Leone X

Was born in Florence in 1475 and died in Rome in 1521. He was elected with the name of Leo X on 9 March 1513 at the end of a very brief conclave. He was the second son of Lorenzo il Magnifico. He received a refined literary education with masters such as  Ficino and Poliziano. He became a cardinal when just thirteen and lived between Tuscany and Rome. After the events of 1494 he first took refuge in the court of Urbino, then he went to the Netherlands, Germany and France, where he was arrested and then expelled. He returned to Rome in 1500 promoting the social and cultural life of the city.  He had very close relations with Raffaello and Bramante. In 1512 he took part in the Battle of Ravenna and was captured by the French but managed to escape before being taken to France. Elected Pope in March 1513 with the hope of mitigating the turbulent policies of his predecessor Julius II, he effectively pursued a policy of reconciliation. At the time of the descent of Francis I he joined the anti-French league but, after the victory of Marignano, he came to an agreement with the French. It was during his reign that Luther affixed his 95 heretic theses in Wittenberg, underestimated by a Leo X who was normally cautious and prudent. Ludovico Ariosto met Leo X several times: as soon as the conclave ended he went to Rome with the ambassadors from Ferrara to congratulate the new Pope, in the hope of acquiring some good post. All he did obtain was the guarantee that he could succeed to the benefice of the parish of Sant’Agata sul Santerno, as and when the present beneficiary, the archdeacon  Giovanni Fusari, a friend of the family, might die. Ludovico again went to see Leo X, between June and July of  1517, to obtain the revenue from the chancery of  the bishopric of Ferrara and a part of that of Milan. He did a new trip t Rome in December 1517, for matters related to the benefice of Sant’Agata,. In February 1520 he was again in Rome to obtain the legitimisation of his son Virginio and went back to see Leo X in November 1520, to discuss issues related to his benefices.