ALBERONI, CARDINAL, an illustrious statesman, was born in 1644, at Placentia, where he followed the pt ofession of a gardener till the age of 14. In consequence of having relieved the secretary of the duke of Ven dome, who was robbed near the village where Albero:ii resided, he was patronized by that distinguished general, and induced to accompany him to Spain. In that coun try his talents and ambition advanced him to notice. Having planned and effected a marriage between the princess of Parma and Philip V., the princess took a deep interest in his promotion, and had sufficient influ ence to procure him the dignities of Cardinal and At ch bishop of Valencia ; from which he rose to the office of prhoe minister to the king of Spain. After having effect ed some new arrangements and domestic reforms, and exerted every nerve to regenerate the Spanish navy, his ambitious and intriguing spirit projected the most en terprising designs ; and directed the eyes of Europe to the Spanish nation, which had for more than a century been sunk in the most torpid lethargy. He projected an expedition against Sicily and Sardinia ; and, in order to accomplish his purpose without opposition, he entered into a strict alliance with Peter the Great, Charles XII., and the Ottoman government. He likewise proposed to employ the influence of these two powerful monarchs in raising the Pretender to the throne of England—to wrest the regency of France from the hands of the duke of Orleans—to excite the Turks against the emperor of Germany—and to destroy the German power in Italy. The discovery of these daring projects produced a coalition against Spain, between France and England. War was declared in 1719 ; and the condition of peace insisted upon by the allies was the banishment of Al beroni. In December 1720, he received an order to quit the metropolis in twenty-four hours, and not to remain above a fortnight in the kingdom. Alberoni retired from
Madrid in the greatest opulence, carrying along with him the testament of Charles II. of Spain, which appoint ed Philip universal heir of the monarchy. This circum stance was not discovered till two clays after his depar ture ; but messengers being immediately despatched, the testament was taken from him by force. When he arrived at Genoa, he was arrested by the Pope, under the charge of carrying on a negotiation with the sublime Porte; and was confined for a year in the convent of the Jesuits Upon his acquittal from this accusation, his intriguing spirit again began to display itself, but receiv ed a check in the unsuccessful enterprise which he planned against the small republic of St Marino. The approach of old age, combined with the reverses of for tune which lie had sustained, now began to moderate his ambition. He directed his attention to the more laudable object of establishing and endowing a seminary in his native city for the education of the poor. Ile took great pleasure in reciting the exploits in which he had been engaged ; and the vivacity of his temp.'', and the extent of his information, rendered him on these occasions ex ceedingly amusing. He died in 1752, at the great age of 87. Alberoni was of an irascible temper, and could not brook contradiction. He has left behind him the character of a daring and unprincipled politician. His life to the year 1719 has been published by John Rousset, translated from the Spanish. His Testamrnt Politique, published at Lausanne in 1753, is generally considered as spurious. See Continuation de Henault. Hest. tom.i. p. 43. Universal ILst. vol. xxxii. p. 565. vol. xxxviii. p. 232.
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