Alexander VIII, né Pietro Vitto Ottoboni (April 22, 1610 - February 1, 1691), pope from 1689 to 1691, was born of a noble Venetian family, was created cardinal, and then successively bishop of Brescia and datary.
The ambassador of King Louis XIV of France succeeded in procuring his election on October 6, 1689 as successor to Pope Innocent XI; nevertheless, after months of negotiation Alexander finally condemned the declaration made in 1682 by the French clergy concerning the liberties of the Gallican church. Charities on a large scale and unbounded nepotism exhausted the papal treasury. He bought the books and manuscripts of Queen Christina of Sweden for the Vatican Library. Alexander condemned in 1690 the doctrines of so-called philosophic sin, taught in the Jesuit schools. He died on February 1, 1691. (W. W. R.*)
This article incorporates text from the public domain 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica.
Alexander VIII was born at Venice, April 22, 1610, of Mark Ottoboni, a patrician and chancellor of Venice, and of Victoria Tornielli, a lady not inferior in rank.
The Ottoboni family, which had anciently flourished at Padua, though others give Dalmatia and Lepanto as its origin, was transferred to Venice, where it was reckoned among the citizens of the ducal chancery till 1246, when it was ennobled and embraced several distinguished men.
Aldobrandino Ottoboni had the title of patrician togato; and on his death, in 1258, the republic gave him a splendid funeral, and a noble tomb in the Church of Saint Reparata.
In 1681 he was in the service of the electoral prince of Bavaria; between 1680 and 1685 he spent a considerable time in the house of his friend Cristiano Farinelli.
In 1685 he was in Rome, where he led the festival performances of music for Queen Christina of Sweden and he was also a favorite of Cardinal PietroOttoboni (who in 1689 became Pope Alexander VIII).
He was received in the highest circles of the aristocracy, and arranged and for a long time presided at the celebrated Monday concerts in the palace of Cardinal Ottoboni.
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