ALBORNOZ, GIL ALVAREZ DE, Spanish cardinal, was born at Cuenca early in the 14th century and died at Viterbo in 1367. He was made archbishop of Toledo in 1337 and cardinal in 135o. In Innocent VI. sent him from Avignon as legate into Italy with a mission to secure the restoration of the papal authority in the States of the Church. By 1362 he had paved the way for the return of Urban V. to Rome. As legate, Albornoz showed himself to be an astute manager of men and an effective fighter. He began by making use of Rienzi, whose release from prison at Avignon he secured. After the murder of the tribune in Albornoz pursued his task of restoring the Pope's authority by intrigue and force. A work by Albornoz on the constitution of the Church of Rome, first printed at Jesi in 1473, is now very rare.
BIBLIOGRAPHY. See "De Vita et Rebus Gestis Aegidii Albornotii," Bibliography. See "De Vita et Rebus Gestis Aegidii Albornotii," in Sepulveda's Opera Omnia, vol. iv. (178o) ; H. J. Wurm, Cardenal Albornoz der zwei;e Begriinder des Kirchenstaates (1892).