Aleandro, Girolamo

(1480-1542)

   Italian humanist who later became one of the most influential agents of papal opposition to the Reformation. A native of Treviso, educated at Padua, he began his career in the service of a wealthy cardinal at Venice, where he also worked for the famous humanist and printer Aldus Manutius and became a friend of Erasmus. In 1508 he moved to Paris, where he lectured on Greek language and literature. After briefly working for the prince-bishop of Liège, in 1519 Aleandro entered papal service at Rome, first as librarian but soon as papal legate to Germany. From his period, his activities increasingly were related to the Protestant Reformation rather than to the Renaissance. During his legatine travels in Germany, he became convinced that the reformist ideas of his former friend Erasmus were the ultimate source of Martin Luther's heresies. He remained a powerful figure at Rome down to his death, being named archbishop of Brindisi in 1524 and a cardinal in 1538.