Domenico Toschi

Domenico Toschi (1535 to 1620) was an Italian jurist and cardinal, born at Castellarano in the Reggio Emilia area to a poor family. He first served as a soldier, then trained in Rome and became a noted canon lawyer, writing the multi-volume treatise Practicarum conclusionum iuris in omni foro frequentiorum. He served as vice-legate and governor of Bologna from 1585 to 1588, then as a councillor in Tuscany, was Bishop of Tivoli from 1595 to 1606, and was made a cardinal by Clement VIII in 1599 as a reward for governing Rome during the pope's absence. In the conclave of May 1605 he fell two votes short of election as pope. He published further works on canon law and supported the education of poor students.