Childhood:
Born in Milan, Italy in early November 1474, Campeggio was the eldest of five sons. As he progressed through education, he trained to become a Doctor of Civil Law in the city of Bologna. It was from here, Campeggio took his early steps towards the role of a Cardinal. In 1509, Campeggio began his career under Pope Julius II’s patronage and following his seeking of a league against the Turks in 1513, he had clearly made a large impact upon the Papacy as in 1517, he was appointed as a Cardinal.
Career:
Throughout his career as a Cardinal, Campeggio played crucial roles in some of the century’s biggest issues. Campeggio was made Cardinal-Protector of the Holy Roman Empire by Emperor Maximilian and he was first sent to England in 1518 as part of Pope Leo X’s peace policy. Campeggio then spent his next years dotted round Europe until 1527 when the Sack Of Rome occurred in 1527 where Campeggio lost everything and led to his involvement in the case of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon’s divorce.
Importance in Henry’s reign:
Campeggio arrived in England on the 1st October 1528, as co-legate with Wolsey with a secret document called the “Decretal” which defined the Law and would ultimately have influenced the outcome on the Divorce trial. However, this letter was only shown to Henry and Wolsey and so did not have such an impact. While in England, Campeggio was under strict instructions "not to proceed to sentence under any pretext without express commission, but protract the matter as long as possible”. After attempting to resume peace between the King and Queen in order to prevent a divorce, Campeggio had to resist the pressure to deliver a final sentence on the matter and so, having failed to satisfy the King in October 1529, Campeggio left England and was not to return again.
George Foster
Born in Milan, Italy in early November 1474, Campeggio was the eldest of five sons. As he progressed through education, he trained to become a Doctor of Civil Law in the city of Bologna. It was from here, Campeggio took his early steps towards the role of a Cardinal. In 1509, Campeggio began his career under Pope Julius II’s patronage and following his seeking of a league against the Turks in 1513, he had clearly made a large impact upon the Papacy as in 1517, he was appointed as a Cardinal.
Career:
Throughout his career as a Cardinal, Campeggio played crucial roles in some of the century’s biggest issues. Campeggio was made Cardinal-Protector of the Holy Roman Empire by Emperor Maximilian and he was first sent to England in 1518 as part of Pope Leo X’s peace policy. Campeggio then spent his next years dotted round Europe until 1527 when the Sack Of Rome occurred in 1527 where Campeggio lost everything and led to his involvement in the case of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon’s divorce.
Importance in Henry’s reign:
Campeggio arrived in England on the 1st October 1528, as co-legate with Wolsey with a secret document called the “Decretal” which defined the Law and would ultimately have influenced the outcome on the Divorce trial. However, this letter was only shown to Henry and Wolsey and so did not have such an impact. While in England, Campeggio was under strict instructions "not to proceed to sentence under any pretext without express commission, but protract the matter as long as possible”. After attempting to resume peace between the King and Queen in order to prevent a divorce, Campeggio had to resist the pressure to deliver a final sentence on the matter and so, having failed to satisfy the King in October 1529, Campeggio left England and was not to return again.
George Foster