[CARDINAL] Romualdo Braschi-Onesti (1753-1817) Italian Cardinal. He was the cardinal-nephew of Pius VI (1775–1799), was the penultimate cardinal-nephew. Despite Pius VI's lineage to a noble Cesena family, his only sister had married a man from the poor Onesti family. Therefore, he commissioned a genealogist to discover (and inflate) some trace of nobility in the Onesti lineage, an endeavor which yielded only a circuitous connection to Saint Romualdo. Nephew of Pius VI, son of Marquis Honest di Cesena, was adopted, with his brother Louis, who lacked family Braschi male succession. Created Cardinal in 1781, was Grand prior of the order of Malta, prefect of Propaganda, Secretary of small and one of the promoters, in 1800, the election of Pius VII. Signature on a papal brief in excellent condition on vellum dated 1806 "Pius PP. VII". Approx. 15-1/4 x 7. Boldly signed bottom right.Picture of him is NOT included here.