rovere, Girolamo (58) Duchy of Savoy; Bishop of Albenga; cousin of Giuliano della Rovere, , & Rafaele Riario; cardinal-nephew of Pope Sixtus IV. della Rovere, Giuliano* (48) Duchy of Savoy; Dean of the Sacred College; Archbishop of ; papal legate to France; cousin of Girolamo Basso della Rovere, Domenico della Rovere, & Rafaele Riario; cardinal-nephew of Pope Sixtus IV.

Fregoso, Paolo* (64) ; Archbishop of Genoa; elected Doge of Genoa three times (twice deposed by Milanese Sforzas, once by the French); former admiral of the papal navy. Gherardo, Maffeo (86.5) ; Cardinal- of Venice; oldest member of the Sacred College.

Michiel, Giovanni* (46) Republic of Venice; Bishop of ; cousin of Cardinal Zeno; cardinal-nephew of Pope Paul II.

Orsini, Giambattista (42) Rome; Administrator of Taranto; member of the Orsini family of Rome; bitter rival of Colonna family.

Pallavicini, Antoniotto (51) Republic of Genoa; Bishop of Ventimiglia.

Piccolomini, Francesco* (53) Kingdom of Naples; Archbishop of ; former legate to the Imperial Diet (HRE), to , to Rome, to ; cardinal-nephew of Pope Pius II.

Riario, Raffaele Sansone (31) Duchy of Savoy; Camerlengo (treasurer) of the Holy Roman Church; cousin of Girolamo Basso della Rovere, Domenico della Rovere, & Giuliano della Rovere; cardinal-nephew of Pope Sixtus IV.

Sanseverino, Frederico (17) Kingdom of Naples; Administrator of Maillezais; second-youngest member of the Sacred College.

Savelli, Giovanni (70) Rome; former papal diplomat.

Sclafenati, Giovanni (40) Duchy of Milan; Bishop of .

Sforza, Ascanio* (37) Duchy of Milan; Administrator of ; member of the noble Sforza family that rules Milan.

Zeno, Giovanni Battista (53) Republic of Venice; Bishop of Vicenza; cousin of Cardinal Michiel; cardinal-nephew of Pope Paul II.

Monetary Value of Church /Offices

Archbishop / Vice-Chancellor = 15,000

Bishop / Administrator / / Camerlengo = 10,000 ducats

Papal Legate / / = 5,000 ducats

Dean / Sub-Dean = No monetary value, but these offices enjoy prestige within the curia.

Note: The promise of an office or cash payment is only acquired if the person who offered it is elected Pope. Losing candidates 't pay their bills! Conclave 1492 – Role Distribution Voting Outcomes (14 to elect)

Round 1 Name (*Papabile) Student Papabile Votes Borja* Borja Carafa Carafa* Fregoso Cibo Giuliano d.Rovere Colonna Michiel Piccolomini Conti Sforza d.Rovere, Domenico Round 2 d.Rovere, Girolamo B. Papabile Votes d.Rovere, Giuliano* da Costa de’ Medici della Porta

Fregoso*

Gherardo Round 3 Michiel* Papabile Votes Orsini

Pallavicini Piccolomini*

Riario Sanseverino Round 4 Papabile Votes Savelli Sclafenati

Sforza*

Zeno

Round 5 Papabile Votes

Conclave 1492 – Anticipated Vote Distribution

Name Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round 5? Borja* Borja Borja Borja Borja Borja Fregoso* Fregoso Fregoso ? ? ? Carafa* Carafa Carafa Carafa ? ? Cibo Fregoso Fregoso ? ? ? Colonna ? ? ? ? ? Conti Sforza Sforza ? ? ? da Costa Piccolomini ? ? ? ? de’ Medici Borja ? ? ? ? della Porta Borja Borja Borja Borja Borja Domenico d.Rovere G.d.Rovere G.d.Rovere ? ? ? Gherardo Borja Borja ? ? ? Girolamo B. d.Rovere G.d.Rovere G.d.Rovere G.d.Rovere ? ? Giuliano d.Rovere* G.d.Rovere G.d.Rovere G.d.Rovere G.d.Rovere G.d.Rovere Michiel* Michiel Michiel ? ? ? Orsini Carafa Carafa ? ? ? Pallavicini ? ? ? ? ? Piccolomini* Piccolomini Piccolomini ? ? ? Riario G.d.Rovere G.d.Rovere ? ? ? Sanseverino Carafa ? ? ? ? Savelli Borja Borja Borja Borja Borja Sclafenati Sforza Sforza ? ? ? Sforza* Sforza Sforza Sforza ? ? Zeno Michiel ? ? ? ?

Rd Borja Carafa d.Rovere Michiel Fregoso Piccolo. Sforza Total Und. (Ind) (Naples) (France) (Venice) (Genoa) (Ind) (Milan) 1 5 3 4 2 2 2 3 21 2 2 4 2 4 1 2 1 3 16 7 3 3 1 2 - - - 1 7 16 4 3 - 1 - - - - 4 19 5+ 3 - 1 - - - - 4 19

Eligo in Summum Pontificem Eligo in Summum Pontificem (I elect as Supreme Pontiff) (I elect as Supreme Pontiff)

______

Eligo in Summum Pontificem Eligo in Summum Pontificem (I elect as Supreme Pontiff) (I elect as Supreme Pontiff)

______

Name: Rodrigo Borja (Borgia) *You are papabile* Nationality: Order and : Cardinal-Bishop of Porto e Santa Rufina Elevated / Elevated By: February 20, 1456 by Callixtus III Personal Notes: • You are 61 years old and descended from the noble Lanzol and Borja families in Valencia and (Spain). • You are currently the longest serving Cardinal in the Catholic Church and Vice- Chancellor of the Holy Roman Church (equivalent to its ). • You were elevated to the cardinalate in 1456 when you were 25 years old by your uncle after he became Pope Callixtus III. This makes you a "cardinal-nephew," one who was elevated as a personal relation of the Holy Father. This is a common practice and there are several other cardinal-nephews in the curia, elevated by the last few . • You studied law at the University of and have proven an able administrator, serving as Vice-Chancellor under your uncle, Pope Callixtus III and Innocent VIII. • You are of Valencia (SP), Bishop of Eger (HUN), Bishop of Mallorca (SP), Bishop of Cartagena (SP), Bishop of Porto e Santa Rufina, Bishop of Albano, Bishop of Erlau (GER), Bishop of Pamplona (SP), Deacon of Lata. Legate to Perugia (IT). Each of these offices could be useful to win allies. • Seek the assistance of Cardinals Savelli, Gherardo, and della Porta in the upcoming conclave. They are your friends and allies due to previous favors you did for them. • While you are pious, you are also a man of your times. The vow of chastity is only loosely applied to senior members of the church. It is no secret that you have had at least three mistresses and have fathered several children. • Despite your long tenure in Rome you are still considered an outsider by the Italian Cardinals. They see your accumulation of Italian benefices as having come at their expense. Some of them are likely to oppose your election. Ally with those who see you as the strongest leader for the church or because you have something to offer them in return for their support (such as one of your benefices or cash). • Your main rival is Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere. You should argue that he is influenced by the King of France and electing him would lead to French meddling in the Italian peninsula. Should he try to sway Cardinals by citing your moral failings you may do the same to him, but doing so publically may not reflect well on you, tread carefully. • You should argue that electing any Cardinal intimately connected with a royal house would pose a threat to the independence of the Church and upset the balance of power in : Carafa=Naples, Sforza=Milan, della Rovere=/France. • Therefore, you should argue that as an outsider you would be a more independent ruler of the Church and that you have the best interests of Rome at heart. • Do not take sides on any proposals for reform of the curia, should they be raised. Better to appear impartial on such matters. However, you may speak to those desiring reform privately to let them know you agree with them (even if only to gain their votes). • In addition to your benefices, you have a personal fortune of 50,000 ducats available. Distribute these funds as necessary to win Cardinal allies.

