Una carriera diplomatica barocca: Cesare Monti arcivescovo di Milano e agente della politica papale (1632–1650)

The aim of this article is focusing a little known political and ecclesiastical baroque career: that of Cesare Monti, fi rst papal nuncio in Naples and Madrid (1628–1632) and then archbishop of Milan (1632–1650). He was a complex personality: legal studies, the activity as member of important Roman Congregations in the papal court, the frequentation of the Barberini circle and the political and diplomatic experience at the court of Madrid forged a considerable career, before being appointed archbishop of Milan and cardinal. The analysis of his correspondence with Francesco Barberini, cardinal nephew of Pope Urban VIII, shows how Monti, even aft er his entrance in Milan (1635), maintained a high-profi le political and diplomatic role. In the long and diffi cult years of war that involved the State of Milan he carried out a series of activities ranging from traditional management of relations with the Roman Congregations and the secular authorities (Governor, Senate of Milan etc.) to sending news about the war and political information to Rome. He was archbishop and, at the same time, political envoy, although informal, of the papacy for the State of Milan and the Swiss area, and also medium of papal propaganda. Monti played a role not easily defi ned, according to traditional categories that scholars use in analyzing the careers at the service of the Catholic Church and the Holy See (Archbishop/pastor, curial/offi cial, envoy/nuncio). In all his activities he was able to rely on his diplomatic experience and the wide network of personal and political relations both in Rome and at the court of Madrid.