List of cardinal-nephews

A cardinal-nephew is a cardinal elevated by a pope who was his uncle, or more generally, his relative. The practice of creating cardinal-nephews originated in the Middle Ages, and reached its apex during the 16th and 17th centuries. From the Avignon Papacy until Pope Innocent XII's anti-nepotism bull, Romanum decet pontificem, nearly every pope who appointed cardinals appointed at least one relative to the College of Cardinals, including every Renaissance-era pope.
Although nephews were the most common relation to be elevated to the College, other family members included sons and grandsons, brothers, grandnephews, cousins and even uncles. At least 15, and possibly as many as 19 cardinal-nephews were later elected pope. One became antipope, and two or three were canonized.
Similarly created cardinals include cardinal-nephews of antipopes and papal relatives made cardinals by other popes.

11th century

Elevating pope	Cardinal-nephew	Date of elevation	Relationship	Notes
Benedict VIII	Lotario, seniore	circa 1015	Cousin
Benedict VIII	Giovanni	, Unknown	Brother	Future Pope John XIX
Benedict VIII	Teofilatto	, Unknown	Nephew	Future Pope Benedict IX
John XIX	Pietro	1024	Cousin
Benedict IX	Giovanni	before April 1044	Nephew
Alexander II	St. Anselm of Lucca	Circa 1062	Brother or nephew
Urban II	Odon de Châtillon	Circa 1095	Nephew

12th century

Elevating pope	Cardinal-nephew	Date of elevation	Relationship	Notes
Callixtus II	Etienne de Bar	1120	Nephew
Innocent II	Gregorio Papareschi	1134/1137	Nephew
Innocent II	Pietro Papareschi	17 September 1143	Brother
Lucius II	Ubaldo	19 May 1144	Cousin or nephew
Lucius II	St. Guarinus of Palestrina	22 December 1144	Relative
Adrian IV	Boso Breakspeare	21 December 1156	Nephew
Lucius III	Uberto Allucingoli	Circa 1182	Nephew
Lucius III	Gerardo	18 December 1182	Nephew
Clement III	Lotario de' Conti	22 September 1190	Unknown	Future Pope Innocent III
Clement III	Niccolò Scolari	22 September 1190	Nephew
Celestine III	Bobo	20 February 1193	Relative
Celestine III	Giovanni di San Paolo	20 February 1193	Nephew
Innocent III	Ugolino dei Conti di Segni	19 December 1198	Cousin	Future Pope Gregory IX
Innocent III	Giovanni dei Conti di Segni	3 June 1200	Cousin
Innocent III	Ottaviano dei Conti di Segni	27 May 1206	Cousin
Innocent III	Stefano Conti	5 March 1216	Unknown

13th century

Elevating pope	Cardinal-nephew	Date of elevation	Relationship	Notes
Gregory IX	Rinaldo Conti	18 September 1227	Unknown	Future Pope Alexander IV
Gregory IX	Niccolò dei Conti di Segni	December 1228	Nephew
Gregory IX	Riccardo Annibaldeschi di Molaria	1238	Unknown
Innocent IV	Guglielmo Fieschi	28 May 1244	Nephew
Innocent IV	Ottobono Fieschi	December 1251	Nephew	Future Pope Adrian V
Urban IV	Anchero Pantaleone	22 May 1262	Nephew
Gregory X	Vicedomino de Vicedominis	3 June 1273	Unknown	It is a widely disseminated misconception that he was elected but died before proclamation.
Gregory X	Giovanni Visconti	1275	Unknown
Nicholas III	Latino Malabranca Orsini	12 March 1278	Nephew
Nicholas III	Giordano Orsini	12 March 1278	Brother
Honorius IV	Giovanni Boccamazza	22 December 1285	Relative
Nicholas IV	Pietro Colonna	16 May 1288	Relative
Boniface VIII	Benedetto II Caetani	between 23 January and 13 May 1295	Nephew
Boniface VIII	Giacomo Tomasi Caetani	17 December 1295	Unknown
Boniface VIII	Francesco Caetani	17 December 1295	Unknown
Boniface VIII	Leonardo Patrasso	2 March 1300	Uncle

