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Dictionary definition: Paul III
- Article from:
- The Oxford Dictionary of Popes
- Author:
Copyright© The Oxford Dictionary of Popes 1996, originally published by Oxford University Press 1996. (Hide copyright information)
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Paul III
(13 Oct. 1534–10 Nov. 1549). Born at Canino on 29 Feb. 1468, descendant of a famous
condottiere
family with properties around Lake Bolsena and south of Viterbo, Alessandro Farnese received a polished humanist education at Rome and Florence, was a student at Pisa, and was made treasurer of the Roman church (1492) and cardinal deacon (1493) by
Alexander VI
; his nickname was ‘cardinal petticoat’ because his sister Giulia was the pope's mistress. Although not ordained priest till 1519, he held many bishoprics and lucrative benefices, combined wide artistic and philosophical interests with diplomatic missions, and kept a noble Roman mistress who bore him three sons ...