A Day In History

The Unspeakable Things Pope Sixtus IV Did During His Reign (2023x21)

Ημερομηνία προβολής: Μάϊ 25, 2023

Upon becoming Pope, Sixtus abused his new position to shower gifts on his family. Within a year, Sixtus’ sisters had elaborate houses in Rome and every luxury they desired. His nephews Pietro and Guiliano were immediately made cardinals despite being completely unqualified for the position. Pietro was made a bishop and then the Archbishop of Florence in 1473. Pietro was close to his uncle and effectively ran Sixtus’ foreign policy until his sudden death later in 1473. Meanwhile, Giovanni was made the Lord of Papal Lands in Senigallia and Mondavio and given a favorable marriage to a daughter of the powerful Montefeltro family. But perhaps the most richly rewarded nephew was Girolamo Riario who was made Captain-General of the Church, effectively in full control of the papacy’s military resources, and was made the Lord of Imola - a recently acquired city that would cause a cascade of problems in time.