El cardenal José Sáenz de Aguirre en el contexto cultural romano de finales del siglo XVII

Resumo

José Sáenz de Aguirre (1630-1699), born in Logroño, was one of the most promintent Spanish theologians of the late Seventeenth Century, whose work was internationally recognized. Prior of San Millán de la Cogolla and professor at Salamanca, was created cardinal by Innocent XI in 1686, moving to Rome the following year where he remained until his death. This article presents Italian documentation previously unknown in order to rebuild his stay in Italy, therefore allowing a better comprehension of his biography. Aguirre is presented within the framework of Spanish Rome, its political issues, its festive celebrations and its cultural events and milieu. The article discusses in addition the courts of other cardinals that Aguirre met there and the potential influence they could exert on him is discussed. The palaces were he lived are located and the members of the famiglia (or court) he had in his late room (Mignanelli palace) are identified. Further sources are presented useful for the reconstruction of his trip to Naples in 1695. Finally, the inventory made in the Mignanelli palace after his death is published. The analysis of these source reveals the contradictory issues around the personality of the cardinal.