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 include 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 i 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 | Berenger Fredoli | 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 | Berenguer Fredol | 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 Jugée | 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 Jugée | 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, seniore† | 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 | Nephew | |
| 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 |