14th century

Elevating pope	Cardinal-nephew	Date of elevation	Relationship	Notes
Clement V	Berengar Fredol the Elder	15 December 1305	Nephew, son of Guillaume de Frédol
Clement V	Arnaud Frangier de Chanteloup	15 December 1305	Close relative, possible nephew
Clement V	Arnaud de Pellegrue	15 December 1305	Relative, possible nephew
Clement V	Raymond de Got	15 December 1305	Nephew, son of Arnaud Garcie de Got
Clement V	Guillaume Arrufat	15 December 1305	Relative, possible nephew
Clement V	Raymond Guillaume des Forges	19 December 1310	Nephew, son of Marquise de Got
Clement V	Bernard Jarre	19 December 1310	Relative
Clement V	Arnaud d'Aux	23 December 1312	Relative
Clement V	Berengar Fredol the Younger	23 December 1312	Grandnephew
John XXII	Jacques de Via	17 December, 1316	Nephew, son of Marie Duese
John XXII	Gauscelin Jean d'Euse	17 December, 1316	Relative
John XXII	Bertrand du Pouget	17 December, 1316	Relative, possible nephew
John XXII	Arnaud de Via	20 June 1317	Nephew, son of Marie Duese
John XXII	Raymond Le Roux	19 December, 1320	Close relative, possible nephew
John XXII
John XXII	Imbert Dupuis	18 December 1327	Relative, possible nephew
Benedict XII	Guillaume Court	18 December 1338	Relative, mother's side
Clement VI	-	-	-	-
Clement VI	Aymeric de Chalus	20 September 1342	Cousin
Clement VI		20 September 1342	Brother
Clement VI	Adhémar Robert	20 September 1342	Cousin or nephew
Clement VI	Gérard Lagarde	20 September 1342	Cousin
Clement VI	Bernard de la Tour	20 September 1342	Nephew
Clement VI	Guillaume de la Jugié	20 September 1342	Nephew, son of Guillaumette Rogier
Clement VI	Nicolas de Besse	19 May 1344	Nephew, son of Dauphine Roger
Clement VI	Pierre-Roger de Beaufort	28 May, 1348	Nephew	Future Pope Gregory XI
Clement VI	Raymond de Canillac	17 December 1350	Nephew
Clement VI	Guillaume d'Aigrefeuille, seniore	17 December 1350	Cousin
Clement VI	Pierre du Cros	17 December 1350	Nephew or cousin
Innocent VI	Andouin Aubert	15 February 1353	Nephew, son of Guy Aubert
Innocent VI	Pierre de Salvete Monteruc	23 December 1356	Nephew of mother's side
Innocent VI	Etienne Aubert, iuniore	17 September 1361	Grandnephew
Urban V	Angelic de Grimoard	18 September 1366	Brother
Urban V	Pierre d'Estaing	7 June 1370	Relative
Gregory XI	Jean de Murat de Cros	30 May 1371	Nephew or cousin
Gregory XI	Jean de la Tour	30 May 1371	Brother-in-law of niece
Gregory XI	Pierre de la Jugié	20 December 1375	Cousin
Gregory XI	Gui de Maillesec	20 December 1375	Nephew on mother's side
Gregory XI	Gérard du Puy	20 December 1375	Cousin or nephew
Urban VI	Francesco Moricotti Prignani	18 September 1378	Nephew
Urban VI	Filippo Carafa della Serra	18 September 1378	Relative
Urban VI	Francesco Renzio	21 December 1381	Distant relative
Urban VI	Pietro Tomacelli	21 December 1381	Distant relative	Future Pope Boniface IX
Urban VI	Tommaso Orsini	ca.1383	Relative
Urban VI	Rinaldo Brancaccio	17 December 1384	Relative
Urban VI	Marino Bulcani	17 December 1384	Distant relative, nephew of cardinal Francesco Renzio
Boniface IX	Enrico Minutoli	18 December 1389	Distant relative
Boniface IX	Cosimo Migliorati	18 December 1389	Distant relative	Future Pope Innocent VII
Boniface IX	Baldassare Cossa	27 February 1402	Relative	Future Antipope John XXIII

