Francesco Alciati

Francesco Alciati (1522 to 1580) was an Italian jurist and cardinal, born in Milan. A relative of the renowned jurist Andrea Alciato, he studied law under his direction and became one of the most prominent legal scholars in Milan, nicknamed l'Alciatino to tell him apart from Andrea, who made him his heir and charged him with editing his unpublished works. After Andrea died he became professor of civil law at the University of Pavia, where his best-known student was Charles Borromeo. Pius IV called him to Rome, where he served as apostolic referendary and nuncio to the king of Bohemia, then became bishop, cardinal, vice-penitentiary and later grand penitentiary. He published nothing of his own, but his legal writings survive in manuscript.