What role was played by a pet monkey in the nomination of a seventeen year old boy as Cardinal-Nephew by one of the so-called Renaissance Popes?

BRY2K

Innocenzo Ciocchi Del Monte is the boy in question. Born in Borgo San Donnino, now Fidenza, the son of a female beggar and an unknown father, the illiterate but vivacious and good-looking 14 year old was picked up on the streets of Parma by Cardinal Giovanni Maria Del Monte and officially adopted by the Cardinal's brother, Baldovino Ciocchi Del Monte. The boy was given a position in Giovanni's household as a valero, a menial role combining the offices of footman and dogsbody, then Provost of the cathedral chapter of Arezzo, a title involving only nominal duties but with certain rights of income. In February of 1550 Cardinal Del Monte was elected Pope as Julius III, and immediately created the 17 year old Innocenzo a Cardinal. One mocking rumour made the rounds in Rome, saying that Innocenzo had been made a cardinal as a reward for his being the keeper of the pope's monkey. For their part, the Protestants were convinced that Innocenzo's cardinal's biretta had been a reward for the youth's sexual favours. EEEK! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Innocenzo_Ciocchi_Del_Monte Jul 08 08, 12:45 PM

JaneofGaunt

Conflicting reports - either the monkey attacked Julius III and the boy saved the Pope, or the monkey attacked the boy and the Pope was impressed with the boy's bravery. Either way, all reports agree that the subsequent attachement of Pope to boy was somewhat questionable. http://www.fiu.edu/~mirandas/bios1550.htm (1) 1. CIOCCHI DEL MONTE, Innocenzo (1532-1577) Birth. 1532, Borgo San Donnino, now Fidenza. His mother was a beggar, and the identity of his father is not known (1). Adoptive son of Baldovino Ciocchi del Monte, duke of Camerino and count of Monte San Savino, and Giulia Mancini. Adoptive nephew of Pope Julius III, of whom he became a favorite. There is no record of when he took the name Innocenzo. He was called il Prevostino. Because of an incident in his youth with a pet ape of Cardinal Giovanni Maria del Monte, he was later called il Cardinale Scimmia, the Cardinal Monkey. Jul 08 08, 12:52 PM