Vatican from Utrecht to Rastatt, from perspective of Christian Cole, representative of England in Venice

• Main Author: Kocić Marija V.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Faculty of Philosophy, Kosovska Mitrovica 2017-01-01
• Series: Zbornik Radova Filozofskog Fakulteta u Prištini
• Subjects: Papal state (Vatican); Clement XI; Peace of Utrecht; Christian Cole; Carlo VI; Sicily; Napoly
• Online Access: http://scindeks-clanci.ceon.rs/data/pdf/0354-3293/2017/0354-32931701043K.pdf
• ISSN: 0354-3293; 2217-8082

This work analysess the opinion of Vatican and Pope Clement XI (1700-1721) about new relations in Italy, that are consequences of Rastatt and Utrecht treaties. Archive materials from the National Archives in London, specifically reports of an England's representative in Venice were used. Since he regularly received reports from Rome, Naples and Sicily, Christian Cole regularly and dutifully informed London of occurrences in these states. Due to the mentioned fact, his correspondence provides a certain overview of events in Vatican, and some dispositions are opposed to those revealed by the historiography of this period. The Utrecht Peace caused significant changes in the Apennine Peninsula, and Vatican was not prepared to accept them. Break-through of Austria into this part of Europe is, by all means, one of its most important consequences. One of pontiff's responses to changes on the political map of Italy was his approaching to Charles VI, whom he saw as a protector of the Catholic Church, in the period when the conflict with Louis XIV culminated because of his efforts to achieve autonomy for the Gallican church. After Rastatt, the Pope became deeply disappointed with Charles VI. This was bound to happen, since Charles VI tried to introduce the Kingdom of Naples into his sphere of interest, which was in conflict with Vatican's interest, and the approaching noticed during 1713 could not last for long, in the circumstances when the Pope had to fight for his endangered privileges.