Mercurino Gattinara

Mercurino Arborio marchese di Gattinara (b. 1465 – d. 1530 ) was an Italian Statesman and jurist. Gattinara was a Christian , Humanist , Imperialist , and Conservationist . He was made a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church in 1529 .

Over his career he served as:

Legal advisor in Piedmont ;

Counselor to Margaret Of Austria ; and,

Chancellor to Emperor Charles V .

AS COUNSELOR

Mercurino Gattinara served as the legal advisor to Margaret of Austria in Savoy . Margaret considered Gattinara as chief amongst her various counselors.

AS CHANCELLOR

Mercurino Gattinara served Emperor Charles V as “Grand Chancellor of all the realms and kingdoms of the king.” Upon the death of Charles' counselor Chièvres , Gattinara would become the king’s most influential advisor. He was a Roman Catholic, humanist, Erasmian , jurist and scholar—at the same time Idealist in his goals, and Realist in his tactics. He was a scholar of Jurisprudence , the classic theory of the State , and the Christian doctrine of duty. Gattinara would guide Charles away from both his roots in dynastic Burgundy , and from the prevailing Secular political theory of Spain at the time, toward a Christian humanist conception of Empire. His ideas of the primacy of the Empire in Europe were in direct contradiction with the growing trend toward the theory of the Nation State .

In his capacity as Chancellor, he urged Charles V to create a Dynastic Empire with the object of establishing global rule (''"Dominium Mundi"''). Gattinara in his policy advice and personal writings argued for Christian imperialism, based on a united Christendom , which would then combat or convert the Protestant s, the Turks , and the Infidel s of the New World . His theory attempted to balance the solidarity of Christian nations, with the requirements of conquest for the establishment of one world empire.

Gattinara was instrumental in shifting Charles V’s policy vision from that of a regional dynastic Monarch to an empire-builder. Doubtless due in large part to Gattinara's cousel, the Spanish Empire would reach its territorial height under Charles V, although it would begin to show signs of decay at the end of his reign, most importantly with the independence granted to the economically-thriving but tax-averse Low Countries .

GOALS

After Charles’s election to the throne, Gattinara wrote to him:

In the conclusion to this letter, Gattinara reiterated his belief that the true purpose of monarchy was to unite all people in the service of God.

During a review for the purpose of administrative reform, Gattinara advised Charles, in a section of the report entitled “Reverence toward God” on issues such as: whether Moors and Infidels should be tolerated in his lands; whether the inhabitants of the West Indian Islands and the mainland were to be converted to Christianity; and whether the Inquisition should be reformed.

Another goal espoused by Gattinara was to unite Christendom against the Turk, as well as against the Lutheran heresy. There was little practical basis for achieving such an understanding between the European powers, however.

Gattinara’s own summation of his views included the final goal of laying the foundations for a policy that was truly imperial, leading to a general war on the infidel and Heretic . His first objective was the Emperor’s voyage to Italy as soon as the fleet was ready. Gattinara concealed the reason for expanding the fleet by reference to the troubles in Mexico .

At every fresh opportunity Gattinara was for “taking time by the Forelock ” and establishing the power of Charles V in Italy without more delay. This would function as a permanent guarantee of peace, not only on the Peninsula , but in all Europe. Gattinara’s views were rooted in Dante , despite having to face many practical setbacks. He faced deep-seated opposition to the imperial council, and Gattinara began to acknowledge that many were against his plan. Many Spaniards suspected Gattinara of having interests in Italy (as he was originally from Piedmont), as so his motives were questioned, and he was even threatened.

Gattinara held Dante’s dream of universal monarchy as the ultimate goal of Charles V’s rule, united both Christendom, and eventually the world. These ideas were in line with some of Charles’s other advisors. Imperial Ambassador at Henry VIII ’s court, M. Louis De Praet , wrote to Charles:

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Mercurino Gattinara