End-Game Goal: • Be elected Pope! Nothing less will do. If elected, take the name Alexander VI.

**Additional Instructions for Borja** To be delivered to Borja or others as the gamemaster deems appropriate.

Here are the names of some Cardinals who may be receptive to offers of benefices (church offices) or cash payments in return for their support. It’s not the most moral thing to do, but at least it isn’t French money!

Gherardo – 10,000 ducats to aid his charitable work. Sanseverino – Cash or a . Ask his preference. Fregoso – Two bishoprics to withdraw his candidacy and support you. You might also ask him to convince who ever voted for him to switch to you.

If you have not already done so, approach Cardinal Rafaelle Riario to see if he will change allegiance from his cousin Giuliano della Rovere to you. He will likely wish to retain the office of Camerlengo and probably want something more as well. While his price may be high, his support could be valuable, as he could lead you to others who might be willing to support you.

If you are still short of votes, speak with Cardinal Sforza. Offer him the position of Vice- Chancellor (which you currently hold) and the Bishopric of Eger. Vice-Chancellor is a lucrative office, second only to the Pope in prestige. The Bishopric of Eger is also wealthy. If he accepts, Sforza may be able to convince some of his supporters to join him.

Name: *You are papabile* Nationality: Neapolitan Order and Title: Cardinal-Bishop of Elevated / Elevated By: September 18, 1467 by Paul II Personal Notes: • You are 62 years old and descend from a noble family in Naples. • You are Archbishop of Naples (IT), Administrator of Salamanca (SP). • You are Vice-Dean of the College of Cardinals and Crown Cardinal of Ferdinand I, ruler of the Kingdom of Naples, which comprises the southern half of the Italian peninsula. • Most of your career in the church has been spent as a statesman and diplomat. Pope Sixtus IV appointed you legate to King Ferdinand of Naples in 1471. You were also admiral of the papal fleet and enjoyed naval success against the Turks at Otranto. Cardinal Fregoso of Genoa served alongside you in this expedition and you share an admiration for each other as a result. • In the conclave of 1484, your name was discussed as a possible successor of Sixtus IV, but your firm adhesion to Ferdinand's interests prevented your election. • After Innocent VIII's election, you resigned as Bishop of Naples in favor of your , Alessandro Carafa, and were raised to the Bishopric of Salamanca in Spain, which you still hold. During the turbulent of Innocent VIII (1484–1492), you acted as an ambassador of Naples to the , succeeded well in conciliating Ferdinand with the Church and received the gratitude of the as a result. • Going into this conclave you are considered papabile, a candidate for election. Look for allies among other Cardinals who have military experience, such as Fregoso, and your fellow Neapolitan Piccolomini, plus Orsini (a Roman with ties to Naples). • The main strike against you is your connection to the King of Naples, which some see as a conflict of interest, upsetting the balance of power on the Italian peninsula. You need to convince the Sacred College that you have the best interests of the Church at heart. • While in favor of reforming the Church in principle, you oppose attempts to reduce the authority of the pope, such as limiting the number of Cardinals in the Sacred College. Should anyone propose such a measure to the conclave you must defeat it. • You have some gifts in your offer, such as your current bishopric of Salamanca and that of your brother in Naples, should you need to woo supporters to your side. • You also have a personal fortune of 30,000 ducats that you may dispense as necessary. • After the third ballot you may send a secret message to King Ferdinand of Naples to his army into Rome to intimidate the other Cardinals into electing you as pope. If you choose to do so, let the Gamemaster know and he will inform the conclave. • If it becomes clear that you will not be elected, then you might throw your support behind another Italian candidate. But you cannot support any candidate influenced by Charles VIII of France, who has laid claim to the of Naples. • You cannot be bribed.

End-Game Goalss: • Be elected Pope! • If not, then vote for the winning candidate on the final ballot.

Name: Giuliano della Rovere *You are papabile* Nationality: Savona Order and Title: Cardinal-Bishop of Ostia and Elevated / Elevated By: December 16, 1471 by Sixtus IV Personal Notes: • You are the 48-year-old "cardinal-nephew" of Pope Sixtus IV, having been elevated to the cardinalate by him in 1471. This is a common practice in the church at this time and there are several other cardinal-nephews in the curia, elevated by the last few popes. • You are Dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals, presiding over its meetings. • Going into this conclave you are considered papabile, a candidate for election. Look for allies among other Cardinals with whom you have family connections (the della Rovere cousins and Riario) and/or who distrust outsiders such as Cardinals Borja and da Costa. • In 1480 you were sent as papal legate to France, where you distinguished yourself as an able diplomat, learning skills that would be useful to a future leader of the Catholic Church. • You had a secret meeting with Cardinal to discuss plans for this election even before Innocent VIII’s death. You two have a working rivalry: you don’t trust each other but also know that the other is useful to you. It is up to you to determine if it is in your best interests to work with Sforza or ally with others at the conclave. • Due to your close relationship with Sixtus IV you have accrued many benefices. You are the Archbishop of Avignon (FR), Bishop of Bologna (IT), Bishop of Lausanne (SWI), Bishop of Catania (IT), Bishop of Coutances (FR), Bishop of Viviers (FR), Administrator of Lodeve (FR). These posts could be promised to Cardinals for their support. • While in favor of reforming the Church in principle, you oppose any attempts to limit the authority of the pope, such as limiting the number of Cardinals in the Sacred College. Should anyone propose such a measure to the conclave you must defeat it. • While you are pious, you are also a man of your times. The vow of chastity is only loosely applied to senior members of the church. You have had liaisons with both women and men and in 1483 you fathered a daughter. However, this is not uncommon--you know that Borja has had at least three mistresses and has fathered several children. You might use this information against him, but beware that exposing Borja's faults may open you up to similar accusations. What matters more than morals is strong leadership, which you can provide. • You support the interests of the King of France, Charles VIII. This includes his claim to the throne of Naples, currently held by a branch of the Aragon . Having a powerful patron such as Charles strengthens you, but some may also use it against you, arguing that electing you could lead to a power imbalance on the Italian peninsula. • The King of France has given you 100,000 ducats to woo supporters. Distribute these funds as necessary to win allies but don’t reveal where it came from. • Your influence in the curia has continued to increase during the papacy of Innocent VIII. Your main rivals to the throne of St Peter are Cardinals Borja, Carafa, and Sforza. You should be on your guard against them.

