Atto Melani (* 1626 in Pistoia; "† 1714 in Paris) were an Italian diplomat, a feeler gauge and a writer.

Melani was born as the third of seven children of a poor in the toskanischen city Pistoia. In the infancy Melani was kastriert, there it will should.

As a singer Melani had become fast a celebrity, then among other things the rumor went around, its singing would be a cure against the queue bite. The French poet Jean de La Fontaine praised his singing in a poem, after he became a witness of a performance of the opera "Orfeo" by Luigi Rossi with Melani in the main role.

Its large singing talent finally brought it to the French yard to Ludwig four tenth. Cardinal Mazarin introduced it to the art of the espionage, which he controlled soon evenly as well as the singing. In the context of its concerts he came to the European king yards, passed coded messages on and collected secrets.

1657 were sent Melani from Mazarin to Bavaria, where he was to induce the France-friendly cure prince Ferdinand to place itself to the choice of the Roman-German emperor. The project failed however. Nevertheless cardinal Mazarin praised it for its large negotiation fate, its position is additionally strengthened.

After Mazarins sudden death 1661 Melanis luck turned in France. Few months later the upper director of finances became, Nicolas Fouquet on go-eats Ludwig XIV. taken prisoner and eingekerkert. It became public that Melani was friendly with Fouquet. Ludwig XIV., who already knew Melani since its childhood and a very confidential relationship to him had, experiences that its letters were copied by Atto. Consequence was a fifteen-year banishing. Melani fled to Rome.

To Rome Atto is taken up by the cardinal Giulio Rospigliosi, which as he originates from Pistoia. Melani enjoyed the support of Maria Mancini, the niece Mazarins in Rome also. With it the Kastrat led an exchange of letters across forty years.

1667 died Pope Alexander VII. in the following Konklave, from which Attos sponsor Rospigliosi should come out as a Pope Clemens IX., are it its assistant. This was probably a singular opportunity to become acquainted with the secrets of the Papal election from the inside. Upon it, to what extent Melani affected the choice Clemens IX., it can be only speculated. Fact is it that Ludwig XIV. with the result of the Papal election more agreed than. Owing to its services for France the exile was waived after the Papal election and it was active as a feeler gauge of the sun king at the papal Hofe and specialist for Konklaven. Atto kept the title of a and an annual living money additional from three thousand Livres.

1668 appeared to Melani in the Palazzo Colonna the last mark as a singer. From now on he dedicated himself excluding the policy and the diplomacy. It written numerous reports and memoranda over Rome and the German principalities, mediated between the French yard and high-ranking cardinals and was an arbitrator with arguments between Italian city states.

Atto Melani died at the age of 88 years 1714 in Paris.

Its inheritance was impressing: thus Palazzi and were both in Italy and in France also a comprehensive library under it beside bank deposit. Its originally 108 volumes comprehensive correspondence with important contemporaries applies up to a table of contents as verschollen.

The Italian authors Rita Monaldi and Francesco Sorti found a writing Melanis at Ludwig XIV with the searches for its novel "imprimatur"., who was published under the title the secrets of the Konklaven and the vices of the cardinals (ISBN 3-608-93737-4).

Articles in category "Atto Melani"

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