1669–1670 Conclave
elected Clement X21 December 1669 – 29 April 1670 · The early modern conclaves · Apostolic Palace, Papal States
The 1669–70 papal conclave (21 December – 29 April) was convened on the death of Pope Clement IX and ended with the election of Cardinal Emilio Altieri as Pope Clement X. The election saw deference within the College of Cardinals to Louis XIV of France, and a freeing of the cardinals loyal to Spain to vote according to their conscience.
Elected pope
Clement X
Emilio Altieri
Succeeded
Clement IX
Duration
4 months
Cardinal electors
—
locked in under conclave rules
Ballot-by-ballot tallies are destroyed by design — the paper is burned in the stove whose smoke announces the result — so this entry records what the Church documents: the dates, the electors, the number of ballots where known, and the man who walked out onto the balcony.