End-Game Goals: • Be elected Pope. If you are elected take the name Julius II. • If you are not elected, try to retain the prestigious office of Dean of the Sacred College.

Name: Giovanni Battista Zeno Nationality: Venetian Order and Title: Cardinal-Bishop of Elevated / Elevated By: , 1468 by Paul II Personal Notes: • You are Bishop of Vicenza. • You are 53 years old and a "cardinal nephew," having been elevated to your position by your uncle, Pope Paul II. Your cousin, , is also a cardinal-nephew. You two share common interests and should consult each other when deciding on your votes. • You are not a candidate for election, therefore you are free to choose whomever you think best qualified to lead the church in these trying times. You should vote for Michiel during the first ballot, out of family loyalty. After that you are free to vote as you choose. • Your primary concern is to protect the legacy of your family and the interests of Venice, your home city. • Venice's interests are in the continuance of in the , including trade with the heathen Muslim Turks. If any papabile call for renewed efforts to subdue the Turks, a crusade to free Constantinople from their grip, or impose trading restrictions between and Muslims you must oppose their election. • You are naturally suspicious of Naples and Neapolitan cardinals, such as Carafa, Piccolomini, and Sanseverino. • While you are pious, you are also a man of your times. You prefer to live a life displaying the lavish and conspicuous standard of living that was expected of a . • You also know that shrewdness and deception are sometimes necessary attributes for a leader, even the leader of the Catholic Church. If you do not discern much difference between the prime candidates then perhaps try to determine who would be the better leader for Christendom while also best serving the interests of Venice. • You cannot be bribed.

End-Game Goal: • Vote for the winning candidate on the final ballot.

Name: Giovanni Michiel *You are papabile* Nationality: Venetian Order and Title: Cardinal-Bishop of Elevated / Elevated By: November 21, 1468 by Paul II Personal Notes: • You are a 46-year-old "cardinal nephew," having been elevated to your position by your uncle, Pope Paul II. Your cousin, Giovanni Battista Zeno, is also a cardinal-nephew. You two share common interests and should consult each other when deciding on your votes. • You are considered papabile, a possible candidate for pope. It is up to you to determine whether you have enough support to be elected or whether you should throw your support behind another candidate in order to receive some reward for doing so. • If it is clear after the second ballot that you lack support (3 or less votes), then withdraw your candidacy and support another who you think will be a good Pope (or from whom you receive the best offer). • You are Bishop of Verona. • You were appointed inspector of the papal army raised against Ferdinand I of Naples and later led negotiations that resulted in peace between Naples and the Holy See in 1487. • You are naturally suspicious of Naples and Neapolitan cardinals, such as Carafa, Piccolomini, and Sanseverino. • Your primary concern is to protect the legacy of your family and the interests of Venice, your home city. Of course, if you are elected pope you would be able to do all of these things. If not, then you should at least extract something from the new pope in appreciation of your support. • Venice's interests are in the continuance of free trade in the Mediterranean Sea, including trade with the heathen Muslim Turks. If any papabile call for renewed efforts to subdue the Turks, a crusade to free Constantinople from their grip, or impose trading restrictions between Christians and Muslims you must oppose their election. • While you are pious, you are also a man of your times. You prefer to live a life displaying the lavish and conspicuous standard of living that was expected of a prince of the Church. • You also know that shrewdness and deception are sometimes necessary attributes for a leader, even the leader of the Catholic Church. If it becomes clear that you will not be elected then perhaps try to determine who would be the better leader for Christendom while also best serving the interests of Venice.

End-Game Goals: • Be elected pope! • If not, then vote for the winning candidate on the final ballot. • Secure a position in the curia, a benefice, cash payment, or combination thereof worth at least 15,000 ducats in return for your support.

Name: Nationality: Portuguese Order and Title: Cardinal-Bishop of Albano Elevated / Elevated By: December 16, 1476 by Sixtus IV Personal Notes: • You are 86 years old and the second oldest Cardinal in the curia (after Gherardo). You are widely respected but are too old to be considered papabile, therefore you are free to choose whomever you think best qualified to lead the church in these trying times. • You are from a large and notable family in Portugal. • You are Archbishop of Lisbon (POR), and Bishop of Evora (POR). • You are the of King Alfonso V of Portugal and -cardinal of Portugal. • Your primary concern is to protect the legacy of your family and the interests of Portugal. • You have spent much of your time attending to affairs in Portugal, thus you are still considered an outsider by the Italian Cardinals. Therefore you may find common cause with others who are perceived as outsiders, such as Cardinal Borja, the only other non- Italian Cardinal in attendance. • You are pious and wish to make reforms to the Church to avoid the abuse of power by future popes and the curia. Before the first ballot you should make a motion that all Cardinals must take an oath that whoever is elected pope will limit the size of the Sacred College to 30. There are currently 27 Cardinals (23 are present at the conclave). This would limit the number that a pope may create depending on life spans of those currently living. Some Cardinals will surely recoil at this challenge to papal authority, but others, presumably those not likely to be elected pope, may support it. • You know that the church is in need of reform and that it should start at the top. Argue that if the curia does not start making changes now that bigger problems may arise in future. • Look to ally with Cardinal Piccolomini, perhaps the only other reform-minded member of the Sacred College. Vote for Piccolomini during the first ballot. After that you are free to vote as you see fit. • Despite your reforming zeal, you are also a man of your times. You live a life displaying the lavish and conspicuous standard of living that was expected of a prince of the Church. These things are not mutually exclusive. It is possible to desire changes to the Church while still living as a prince. Social hierarchy is an accepted truth: some are born to rule while others must serve. • You also know that shrewdness and deception are sometimes necessary attributes for a leader, even the leader of the Catholic Church. If you do not discern much difference between the prime candidates then perhaps try to determine who would be the better/stronger leader for Christendom. • You cannot be bribed.

End-Game Goals: • Get the Sacred College to approve limits on future papal power, specifically limiting the number of Cardinals to 30. • Vote for the winning candidate on the final ballot.

Name: Girolamo Basso della Rovere Nationality: Savona Order and Title: Cardinal-Priest of S. Crisogono Elevated / Elevated By: December 10, 1477 by Sixtus IV Personal Notes: • You are 58 years old and a "cardinal-nephew," elevated by your uncle Pope Sixtus IV. This is a common practice in the church at this time and there are several other cardinal- nephews in the curia, elevated by the last few popes. • You are Bishop of Albenga (IT), Bishop of Macerata (IT), Administrator of (IT). • While you are pious, you are also a man of your times. You live a life displaying the lavish and conspicuous standard of living that was expected of a prince of the Church. You are particularly interested in preserving your family legacy. You built a new family chapel in the of in Rome, where your uncle, Pope Sixtus IV is buried. You employed the great artist and his workshop to do so. • You also know that shrewdness and deception are sometimes necessary attributes for a leader, even the leader of the Catholic Church. If you do not discern much difference between the prime candidates then perhaps try to determine who would be the better leader for Christendom. • Your cousin, Giuliano della Rovere, is Dean of the Sacred College and papabile. You will steadfastly support his candidature, for his elevation would benefit you. This means that you should actively work with him to develop a plan for winning votes. • However, if it becomes clear after the third ballot that he will not become pope then you should support whoever you think will be elected, lest you be seen as an opponent by the new pope. • You have two other cousins in the curia, Cardinal Domenico della Rovere and Cardinal Rafaelle Riario. Together, the three of you make up a fearsome voting block that may be sought after by other candidates. Consult with them to see who they are voting for, especially if Giuliano della Rovere has not been elected after the third ballot. • You are unlikely to be bribed, but you may be swayed to change your allegiance if you find that both your cousins Riario and Domenico della Rovere have done so. Be continually in conversation with them to determine their loyalties.

