One voting bloc was made up of twelve cardinals who had been appointed by Benedict XIII, but this group had no clear leader.

There were also a Savoyard contingent representing Victor Amadeus II of Savoy, King of Sardinia; and the Zelanti, who opposed all secular interference.

From about 1600 to the early 20th century, certain Catholic monarchs claimed the jus exclusivae (right of exclusion), i.e. to veto a candidate for the papacy, exercised through a crown-cardinal.

[4][5][6] During the conclave of 1700 Imperiali was part of a group of cardinals who were trying to resist the pressure applied by foreign governments aiming to influence papal elections.

In 1720 he had attempted to influence the Republic of Genoa to arrest Cardinal Giulio Alberoni, an erstwhile court favorite made a duke and grandee of Spain.

[citation needed] The Emperor had sent notification of his opposition to Cardinal Pietro Marcellino Corradini, who appeared to be leading with thirty votes.

The tension was high, both inside and outside the Conclave, as many interpreted the earthquakes as evidence of God's displeasure at the failure of the Cardinals to elect a Pope.