Fabrizio Spada

Fabrizio Spada (Rome, 17 March 1643 – Rome, 15 June 1717) was an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church, and served as Secretary of State under Pope Innocent XII.

Life

He was the son of Orazio Spada and Veralli Maria, he was also a great-nephew of Cardinal Bernardino Spada and a nephew of Cardinal Giambattista Spada on his father's side, and a nephew of Cardinal Fabrizio Verallo on his mother's side. His sister, Eugenia Spada (1639–1717) married Girolamo Mattei, Duca di Giove of the House of Mattei. Spada completed his studies as a doctor of law ("in utroque iure") at the University of Perugia in 1664; after which he took holy orders in 1669. He was subsequently appointed referendary to the Apostolic Signatura and Lay Abbot of the monastery of Santa Maria d' Attilia, in the diocese of San Severino.

In 1672 he became titular Latin Archbishop of Patras but had to obtain a dispensation because he was still below canonical age, and papal nuncio to the duchy of Savoy. Two years later he was appointed nunzio to France. Pope Clement X created him cardinal-priest in the consistory of 27 May 1675, and he was given the titulus of San Callisto. This was exchanged in 1689 for that of San Crisogono and in 1708 for that of Santa Prassede.

He was appointed legate to Urbino in 1686 and served as Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals from 1688 to 1689. Finally he achieved his most senior appointment as Cardinal Secretary of State, serving from 1691 to 1700 under the papacy of Innocent XII. In 1710 he become cardinal-bishop of the Roman see of Palestrina. Other titles included Prefect for the Congregation of Good Government (now suppressed), archpriest of the Basilica of St. John Lateran, and Secretary for the Holy Office or Inquisition from 1716 until to his death. As cardinal he also participated in the papal conclaves of 1676, 1689, 1691 and 1700.

He died in the family palace in Rome, and his body was laid out for viewing in the church of Santa Maria in Vallicella before being interred within the Spada family chapel.

Sources

• Renata Ago, Carriere e clientele nella Roma barocca, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 1990.
• Catholic Hierarchy: Fabrizio Cardinal Spada
• Cardinals of the Catholic Church

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Paluzzo Paluzzi Altieri degli Albertoni	Archpriest of the Basilica of St. John Lateran 1698–1699	Succeeded by Benedetto Pamphili
Preceded by Giambattista Rubini	Cardinal Secretary of State 14 July 1691 – 27 September 1700	Succeeded by Fabrizio Paolucci
Preceded by Galeazzo Marescotti	Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals 17 May 1688 – 24 January 1689	Succeeded by Philip Thomas Howard of Norfolk
Preceded by Galeazzo Marescotti	Secretary for the Holy Office 1716 – 15 June 1717	Succeeded by Nicolò Acciaioli