End-Game Goals: • Work to get your cousin, Giuliano della Rovere, elected pope. • If not GdR, then vote for the winning candidate on the final ballot. • Secure a benefice worth at least 10,000 ducats, or the cash equivalent, for your support. Your cousin Giuliano della Rovere should be happy to pay, but if someone else offers more then you should at least consider their proposal.

Name: Domenico della Rovere Nationality: Piedmont Order and Title: Cardinal-Priest of S. Clemente Elevated / Elevated By: February 10, 1478 by Sixtus IV Personal Notes: • You are 50 years old and a "cardinal-nephew," elevated by your relative Pope Sixtus IV. This is a common practice in the church at this time and there are several other cardinal- nephews in the curia, elevated by the last few popes. • You are Archbishop of Turin (IT), Archbishop of Bishop Geneva (SWI), Archbishop of Tarantaise (FR), Bishop of Montefiascone and Corneto (IT). • While you are pious, you are also a man of your times. You live a life displaying the lavish and conspicuous standard of living that was expected of a prince of the Church. You are particularly interested in preserving your family legacy through the of the arts and building projects. You built the of and rebuilt Turin , utilizing many renowned renaissance artists in doing so. • You also know that shrewdness and deception are sometimes necessary attributes for a leader, even the leader of the Catholic Church. • Your cousin, Giuliano della Rovere, is Dean of the Sacred College and also papabile. You will likely support his candidacy, at least at first, for his elevation would benefit you. • Vote for your cousin Giuliano della Rovere on the first two ballots. After that, you are free to vote for whomever you choose. • You should support whoever you think will be elected, lest you be seen as an opponent by the new pope. • You have two other cousins in the curia, Cardinal Girolamo Basso della Rovere and Cardinal Rafaelle Riario. Together, the three of you make up a fearsome voting block that may be sought after by other candidates. You should consult with these cousins to determine how they are voting each round. You don’t have to vote with them, but if you work together you may achieve more than if you act separately. • If possible, secure a lucrative benefice as a reward for your support.

End-Game Goals: • Vote for the winning candidate on the final ballot. • Secure a benefice worth at least 10,000 ducats, or the cash equivalent, for your support.

Name: Paolo di Fregoso *You are papabile* Nationality: Genoese Order and Title: Cardinal-Priest of S. Sisto Elevated / Elevated By: May 15, 1480 by Sixtus IV Personal Notes: • You are 64 years old and descend from one of the ruling families of Genoa, the Fregoso. • You are considered papabile, a candidate for the papacy, due to your successes as a Cardinal and your experience ruling the powerful trading city of Genoa. • You are Archbishop of Genoa (IT), Bishop of Ajaccio (FR), Abbot of the Cistercian convent of Sant'Andrea at Savona (IT), Canon of the Cathedral of Savona (IT). • You have been elected Doge (Ruler) of Genoa three times, although each time has ended in conflict, either with the citizens of the city or members of your own family. • You are not on friendly terms with the Sforzas of Milan, who have twice had a hand in deposing you as Doge in order to gain the submission of Genoa to Milan. • Because your rule over Genoa was once ended by the invasion of King Charles VII of France, you are suspicious of the French and any Cardinals who are influenced by them. If your own candidacy fails, you should seek to ally with a Cardinal who appears independent of foreign influence. • Since becoming a Cardinal in 1480 you have served in a military capacity, participating as a papal admiral in the fleet that defeated the Turks at Otranto. Cardinal Carafa of Naples served alongside you in this expedition and you share an admiration for each other as a result. • You should call for a new crusade against the Muslim Turks as part of your speech to the College. Some will oppose this because it will hurt trade, but others will welcome the assertion of Christian might in the Holy Land. • While in favor of reforming the Church in principle, you oppose any attempts to limit the authority of the pope, such as limiting the number of Cardinals in the Sacred College. Should anyone propose such a measure to the conclave you must defeat it. • While you are pious, you are also a man of your times. You live a life displaying the lavish and conspicuous standard of living that was expected of a prince of the Church. You are particularly interested in preserving your own legacy through the accumulation of benefices and . Of course, being elected pope would be the ultimate title! • Should it become clear after the second ballot that you lack support to be elected pope (fewer than 4 votes), you should take a pragmatic view of things. You have already accumulated lucrative positions in the church and will be satisfied merely if the next pope is not French-influenced or Milanese. Speak with your Genoese ally, Cardinal Cibo, and see if he has thoughts about who to support.

End-Game Goal: • Be elected pope! • If not, then vote for the winning candidate on the final ballot. • Secure an office in the curia, benefices, cash payment, or combination thereof totaling 15,000 ducats for your support.

Name: Giovanni Conti Nationality: Roman Order and Title: Cardinal-Priest of S. Vitale Elevated / Elevated By: November 15, 1483 by Sixtus IV Personal Notes: • You are 78 years old and a member of the illustrious Conti family from Valmontone. • You are Archbishop Emeritus of Conza (IT), meaning that you resigned the post due to your advanced age. • You were a newly created Cardinal when you participated in the of 1484. You were the preferred candidate of the Orsini family, though you ultimately lost to Giovanni Battista Cibo, who became Pope Innocent VIII. • You are now too old to be considered papabile, which frees you to choose the candidate who you think will be the best leader of the Holy Catholic Church. • Right now, you favor Cardinal Sforza. Vote for him during the first two ballots. After that, you are free to vote for whomever you choose. • While you are pious, you are also a man of your times. You display the lavish and conspicuous standard of living expected of a prince of the Church. You are particularly interested in preserving your family legacy through the patronage of the arts. • You are also concerned with protecting the Eternal City, Rome itself. Look for the candidate whose interests lie not in promoting one of the ruling dynasties of Europe but in protecting the Papal States and Rome from foreign domination. • You also know that shrewdness and deception are sometimes necessary attributes for a leader, even the leader of the Catholic Church. If you do not discern much difference between the prime candidates then try to determine who possesses the skill to be the best leader for Christendom.

End-Game Goals: • Vote for the winning candidate on the final ballot. • Make sure that the new pope will put Rome first and not be influenced by one of the other European powers.

