Acquaviva, Troiano (or Traiano)
Part of The Encyclopedia of Southern Italy.
Acquaviva, Troiano (or Traiano): (b. Jan. 15 or 16, 1695, Naples. d. March 20, 1747, Rome). Ecclesiastic. A member of the Atri Ducal branch of the Acquaviva family, he entered the service of the Church. In January, 1721, he became Vice-legate in Ferrara. Later that same year he was appointed Governor of Ancona. Over the next few years he held the positions of Cleric of the Apostolic Chamber, Referendary of the Supreme Tribunals of the Apostolic Signature of Justice and of Grace, and Protonotary apostolic. On April 17, 1729, he was ordained a priest and, on the following day, was elected titular bishop of Filippopolidi Arabia (consecrated on May 3, 1729 at Benevento by Pope Clement XI). During that same year he also received the appointments of Prefect of the Papal Household (May 14), Assistant at the Pontifical Throne (June 25), and Prefect of the Apostolic Palace (July 6). On August 14, 1730, he was promoted to the titular see of Larissa. On Oct. 1, 1732, he was created a Cardinal priest in the Consistory, receiving the red hat and the title of SS. Quirico e Giulita on November 17, 1732 (on January 13, 1733, he opted for the title of S. Cecilia). In 1734, he was employed as Ambassador of Spain before the Holy See by the Kings of Spain, Philip V and Charles III. In 1738, he became Protector of Naples and Sicily, and, in 1743, was appointed Protector of Spain. At the request of the Spanish King Charles III, he was appointed as Archbishop of Toledo. After serving for a time in this see, he received the post of Archbishop of Monreale (Sicily) (March 4, 1739). On August 17, 1740, he played an important role at the conclave in which Benedict XIV was elected Pope. His last appointment was as Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals (February 3, 1744). He was a loyal supporter of Charles III of Naples, and, in 1741, served that king as representative to the papal court in peace talks.