Editors

D. Schwartz (Ed.)

Document Type

Occasional Paper

Publication Date

5-2015

Publication Title

Center for Gaming Research Occasional Paper Series: Paper 32

Publisher Location

Las Vegas, Nevada

First page number:

1

Last page number:

10

Abstract

Wagering on the papal election was a popular pastime among all levels of society in sixteenth-century Rome. Brokers and their clients kept well-informed of the election taking place within the closed doors of the conclave. Consequently, wagering on the election proved to be a source of disruption since—intentionally or not—it begat rumors of a pope’s election and spurred brokers to use illicit means of discovering the secrets of the conclave. The papacy thus initiated a campaign against the practice during the last twenty-five years of the sixteenth century. This campaign, partially inspired by the Counter-Reformation’s impulse to reform popular mores, proved successful as wagering on papal elections disappeared after 1592.

Keywords

Avvisi; Conclave; Counter Reformation; Italy--Rome; Italy--Rome--Quartiere de' Banchi; Papacy; Papal elections; Popes--Election; Rome; Scommesse; Sixteenth century; Wagering

Disciplines

Cultural History | European History | History of Religion

File Format

pdf

Language

English

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