Name: Giovanni Giacomo Sclafenati Nationality: Milanese Order and Title: Cardinal-Priest of S. Cecilia Elevated / Elevated By: November 15, 1483 by Sixtus IV Personal Notes: • You are 40 years old. • You are Bishop of Parma (IT). • You are also charged with protecting the interests of Milan and the ruling Sforza family. Therefore you are unwilling to support a candidate from Milan’s regional rival, Genoa, such as Cardinal Fregoso. A candidate from Venice, such as Cardinal Michiel, would pose a similar problem. Although farther away, a Neapolitan, such as Carafa or Piccolomini, would also be a problem, since it would mean a further strengthening of Naples' position on the Italian peninsula. • Right now, you favor your fellow Milanese Cardinal Sforza. Vote for him during the first two ballots. After that, you are free to vote for whomever you choose. • While in favor of reforming the Church in principle, you oppose any attempts to limit the authority of the pope, such as limiting the number of Cardinals in the Sacred College. Should anyone propose such a measure to the conclave you must defeat it. • While you are pious, you are also a man of your times. You display the lavish and conspicuous standard of living expected of a prince of the Church. You are particularly interested in preserving your family legacy. • You also know that shrewdness and deception are sometimes necessary attributes for a leader, even the leader of the Catholic Church. If you do not discern much difference between the prime candidates then try to determine who possesses the skill to be the best leader for Christendom.

End-Game Goals: • Vote for the winning candidate on the final ballot. • Make sure that the new pope will not harm the interests of Milan, nor come from one of its immediate rivals (Genoa, Venice, Naples). • Secure benefices or cash payments worth at least 5,000 ducats in return for your support.

Name: Lorenzo Cibo di Mari (Cardinal Cheebo) Nationality: Genoese Order and Title: Cardinal-Priest of S. Marco Elevated / Elevated By: March 9, 1489 by Innocent VIII Personal Notes: • You are 42 years old and a "cardinal-nephew," elevated by your relative Pope Innocent VIII. This is a common practice in the church at this time and there are several other cardinal-nephews in the curia, elevated by the last few popes. • Technically you are an illegitimate child, since your parents were never married. But you are nonetheless related to the Cibo family of Genoa and they have sponsored your priestly training and career in the church. • You are Archbishop of (IT) and Bishop of Vannes (FR). • While you are pious, you are also a man of your times. You display the lavish and conspicuous standard of living expected of a prince of the Church. You are particularly interested in preserving your family legacy through the patronage of the arts and building projects. You built the Cibo chapel in the Basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo in Rome, utilizing many renowned renaissance artists in doing so. • You are also not on friendly terms with the Sforzas of Milan, who have twice had a hand in deposing Genoa’s Doge in order to gain its submission to Milan. • Right now, you favor your fellow Genoese papabile, Cardinal Fregoso. Vote for him during the first two ballots. After that, you are free to vote for whomever you choose. • Should it become clear after the second ballot that Cardinal Fregoso will not be elected pope, you should take a pragmatic view of things. You have already accumulated lucrative positions in the church and will be satisfied merely if the next pope is not Milanese. This means you can vote for whomever you think would be the best leader of the Church by maintaining the balance of power in the Italian peninsula. • Even if he is no longer a candidate, you value Fregoso’s opinion, so perhaps he will have thoughts on who you ought to support. • You cannot be bribed.

End-Game Goal: • Vote for the winning candidate on the final ballot. • Make sure that the new pope is not Milanese.

Name: Ardicino della Porta, Jr. Nationality: Milanese (Novara) Order and Title: Cardinal-Priest of Ss. Giovanni e Paolo Elevated / Elevated By: March 9, 1489 by Innocent VIII Personal Notes: • You are 58 years old and the grand-nephew of Cardinal Ardicino della Porta, Sr. So, you are part of an illustrious clerical family. • You are Bishop of Aleria (on the island of , FR), Administrator of Olmütz (CZE). • You have made your reputation in the curia as a diplomat. You served as papal legate to Frederick III, Holy Roman , and to the King of Hungary, urging them to participate in a crusade against the . • Under Sixtus IV you served as a to the curia. Your duty was to receive all petitions directed to the Holy See, to report on them to the pope and to tender him advice. • You also served as governor of several cities in the Papal States: , , Perugia, and Citta di Castello. • Pope Innocent VIII put you in of managing relations with ambassadors to the Holy See. • In June of this year (two months ago) you asked the pope to allow you to resign the cardinalate and when he gave permission you retired to a monastery. However, the other members of the College of Cardinals, noting your great experience and abilities, objected and you were forced to return to the curia for this conclave. You fully intend to retire again once a new pope is elected. • You abhor violence and should any Cardinal attempt to use the threat of military intervention in order to sway the conclave you must speak out against him. • You are an old friend of Cardinal Borja and therefore support his candidacy. Coordinate with him to devise a strategy at the conclave. • You aren't interested in acquiring new benefices. You just want to elect the best leader for the church, which you believe to be Borja.

End-Game Goal: • Vote for Borja on every ballot. • Personally convince two other Cardinals to vote for Borja. You cannot bribe them. You must convince them of Borja's merits to lead the church. If Borja wins and two Cardinals admit that you helped convince them to vote for him then you win.

Name: Antoniotto Pallavicini Nationality: Genoese Order and Title: Cardinal-Priest of S. Prassede Elevated / Elevated By: March 9, 1489 Personal Notes: • You are 51 years old and come from a noble family in Genoa. • You are Bishop of Ventimiglia, Bishop of Orense (SP), and Bishop of (POR). • From 1484 to 1489 you served as datary of the Roman Curia, meaning that you were in charge of the concession of matrimonial dispensations of external and the conferral of benefices reserved to the . This meant that you got your hands on a lot of money, as the person to whom desperate nobles often came to secure marriage licenses for quick weddings and/or to install their younger children in lucrative church positions. • Going into the conclave you have no favorites and no loyalties among the papabile. o The Genoese Cardinal Fregoso is an abrasive and controversial figure in Genoa, so you’d rather not vote for him. o You dislike the Milanse Sforzas because they have tried several times to put neighboring Genoa under their rule. o You cannot abide the French and their attempts to rule over the Italian peninsula. You will oppose any Cardinal suspected of being tainted by French influence. • Carefully consider the other papabile to determine who is best to lead the church. If you can’t find much to recommend one or another, perhaps you should see which one can do the most for you, meaning offering you lucrative benefice (or cash payment) in return for your support. • While you are pious, you are also a man of your times. You display the lavish and conspicuous standard of living expected of a prince of the Church. You are particularly interested in preserving your family legacy. • While in favor of reforming the Church in principle, you oppose any attempts to limit the authority of the pope, such as limiting the number of Cardinals in the Sacred College. Should anyone propose such a measure to the conclave you must defeat it. • You abhor violence and should any Cardinal attempt to use the threat of military intervention in order to sway the conclave you must speak out against him.

End-Game Goal: • Vote for the winning candidate on the final ballot. • Secure benefices or cash payments worth at least 10,000 ducats in return for your support.

