Niccolò Ridolfi

Who was Niccolò Ridolfi?

Niccolò Ridolfi was an Italian cardinal.

Born in Florence, son of Piero Ridolfi and Contessina de' Medici, he was therefore nephew of Pope Leo X, who granted him a quick ecclesiastical career. He was named governor of Spoleto in the period 1514-1516 and protonotary apostolic at the age of thirteen.

Pope Leo X created him cardinal deacon in the consistory of July 1, 1517 at the age of sixteen with the deaconry of SS. Vito e Modesto. Later his uncle appointed him administrator of the see of Orvieto on August 24, 1520 and he kept that post until September 3, 1529. Ridolfi participated in the conclaves of 1521–1522 and 1523.

Pope Clement VII elected him archbishop of Florence on January 11, 1524. He resigned from that position on October 11, 1532. He served also as administrator of Vicenza from March 14, 1524 until his death, administrator of Forli. During the Sack of Rome he was taken hostage to Hugo of Moncada with other cardinals. Later he was named administrator of Viterbo, administrator of the metropolitan see of Salerno and administrator of Imola. Pope Clement VII opted him for the deaconry of Santa Maria in Cosmedin on January 19, 1534. He participated in the Papal conclave, 1534.