Camillo Cattaneo und sein Dienst für die Päpste: Zum Wirken eines der Agenten am Kaiserhof in Prag.

Camillo Cattaneo, who was the agent of Marquess Francesco Gonzaga di Castiglione, appears in the services of the papal Curia and the pope's diplomats at the beginning of the 17th century. He managed to use his good relations with the imperial courtiers and administrators, in particular with Johann Barvitius, to the advantage of the Curia's interests. By these unofficial channels, Cattaneo accomplished various different matters and succeeded in a vast range of affairs. Cattaneo's career in the papal services reached its apex in the first half of the 17th century when he became the agent and client of the Borghese family and informed Rome in his regular correspondence about important affairs at the imperial court. He undoubtedly played an important part in the appointment of Cardinal Scipione Borghese as the new Cardinal-protector of Germany. Unfortunately, he did not gain the trust of the papal nuncio in Prague, Giovanni Salvago, who sent discrediting evidence against him to Rome, which proved that Cattaneo nurtured further patronage relationships. This was the case with Cardinal Pietro Aldobrandini whose relations with the Borghese family were strained. Cattaneo became another example of an agent who lost his own credibility by playing several roles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]