Name: Maffeo Gherardo, O.S.B.Cam. Nationality: Venetian Order and Title: Cardinal-Priest of Ss. Nereo e Achilleo Elevated / Elevated By: March 9, 1489 by Innocent VIII Personal Notes: • You are 86.5 years old. The oldest Cardinal in the Catholic Church. • You are the Cardinal- (IT). • You were created Cardinal by Innocent VIII , meaning "in the heart" or secretly. Innocent had not published your elevation before he died. However, Cardinal Borja, an old friend, made sure that you were elevated before the conclave so that you could take part. This seems a blessing and a curse to you. On one hand you are grateful to Borja for including you in this sacred event, a responsibility you take seriously. On the other hand, you are old and frail, and traveling to Rome during the hot summer months has taken its toll on your body. • Your primary concern is to protect the interests of Venice, your home city. Venice's interests are in the continuance of free trade in the Mediterranean Sea, including trade with the heathen Muslim Turks. If any papabile call for renewed efforts to subdue the Turks, a crusade to free Constantinople from their grip, or impose trading restrictions between Christians and Muslims you must oppose their election. • Vote for Borja during the first two ballots, out of regard for your long friendship and his including you in this gathering. After that you are free to vote for whomever you choose, Borja or otherwise. • You are a bit of a whiner, so you ought to continually complain to anyone who will listen about the overly hot weather, the lack of good food, and the diseases that will surely spread under such conditions!

End-Game Goal: • Vote for the winning candidate on the final ballot. • You are not interested in acquiring new benefices in return for your support, but a generous (~5,000 ducats) to your charitable work in Venice would be welcome.

Name: Francesco Todeschini-Piccolomini *You are papabile* Nationality: Neapolitan Order and Title: Cardinal-Deacon of S. Eustachio Elevated / Elevated By: March 5, 1460 by Pius II Personal Notes: • You are 53 years old and a "cardinal-nephew," elevated by your relative Pope Pius II. This is a common practice in the church at this time and there are several other cardinal- nephews in the curia, elevated by the last few popes. • You are considered papabile, a candidate for election. • You are Archbishop of Siena (IT), of Brabant (in Cambrai, FR), Administrator of (IT). • You have also held important diplomatic posts as various times, such as Legate to the Imperial Diet at Regensburg, Legate to Umbria, Legate to Rome, and Legate to Perugia. • You are a man of principle, perhaps one of the only ones in the Sacred College. You are widely respected for your moral fiber and for following the path of Christ. • You support reforms to the Church to avoid the abuse of power by future popes. In particular, you would support a motion (made by another Cardinal) to limit the size of the Sacred College to 30 members. There are currently 27 Cardinals. This would limit the number that a pope may create depending on life spans of those currently living. Some Cardinals will surely recoil at this challenge to papal authority, but others, presumably those not likely to be elected pope, may support it. • You know that the church is in need of reform and that it should start at the top. Argue that if the curia does not start making changes now that bigger problems may arise in future. • Your may make it more difficult for you to gain support as a candidate because you will not engage in (office selling) to gain votes. The force of your arguments about the need to reform the church must sway Cardinals to vote for you. • Despite your best efforts, you should be prepared for defeat in the conclave, but should continue to speak as the voice of morality in the midst of what will likely become a sordid process. Remind the other Cardinals that they should be guided by the Holy Spirit, not the desire for earthly wealth. • Vote for yourself during the first two ballots. Should it become clear that you will not be elected, you should identify the best-qualified leader for the church and try to convince others to vote the same way. Try to find a man of principle to fill the post. If that becomes impossible, then at least settle on the strongest personality, who will maintain papal independence among the various European powers. • You cannot be bribed.

End-Game Goal: • Be elected pope! If elected, take the name Pius III. • If you receive fewer than four votes on the second ballot, then you should publically withdraw your candidacy. When you do so, write down the name of the Cardinal whom you will support going forward and give it to the gamemaster. If that Cardinal is elected pope you win. The best way to help this happen will be to ask those who voted for you previously (if any) to vote for your preferred candidate instead.

Name: Raffaele Sansone Riario Nationality: Savona Order and Title: Cardinal-Deacon of S. Lorenzo in Damasco Elevated / Elevated By: December 12, 1477 by Sixtus IV Personal Notes: • You are 31 years old and a "cardinal-nephew," elevated by your relative Pope Sixtus IV. This is a common practice in the church at this time and there are several other cardinal- nephews in the curia, elevated by the last few popes. • You are Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church. You administer the property and revenues of the Holy See. • You are Administrator of Cuenca (SP), Administrator of (IT), Administrator of Salamanca (SP), Administrator of Osma (SP), Administrator of (IT). • Although skilled, you are too young to be papabile, a contender for St Peter’s throne. Therefore your role will be focused on supporting others and gaining tangible benefits for doing so. • While in favor of reforming the Church in principle, you oppose any attempts to limit the authority of the pope, such as limiting the number of Cardinals in the Sacred College. Should anyone propose such a measure to the conclave you must defeat it. • Your cousin, Giuliano della Rovere, is Dean of the Sacred College and also papabile. You therefore support his candidacy, for his elevation would benefit you, too. He has promised you 5,000 ducats and being allowed to keep the title of Camerlengo in return for your support. Vote for him during the first two ballots. However, if it becomes clear that he will not become pope (or if you receive a better offer from someone else) then you should support whoever eventually does, lest you be seen as an opponent by the new pope. • You have some sway with your other cousins in the curia, Cardinals Domenico della Rovere and Girolamo Basso della Rovere. Together, the three of you make up a fearsome voting block that may be sought after by other candidates. Should you change allegiance, you should try to convince them to follow your lead.

End-Game Goals: • Vote for the winning candidate on the final ballot. • Retain your position as Camerlengo under the new pope. • Secure benefices or cash payments worth at least 15,000 ducats in return for your support. (Retaining the office of Camerlengo would count toward this total.)

Name: Giovanni Battista Savelli Nationality: Roman Order and Title: Cardinal-Deacon of S. Nicola in Carcere Tulliano Elevated / Elevated By: May 15, 1480 by Sixtus IV Personal Notes: • You are 70 years old. • You are an old friend of Cardinal Borja and therefore support his candidacy wholeheartedly. Coordinate with him to devise a strategy at the conclave. • You are committed to your old friend, but that doesn't mean you aren't interested in acquiring new benefices in return for your support. Ask Borja early on to be legate to Perugia or Bishop of Mallorca. These titles would come with land and income. • While in favor of reforming the Church in principle, you oppose any attempts to limit the authority of the pope, such as limiting the number of Cardinals in the Sacred College. Should anyone propose such a measure to the conclave you must defeat it. • You are especially wary of the Sforza family of Milan, who would be happy to annex the Papal States to their sizeable territory in the North. You must point out to your fellow Cardinals that electing a Milanese (Sforza) as Pope would effectively give them control over all of North-. This would upset the balance of power in the peninsula and especially threaten smaller states such as Florence, , and Genoa. • You want to elect the best leader for the church, which you believe to be Borja because he has experience and would be independent of the main powers in Italy: France, Milan, Naples, and Venice.

End-Game Goal: • Vote for Borja on every ballot. • Become legate to Perugia + 5,000 ducats, or Bishop of Mallorca in return for your support. • Personally convince two other Cardinals to vote for Borja. You cannot bribe them. You must convince them of Borja’s merits to lead the church. If two Cardinals admit that you convinced them to vote for Borja then you win.