15th century

Elevating pope	Cardinal-nephew	Date of elevation	Relationship	Notes
Innocent VII	Giovanni Migliorati	12 June 1405	Nephew
Gregory XII	Antonio Correr	9 May 1408	Nephew, son of Filippo Correr
Gregory XII	Gabriele Condulmer	9 May 1408	Nephew, son of Beriola Correr	Future Pope Eugene IV
Gregory XII	Angelo Barbarigo	19 September 1408	Nephew, son of Caterina Correr
Martin V	Prospero Colonna	24 May 1426 published 8 November 1430	Nephew, son of Lorenzo Onofrio Colonna
Eugene IV	Francesco Condulmer	19 September 1431	Nephew
Eugene IV	Pietro Barbo	1 July 1440	Nephew, son of Polissena Condulmer	Future Pope Paul II
Nicholas V	Filippo Calandrini	20 December 1448	Half-brother
Callixtus III	Luis Juan del Mila y Borja	20 February 1456 published 17 September 1456	Nephew
Callixtus III	Rodrigo Borja	20 February 1456 published 17 September 1456	Nephew	Future Pope Alexander VI
Pius II	Francesco Piccolomini	5 March 1460	Nephew	Future Pope Pius III
Pius II	Niccolò Fortiguerra	5 March 1460	Relative on mother's side
Pius II	Giacomo Ammannati-Piccolomini	18 December 1461	Adopted
Paul II	Marco Barbo	18 September 1467	Unknown
Paul II	Giovanni Battista Zeno	21 November 1468	Unknown
Paul II	Giovanni Michiel	21 November 1468	Unknown
Sixtus IV	Pietro Riario	16 December 1471	Unknown
Sixtus IV	Giuliano della Rovere	16 December 1471	Unknown	Future Pope Julius II
Sixtus IV	Girolamo Basso della Rovere	10 December 1477	Unknown
Sixtus IV	Raffaele Riario	10 December 1477	Unknown
Sixtus IV	Cristoforo della Rovere	10 December 1477	Unknown
Sixtus IV	Domenico della Rovere	10 February 1478	Unknown
Innocent VIII	Lorenzo Cybo de Mari	9 March 1489	Unknown
Innocent VIII	Giovanni de' Medici	9 March 1489	Relative	Future Pope Leo X
Innocent VIII	Pantaleone Cybo	9 March 1489 Never published	Nephew
Innocent VIII	Niccolò Cybo	9 March 1489 Never published	Nephew
Alexander VI	Juan de Borja Lanzol de Romaní, el mayor	31 August 1492	Son of cousin
Alexander VI	Cesare Borgia	20 September 1493	Son	Resigned 18 August 1498
Alexander VI	Giuliano Cesarini, iuniore	20 September 1493	Brother-in-law of daughter, Gerolama Borgia
Alexander VI	Juan de Borja Lanzol de Romaní, el menor	19 February 1496	Grandnephew
Alexander VI	Amanieu d'Albret	20 March 1500	Brother-in-law of Cesare Borgia
Alexander VI	Pedro Luis de Borja Lanzol de Romaní	20 March 1500	Grandnephew
Alexander VI	Francisco de Borja	28 September 1500	Disputed relationship
Alexander VI	Juan de Vera	28 September 1500	Relative
Alexander VI	Juan Castellar y de Borja	31 May 1503	Cousin of Juan de Borja Lanzol de Romaní, el mayor
Alexander VI	Francisco Lloris y de Borja	31 May 1503	Grandnephew

16th century

Elevating pope	Cardinal-nephew	Date of elevation	Relationship	Notes
Julius II	Clemente Grosso della Rovere	29 November 1503	Unknown
Julius II	Galeotto Franciotti della Rovere	29 November 1503	Unknown
Julius II	Marco Vigerio della Rovere	1 December 1505	Distant relative
Julius II	Leonardo Grosso della Rovere	1 December 1505	Cousin
Julius II	Sisto Gara della Rovere	11 September 1507	Unknown
Leo X	Giulio de' Medici	23 September 1513	Cousin	Future Pope Clement VII
Leo X	Innocenzo Cybo	23 September 1513	Unknown
Leo X	Luigi de' Rossi	1 July 1517	Cousin
Leo X	Francesco Armellini Pantalassi de' Medici	1 July 1517	Adopted as son
Leo X	Franciotto Orsini	1 July 1517	Son of Orso Orsini di Monteredondo
Leo X	Giovanni Salviati	1 July 1517	Son of Lucrezia de' Medici
Leo X	Niccolò Ridolfi	1 July 1517	Son of Contessina de' Medici
Clement VII	Niccolò Gaddi	3 May 1527	Related through Catherine de' Medici
Clement VII	Ippolito de' Medici	10 January 1529	Illegitimate son of Giuliano de' Medici
Paul III	Alessandro Farnese	18 December 1534	Grandson
Paul III	Guido Ascanio Sforza di Santa Fiora	18 December 1534	Grandson
Paul III	Niccolò Caetani	22 December 1536 published 13 March 1538	Son of cousin
Paul III	Tiberio Crispo	19 December 1544	Brother, on his mother's side, of pope's daughter Costanza Farnese, possibly natural son of Paul III
Paul III	Ranuccio Farnese	16 December 1545	Grandson
Paul III	Giulio Feltre della Rovere	27 July 1547	Relative
Julius III	Innocenzo Ciocchi Del Monte	30 May 1550	Adopted
Julius III	Cristoforo Guidalotti Ciocchi del Monte	20 November 1551	Cousin
Julius III	Fulvio della Corgna	20 November 1551	Nephew on his mother's side
Julius III	Roberto de Nobili	22 December 1553	Grandnephew
Julius III	Girolamo Simoncelli	22 December 1553	Grandnephew
Paul IV	Carlo Carafa	7 June 1555	Unknown
Paul IV	Diomede Carafa	20 December 1555	Relative
Paul IV	Alfonso Carafa	15 March 1557	Grandnephew
Pius IV	Giovanni Antonio Serbelloni	31 January 1560	Cousin of Charles Borromeo
Pius IV	St. Charles Borromeo	31 January 1560	Nephew
Pius IV	Mark Sittich von Hohenems	Alfonso Gesualdo	26 February 1561	Brother-in-law of Charles Borromeo
Pius IV	Gianfrancesco Gàmbara	26 February 1561	Stepbrother of Charles Borromeo
Pius IV	Francesco Alciati	12 March 1565	Relative
Pius IV	Guido Luca Ferrero	12 March 1565	Cousin of Charles Borromeo
Pius IV	Gianfrancesco Commendone	12 March 1565	Relative
Pius V	Michele Bonelli†	6 March 1566	Grandnephew
Pius V	Girolamo Rusticucci	17 May 1570	Relative
Gregory XIII	Filippo Boncompagni†	2 June 1572	Unknown
Gregory XIII	Filippo Guastavillani	5 July 1574	Unknown
Gregory XIII	Francesco Sforza di Santa Fiora	12 December 1583	Relative through his sister Costanza, wife of pope's son
Sixtus V	Alessandro Peretti di Montalto†	13 May 1585	Unknown
Gregory XIV	Paolo Emilio Sfondrati†	19 December 1590	Unknown
Gregory XIV	Flaminio Piatti	6 March 1591	Relative
Innocent IX	Giovanni Antonio Facchinetti de Nuce†	18 December 1591	Grandnephew
Clement VIII	Pietro Aldobrandini†	17 September 1593	Nephew
Clement VIII	Cinzio Passeri Aldobrandini†	17 September 1593	Nephew
Clement VIII	Silvestro Aldobrandini	17 September 1603	Grandnephew
Clement VIII	Giovanni Battista Deti	3 March 1599	Relative
Clement VIII	Bonifazio Bevilacqua Aldobrandini	3 March 1599	Adopted while already a cardinal on 3 April 1601

