_ ELICE PERETTI), pope from 1585 to 159o, was born at Grottamara, in Ancona, on Dec. 13, 1521. He was reared in extreme poverty; and at an early age he entered a Franciscan monastery. He soon gave evidence of rare ability as a preacher and a dialectician. About 1552 he came under the notice of Cardinal Carpi, protector of his order, Ghislieri (later Pius V.) and Caraffa (later Paul IV.), and from that time his advancement was assured. He was sent to Venice as inquisitor general, but carried matters with a high hand, became embroiled in quarrels, and was forced to leave (1560). After a brief term as procurator of his order, he was attached to the Spanish lega tion headed by Buoncampagno (later Gregory XIII.) 1565. The violent dislike he conceived for Buoncampagno exerted a marked influence upon his subsequent actions. He hurried back to Rome upon the accession of Pius V., who made him apostolic vicar of his order, and, later (1570), cardinal. During the pontificate of Gregory XIII. he lived in retirement, occupied with the care of his villa and with his studies, one of the fruits of which was an edition of the works of Ambrose; not neglecting, however, to follow the course of affairs, but carefully avoiding every occasion of offence. This discreetness contributed not a little to his election to the papacy on April 24, 1585• The terrible condition in which Gregory XIII. had left the ecclesiastical States called for prompt and stern measures. Against the prevailing lawlessness Sixtus proceeded with an almost ferocious severity, which only extreme necessity could justify. Thousands of brigands were brought to justice : within a short time the country was again quiet and safe. Sixtus next set to work to repair the finances. By the sale of offices, the establish ment of new "Monti" and by levying new taxes, he accumulated a vast surplus, which he stored up against certain specified emer gencies, such as a crusade or the defence of the Holy See. Im mense sums were spent upon public works; these include : the completion of the dome of St. Peter's; the loggia of Sixtus in the Lateran ; the chapel of the Praesepe in Sta. Maria Maggiore; additions or repairs to the Quirinal, Lateran and Vatican palaces; the erection of four obelisks, including that in the piazza of St. Peter's ; the opening of six streets ; the restoration of the aque duct of Severus ("Acqua Felice") ; besides numerous roads and bridges, an attempt to drain the Pontine marshes, and the en couragement of agriculture and manufacture. But Sixtus had no appreciation of antiquity: the columns of Trajan and An toninus were made to serve as pedestals for the statues of SS. Peter and Paul; the Minerva of the Capitol was converted into "Christian Rome"; the Septizonium of Severus was demolished for its building materials.
Sixtus limited the College of Cardinals to 7o; and doubled the number of the congregations, and enlarged their functions, assign ing to them the principal role in the transaction of business (1588). The Jesuits Sixtus regarded with disfavour and suspicion.
He meditated radical changes in their constitution, but death prevented the execution of his purpose. In 1589 was begun a revision of the Vulgate, the so-called Editio Sixtina.
In his larger political relations Sixtus, strangely enough, showed himself visionary and vacillating. He distrusted Philip II. and viewed with apprehension any extension of his power. So, while he excommunicated Henry of Navarre, and contributed to the League and the Armada, he chafed under his forced alliance with Philip, and looked about for escape. The victories of Henry and the prospect of his conversion to Catholicism raised Sixtus's hopes, and in corresponding degree determined Philip to tighten his grip upon his wavering ally. The pope's negotiations with Henry's representative evoked a bitter and menacing protest and a categorical demand for the performance of promises. Sixtus took refuge in evasion, and temporized until death relieved him of the necessity of coming to a decision (Aug. 27, 159o).
Posterity ranks Sixtus one of the greatest popes. He was hasty, obstinate, severe, autocratic ; but his mind was open to large ideas, and he threw himself into his undertakings with an energy and determination that often compelled success. Few popes can boast of greater enterprise or larger achievements.
Lives of Sixtus are numerous: Cicarella's, in Platina, De vitis pontiff. Rom., is by a contemporary of the pope, but nevertheless of slight importance; Leti's Vita di Sisto V. (Amsterdam, 1693, translated into English by Farneworth, 1779) is a caricature, full of absurd tales, utterly untrustworthy, wanting even the saving merit of style ; Tempesti's Stories della vita e geste di Sista Quinto (1754 55) is valuable for the large use it makes of the original sources, but lacks perspective and is warped by the author's blind admiration for his subject ; Cesare's Vita di Sisto V. (Naples, 1755) is but an abridg ment of Tempesti. Of recent works the best are Hilbner, Sixte-Quint, etc. (1870), translated into English by H. E. H. Jerningham (1872) ; and Capranica, Papa Sisto, storia del s. XVI. (Milan, 1884). See also Lorentz, Sixtus V. u. seine Zeit (Mainz, 5852) ; Dumesnil, Hist. de Sixte-Quint (1869, 2nd ed.) ; Segretain, Sixte-Quint et Henri IV. (1861, strongly Ultramontane) ; Ranke's masterly portrayal, Popes (Eng. trans., Austin), i. 446 sq., ii. 205 sq.; and v. Reumont, Gesch. der Stadt Rom, iii. 2, 575 sq., 733 sq. Extended bibliographies may be found in Herzog-Hauck, Realencyklopddie, s.v. "Sixtus V."; and Cambridge Mod. Hist. iii. 835 sq. See also The Catholic Encyclopedia.
(T. F. C.)