**Additional Instructions for Savelli** After the second ballot pass the following information to young Cardinal Sanseverino:

The King of France has bankrolled Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere with 200,000 ducats to secure his election. This is clear evidence of foreign meddling in the conclave. As pope he would favor France and disrupt the balance of power in Italy!

List of Cardinals to be paid off: Fregoso (to withdraw his candidacy) Orsini Colonna Pallavicini Domenico della Rovere

Name: Giovanni Colonna Nationality: Roman Order and Title: Cardinal-Deacon of S. Maria in Aquiro Elevated / Elevated By: May 15, 1480 by Sixtus IV Personal Notes: • You are 36 years old and descended from the noble Colonna family. One of the most ancient and influential aristocratic families of Rome. • You are Administrator of Rieti (IT). • Your family has had a long-standing rivalry with the Orsini, the other major powerbrokers in Rome. While occasionally you agree on some things you cannot allow an Orsini to be elected Pope, or even be elevated to one of the Papal offices, as this would upset the balance of power in the city. • While you are pious, you are also a man of your times. You display the lavish and conspicuous standard of living expected of a prince of the Church. You are particularly interested in preserving your family legacy through the patronage of the arts and building projects in Rome. • While in favor of reforming the Church in principle, you oppose any attempts to limit the authority of the pope, such as limiting the number of Cardinals in the Sacred College. Should anyone propose such a measure to the conclave you must defeat it. • You also know that shrewdness and deception are sometimes necessary attributes for a leader, even the leader of the Catholic Church. That being said, you cannot stomach any candidate that would threaten Rome itself. Should any Cardinal attempt to use military intervention in order to sway the conclave you must speak out against him. • You are especially wary of the Sforza family of Milan, who would be happy to annex the Papal States to their sizeable territory in the North. You must point out to your fellow Cardinals that electing a Milanese (Sforza) as Pope would effectively give them control over all of North-Central Italy. This would upset the balance of power in the peninsula and especially threaten smaller states such as Florence, Ferrara, and Genoa. • You cannot abide the French and their attempts to rule over the Italian peninsula. You will oppose any Cardinal suspected of being tainted by French influence.

End-Game Goals: • Vote for the winning candidate on the final ballot. • An Orsini must not be elected pope! • Secure benefices or cash payments worth at least 5,000 ducats in return for your support. Make sure that you receive a larger payment than Orsini.

Name: Giambattista Orsini Nationality: Roman Order and Title: Cardinal-Deacon of S. Maria Nuova Elevated / Elevated By: November 15, 1483 by Sixtus IV Personal Notes: • You are 42 years old and descended from the noble Orsini family. One of the most ancient and influential aristocratic families of Rome. • You are Administrator of Taranto (IT). • Your family has had a long-standing rivalry with the Colonna, the other major powerbrokers in Rome. While occasionally you agree on some things you cannot allow a Colonna to be elected Pope, or even be elevated to one of the Papal offices, as this would upset the balance of power in the city. • Your family has a contract with the King of Naples, as such you are required to vote for his preferred candidate, Cardinal Carafa, during the first two ballots. After that you may vote as you choose. • While you are pious, you are also a man of your times. You display the lavish and conspicuous standard of living expected of a prince of the Church. You are particularly interested in preserving your family legacy through the patronage of the arts and building projects in Rome. • While in favor of reforming the Church in principle, you oppose any attempts to limit the authority of the pope, such as limiting the number of Cardinals in the Sacred College. Should anyone propose such a measure to the conclave you must defeat it. • You also know that shrewdness and deception are sometimes necessary attributes for a leader, even the leader of the Catholic Church. That being said, you cannot stomach any candidate that would threaten Rome itself. Should any Cardinal attempt to use military intervention in order to sway the conclave you must speak out against him. • You cannot abide the French and their attempts to rule over the Italian peninsula. You will oppose any Cardinal suspected of being tainted by French influence.

End-Game Goal: • Vote for the winning candidate on the final ballot. • A Colonna must not be elected pope! • Secure benefices or cash payments worth at least 5,000 ducats in return for your support. Make sure that you receive a larger payment than Colonna.

Name: Ascanio Sforza *You are papabile* Nationality: Milanese Order and Title: Cardinal-Deacon of Ss. Vito e Modesto Elevated / Elevated By: March 6, 1484 by Sixtus IV Personal Notes: • You are 37 years old and a member of the Sforza family that rules Milan. • Your brother rules Milan, one of the wealthiest cities in the Italian peninsula. • You are a nobleman and as such you feel a sense of superiority over many of the other Cardinals here, who were merely elevated by relatives who became pope. • You are papabile, a candidate for election. There are allies at the conclave with whom you should work to achieve your election: the other Milanese Cardinal Sclafenati, and Cardinal Conti of Rome. • You are Administrator of Pavia (IT), Administrator of (IT). • It is possible that you will encounter resistance to your candidacy, as Milan has long coveted the Papal States and electing you Pope would effectively give control of North- Central Italy to the Sforza family, and threaten smaller states such as Florence, Ferrara, and Genoa. You must convince skeptics that as Pope you would maintain the independence of the Papal States from Milan (whether or not that would actually be true). • Milan and its territory is a valuable prize, especially coveted by the French King Charles VIII. You are therefore wary of any Cardinal who might be influenced by the French and if your own candidacy falters you certainly cannot support a French-influenced candidate. • While you are pious, you are also a man of your times. You display the lavish and conspicuous standard of living expected of a prince of the Church. You are particularly interested in preserving your family legacy. • While in favor of reforming the Church in principle, you oppose any attempts to check the authority of the pope, such as limiting the number of Cardinals in the Sacred College. Should anyone propose such a measure to the conclave you must defeat it. • You had a secret meeting with Giuliano della Rovere to discuss plans for this election even before Innocent VIII’s death. You two have a working rivalry: you don’t trust each other but also know that the other is useful to you. It is up to you to determine if it is in your best interests to work with della Rovere or ally with others at the conclave.

End-Game Goal: • Be elected pope! • If not elected Pope, try to secure the office of Vice-Chancellor, plus any other potential favors available, in return for your support.

Name: Giovanni de' Medici Nationality: Florentine Order and Title: Cardinal-Deacon of S. Maria in Domnica Elevated / Elevated By: March 9, 1489 by Innocent VIII Personal Notes: • You are 16 years old and the youngest Cardinal in the Catholic Church, having been elevated at the age of 14. Cardinal Sanseverino is older than you by only few months. • You are the second son of Lorenzo de’ Medici, known as il Magnifico, ruler of the Florentine Republic. • Right now, you support Cardinal Borja, an old family friend who had a hand in your being elevated to the cardinalate at such a young age. Vote for him during the first ballot. After that you are free to vote for whomever you see fit. • Florence is a wealthy but small territory. You are wary of the Sforza family of Milan, who would greedily devour Florence given the chance. You must point out to your fellow Cardinals that electing a Milanese (Sforza) as Pope would effectively give them control over all of North-Central Italy, since the Papal States would be annexed to Milan’s territory. This would upset the balance of power in the peninsula and especially threaten smaller states such as Florence, Ferrara, and Genoa. • You are pious and wish to make reforms to the Church to avoid the abuse of power by future popes and the curia. Since you are a junior member of the Sacred College it is not your place to propose such things, but if someone else proposes limits on a future pope, such as capping the size of the Sacred College, you should support the idea. Other Cardinals will surely recoil at this challenge to papal authority, but you believe that the church is in need of reform and this would be a first step. • While you are more pious than many of your fellow Cardinals, you are still a man of your times. You display the lavish and conspicuous standard of living expected of a prince of the Church and you are particularly interested in preserving your family legacy. • You cannot be bribed.