17th century

Elevating pope	Cardinal-nephew	Date of elevation	Relationship	Notes
Paul V	Scipione Borghese Caffarelli†	18 July 1605	Nephew
Paul V	Giambattista Leni	24 November 1608	Distant relative
Paul V	Tiberio Muti	2 December 1615	Unknown
Gregory XV	Ludovico Ludovisi†	15 February 1621	Nephew
Gregory XV	Marcantonio Gozzadini	21 July 1621	Cousin
Urban VIII	Francesco Barberini†	2 October 1623	Nephew
Urban VIII	Lorenzo Magalotti	7 October 1624	Brother-in-law of Brother
Urban VIII	Antonio Marcello Barberini	7 October 1624	Brother
Urban VIII	Antonio Barberini	30 August 1627	Nephew
Urban VIII	Francesco Maria Macchiavelli	6 December 1641	Relative
Innocent X	Camillo Francesco Maria Pamphili†	14 November 1644	Son of Innocent X's sister-in-law Olimpia Maidalchini	Resigned 21 January 1647
Innocent X	Francesco Maidalchini†	7 October 1647	Nephew of Olimpia Maidalchini
Innocent X	Camillo Astalli†	19 September 1650	Cousin of Olimpia Maidalchini	Deprived of the title of nipote in February 1654
Alexander VII	Flavio Chigi†	9 April 1657	Nephew
Alexander VII	Antonio Bichi	9 April 1657	Unknown
Clement IX	Giacomo Rospigliosi†	12 December 1667	Nephew
Clement X	Paluzzo Paluzzi Altieri degli Albertoni†	24 January 1664	Adopted while already a cardinal
Clement X	Vincenzo Maria Orsini	22 February 1672	Relative	Future Pope Benedict XIII
Innocent XI	Carlo Stefano Anastasio Ciceri	2 September 1686	Distant relative
Alexander VIII	Pietro Ottoboni†	7 November 1689	Grandnephew
Alexander VIII	Giovanni Battista Rubini	13 February 1690	Unknown

18th century

Elevating pope	Cardinal-nephew	Date of elevation	Relationship	Notes
Clement XI	Annibale Albani	23 December 1711	Unknown
Clement XI	Fabio Olivieri	6 May 1715	Cousin
Innocent XIII	Bernardo Maria Conti	16 June 1721	Brother
Clement XII	Neri Maria Corsini	14 August 1730	Nephew
Clement XII	Giovanni Antonio Guadagni	24 September 1731	Nephew on mother's side, son of Maddalena Corsini
Clement XIII	Carlo Rezzonico	11 September 1758	Nephew
Pius VI	Giovanni Carlo Bandi	29 May 1775	Uncle
Pius VI	Barnaba Chiaramonti	14 February 1785	Relative on his mother's side	Future Pope Pius VII
Pius VI	Romualdo Braschi-Onesti	18 December 1786	Nephew

19th century

Elevating pope	Cardinal-nephew	Date of elevation	Relationship	Notes
Leo XIII	Giuseppe Pecci	12 May 1879	Brother