Domenico Orsini d'Aragona (Naples, 5 June 1719 – Rome, 10 January 1789) was an Italian,

Roman Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...

Cardinal.

Biography

He was born to Ferdinando Bernualdo Filippo Orsini, the 14th Duke of Gravina, and his second wife, Giacinta Marescotti-Ruspoli. Domenico was the grand-nephew of Pierfrancesco Orsini, who in 1724 became

Pope Benedict XIII Pope Benedict XIII (; ; 2 February 1649 – 21 February 1730), born Pietro Francesco (or Pierfrancesco) Orsini and later called Vincenzo Maria Orsini, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 29 May 1724 to his death in ...

. In 1734, Domenico succeeded his father as the 15th Duke of Gravina. Also that year, he was named by

King Charles VII of Naples Charles III (; 20 January 1716 – 14 December 1788) was King of Spain in the years 1759 to 1788. He was also Duke of Parma and Piacenza, as Charles I (1731–1735); King of Naples, as Charles VII; and King of Sicily, as Charles III (or V) (1735� ...

to be ambassador to the Vatican. In 1738, he wed the princess Anna Paola Flaminia of the Ducal family of Odescalchi-Erba di Bracciano, and with her had four children: Maria Maddalena, Giacinta, Filippo e Amedeo (Filippo Bernualdo). In 1739 he was named a knight of the Order of San Gennaro. Widowed in 1742, Pope Benedict XIV nominated him a

cardinal deacon A cardinal is a senior member of the clergy of the Catholic Church. As titular members of the clergy of the Diocese of Rome, they serve as advisors to the pope, who is the bishop of Rome and the visible head of the worldwide Catholic Church. C ...

, since he had never taken priestly orders. He was ordained a priest finally in 6 November 1768. He was made the titular head of a number of churches including Ss. Vito, Modesto e Cresceglia, S. Nicola in Carcere, Santa Maria ad Martyres, Santa Agata de’ Goti, and Santa Maria in Via Lata. He was a patron of the painter Domenico Corvi. He remained in close contact with the Neapolitan kingdom, and in 1748, he was named Cardinal protector of the Kingdom of Two Sicilies by

Charles VII of Naples Charles III (; 20 January 1716 – 14 December 1788) was King of Spain in the years 1759 to 1788. He was also Duke of Parma and Piacenza, as Charles I (1731–1735); King of Naples, as Charles VII; and King of Sicily, as Charles III (or V) (1735� ...

. He worked with the Neapolitan minister

Bernardo Tanucci Bernardo Tanucci (20 February 1698 – 29 April 1783) was an Italian jurist and statesman, who brought an enlightened absolutism style of government to the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies for Charles III and his son Ferdinand IV. Biography Early ...

in the suppression of the

Jesuit order The Society of Jesus (; abbreviation: S.J. or SJ), also known as the Jesuit Order or the Jesuits ( ; ), is a religious order of clerics regular of pontifical right for men in the Catholic Church headquartered in Rome. It was founded in 1540 by ...

; although Tanucci accused him of allowing the former French Jesuits to enter Naples under Roman passports. Domenico was entailed with forwarding the suppression of Jesuits, and tried to advance the beatification of the former antagonist of the order,

Juan de Palafox y Mendoza Juan de Palafox y Mendoza (26 June 1600 – 1 October 1659) was a Spanish politician, administrator, and Catholic clergyman in 17th century Spain and a viceroy of Mexico. Palafox was the Bishop of Puebla (1640−1655), and the interim Archb ...

. The relationships of Naples and Rome during the late 1760s were fraught with disagreements. He participated in three conclaves, 1758, 1769, and 1774-75.Encyclopedia Treccani
biographical entry.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Orsini d'Aragona Domenico 1719 births 1789 deaths Orsini family Dukes in Italy Nobility from Naples Princes of the Holy Roman Empire 18th-century Italian cardinals Clergy from Naples Ambassadors of the Kingdom of Naples Ambassadors to the Holy See Cardinal protectors Burials at the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran