Stefano Durazzo

Stefano Durazzo
Cardinal, Archbishop of Genoa
Durazzo's tomb in the church of Santa Maria in Monterone.
Church	Catholic Church
See	Archbishop of Genoa
Appointed	March 5, 1635
Term ended	October 1664
Predecessor	Domenico de’ Marini
Successor	Giambattista Spinola
Orders
Consecration	April 22, 1635 (Bishop) by Lorenzo Magalotti
Created Cardinal	November 28, 1633
Personal details
Born	(1594-08-05)August 5, 1594 Multedo, Genoa
Died	July 11, 1667(1667-07-11) (aged 72) Rome

Stefano Durazzo (1594 – 1667) was an Italian Catholic cardinal and archbishop of Genoa.

Durazzo was born 5 August 1594 in Multedo, near Genoa, the seventh son of Pietro Durazzo and Aurelia Saluzzo. He belonged to the Durazzo family, one of new emerging families of the Republic of Genoa which had entered on the corporation (albergo) of the House of Grimaldi. His grandfather Giacomo had been Doge of Genoa from 1573 to 1575. Also his father Pietro was Doge from 1619 to 1621, as well as his brother Cesare (from 1665 to 1667) and his nephew Pietro (from 1685-1687). An other nephew of him, Marcello Durazzo, became cardinal in 1686.

Stefano Durazzo was destined to the ecclesiastic life and he was sent to Rome in 1611. In 1618 he was ordained priest and he completed his studies earning a doctorate in utroque iure on about 1620.

Durazzo took up a career in the administration of the Papal States: in 1621 he became referendary of the Tribunals of the Apostolic Signature thanks to the support of the seven cardinals of the Republic of Genoa. He purchased the title of clerk of the Apostolic Chamber in 1623, and in 1624 he became Prefect of the Annona with the responsibility for the grain supply to the city of Rome, a duty he accomplished with success during a period of famine organizing shipments of grain from Sicily. In 1627 Durazzo became treasurer-general of the Apostolic Chamber in 1627 and held that position until 1633 before being appointed pro-secretary of the Apostolic Chamber in 1634.