Jaime de Casanova

Jaime de Casanova (died 1504) (called Cardinal Casanova) was a Spanish Roman Catholic cardinal.

Biography

Jaime de Casanova was born in Xàtiva, ca. 1435.^[1]

Early in his career, Casanova came under the protection of Cardinal Roderic Llançol i de Borja (the future Pope Alexander VI).^[1] In Rome, he became abbreviatore di parco minore; then a papal notary; and then a protonotary apostolic.^[1] In 1492, he was a witness at the dissolution of the marriage of Lucrezia Borgia and Gaspare Aversa, and in 1493, was a witness at her marriage to Giovanni Sforza.^[1] In 1497, he became an officiali audientie contradictarum, and in 1498 a papal chamberlain.^[1]

Pope Alexander VI made him a cardinal priest in the consistory of 31 May 1503.^[1] He received the titular church of Santo Stefano Rotondo on 12 June 1503.^[1]

In August 1503, he was present at the Papal Mass performed for the dying pope.^[1] The pope died on 18 August 1503; the next day his son Cesare Borgia sent Michelotto Corella and a band of thugs to the Papal Apartments, where they pulled a knife on Cardinal Casanova and demanded he give them all the money in the apartments.^[1] Terrified, Cardinal Casanova handed over the keys.^[1]

He participated in the papal conclave of September 1503, though his participation was limited by bad health.^[1] He participated in the consecration of Pope Pius III, but not his coronation.^[1] He then participated in the papal conclave of October 1503 that elected Pope Julius II.^[1] He was able to attend the new pope's coronation, but not his first consistory and meeting of the College of Cardinals.^[1] His health recovered a little in spring 1504.^[1]