End-Game Goal: • Support limits on future papal power, specifically limiting the number of Cardinals to 30. • Vote for the winning candidate on the final ballot, and make sure they aren't Milanese.

Name: Frederico Sanseverino Nationality: Neapolitan Order and Title: Cardinal-Deacon of S. Teodoro Elevated / Elevated By: March 9, 1489 by Innocent VIII Personal Notes: • You are 17 years old and currently the second-youngest Cardinal in the Catholic Church, having been elevated at the age of 14. Cardinal de’ Medici is younger than you by only few months. • You are Administrator of Maillezais (FR). • You are the son of Roberto Sanseverino d’Aragona, a general of the papal army and distant relation of the Sforza family that rules Milan. Your father also served the King of Naples and was granted the surname d’Aragona as recognition for his service. You were raised in Naples and think of it as home. • You were created Cardinal by Innocent VIII in pectore, meaning "in the heart" or secretly. Innocent had not published your elevation before he died. However, both Cardinals Sforza and Borja made sure that your elevation was published before this conclave, so that you could take part in it. • Your family has connections with the ruling families of Naples and Milan, and personal connections to the Borja family, too. This means that each of them may think you will favor their candidates, but of course you cannot support all of them. You must choose! Vote for Carafa during the first ballot out of deference to him as the senior Cardinal from Naples. After that, you are free to vote as you choose. • You are young, but you are not naive. Think critically about the qualities of the various papabile and determine which one would be the best leader of the church. • While in favor of reforming the Church in principle, you oppose any attempts to limit the authority of the pope, such as limiting the number of Cardinals in the Sacred College. Should anyone propose such a measure to the conclave you must defeat it. • You cannot abide the French and their attempts to rule over the Italian peninsula. You will oppose any Cardinal suspected of being tainted by French influence. • Should you come into possession of any damning evidence about another Cardinal during the conclave it is your moral imperative to make it known to the rest of the College. • If you can secure a lucrative benefice as a result of your support for one candidate or another, then all the better!

End-Game Goal: • Vote for the winning candidate on the final ballot, but make sure they aren't influenced by the French. • Secure benefices or cash payments worth at least 5,000 ducats in return for your support.

Additional Roles

This game functions best when all 23 Cardinals who actually participated in the 1492 Conclave are present. However, this is not always possible, so consider these suggestions, if necessary.

In classes smaller than 23 students the instructor may do one of two things:

1. Try to find stand-ins (TAs, friends, students from outside the course) to play roles and fill out the membership of the Sacred College.

2. If you are unable to fill out the roles, some minor Cardinals may be attached to more influential ones, meaning that one person, playing Borja, della Rovere, Sforza, etc. would essentially control a bloc of two (or more) votes comprised of those Cardinals who would have steadfastly supported him. This solution is less preferable though, because the meeting loses the sense of a critical of participants, and in some instances the opportunity for desertion and backstabbing may be lost.

In classes larger than 23 students the instructor may do one of three things:

1. Write additional roles, starting with the four Cardinals who were absent from the 1492 Conclave. These would likely add two votes for Borja and two votes for della Rovere, respectively, so reference the Role Distribution Sheet to be aware of how that could affect the balance of the Sacred College and potential voting outcomes.

2. Create observer roles, where some students act as ambassadors from various Italian and foreign princes (France, Spain, HRE, Naples, Milan, Venice, etc.). These characters would not be able to take part in the closed debate in the Sistine Chapel because they could only hear leaked reports about its proceedings. Their main role would be to act as analysts, trying to decipher reasons for the changing voting alignments and predict what the various outcomes could mean for their masters. This analysis could take the form of brief dispatches written after each round of voting. These roles might also be well suited to students who are more reserved but whose written work displays analytical ability.

3. Assign two students to some of the more important roles, such as the papabile, to allow them greater ability to strategize and negotiate. This has the advantage of maintaining the historical balance of the Conclave. The disadvantage is that having students work in pairs may lead to an imbalance in their individual workloads during the game.

Extended Gameplay & Supplementary Readings

There is a certain amount of mystery in playing the game in one session, assuming that most students are not familiar with the outcome of the 1492 conclave. Extending the game creates the possibility that students will research the event or their characters and discover what happened, thus prejudicing their decisions in subsequent game sessions. However, extending the game does allow for the use of more primary sources and richer debates over issues that faced the Church in 1492.

For instructors interested in extending gameplay over two or three class meetings, please see the guidelines below. It is recommended that extended gameplay include preparatory primary source readings assigned in advance. Students are therefore expected to draw on these readings during their debates in the conclave. Some instructors may also wish to assign roles in advance (either the day before or the preceding class period) to allow all students to get into character and to let the papabile prepare their opening sermons (although extemporaneous sermons may be more effective).

Guidelines for Extended Gameplay

The format outlined in the "Procedure" section should still be followed, except that there should be no more than two votes per meeting. This would be akin to the morning and afternoon balloting procedure at an actual papal conclave.

Fewer votes per class meeting allows for more time to be devoted to open discussion and formal speeches. Perhaps triple the time allotted for discussion and speeches in the "Procedure" section above.

An instructor who wishes to do so may require that every student make at least one formal speech during an extended game, and even ask that they turn in an expanded written draft of a speech if one wanted to use the exercise to meet course writing requirements.

Extended gameplay would also allow for a longer post-game debriefing, comparing the historical outcome with the class outcome, revealing secret agendas, and giving students more time to explain their impressions and decision-making processes.

Supplementary Readings

Primary Sources

• The , c. 750–800. Internet Medieval Sourcebook. • Canons of the Fourth Council, 1215. (Excerpts) • Boniface VIII, , 1302. Internet Medieval Sourcebook. • , Letter Criticizing the Avignon Papacy, 1340–1353. Internet Medieval Sourcebook.

• XI, The Condemnation of Wycliffe, 1382; and Wycliffe's Reply, 1384. Internet Medieval Sourcebook. • Jan Hus, Letters, 1412–1415. (Excerpts) • Cardinal Fillastre, “The ,” 1414. • The Pragmatic Sanction of Bourges, 1438. Internet Medieval Sourcebook. • for the Armenians (On the Seven ), , 1439. Internet Medieval Sourcebook. • Pius II, Decree Excecrabilis, 1459

Secondary Sources (optional)

• , and Sinners: A History of the Popes, 4th ed. (New Haven: Yale) o Pages 451–456, on conclave procedure. Even though it is focused on modern-day procedure, this reading will give students an idea of what to expect in the conclave. o Pages 177–196, on the Renaissance Popes. Do not assign this reading if you wish to keep character identities secret.