Girolamo Colonna
Encyclopedia
Girolamo Colonna was an Italian
Cardinal
of the Roman Catholic Church
and member of the noble Colonna family
.
into the Colonna family
and his extended family included members of various 17th century Italian royal and noble houses. His father was Filippo I Colonna
, Prince of Paliano and his mother was Lucrezia Tomacelli. His sister, Anna Colonna
, married Taddeo Barberini
, brother of cardinals Francesco Barberini
and Antonio Barberini
(Antonio the Younger).
Colonna was uncle to the children of his sister and brother-in-law, Maffeo Barberini, Cardinal Carlo Barberini
and Lucrezia Barberini
who married Francesco I d'Este, Duke of Modena.
He was elevated to cardinal on 30 August 1627 by Barberini
Pope Urban VIII
, the uncle of his brother-in-law Taddeo.
After the death of Pope Urban, he participated in the Papal conclave of 1644
that elected Pope Innocent X
. He was Archpriest of the patriarchal Lateran basilica and Legate a latere for the opening and closing of the Holy Door
in the patriarchal Lateran basilica in the Holy Year of 1650. He took part in the conclave of 1655 that elected Pope Alexander VII
.
Pope Innocent X appointed him as Ambassador of the Holy See
to Spain
. He was called to Spain by King Philip IV
and appointed as a counselor on state and military affairs. He celebrated the wedding between Emperor Leopold I and Infanta Margarita of Spain (daughter of Philip IV) and as legate accompanied her to Germany.
He was accompanied to Spain by Jules Mazarin (then-17-years-old; later elevated to Cardinal himself). Mazarin later assisted Colonna's brother-in-law Taddeo and his brothers when they went into exile during the short schism between the Barberini
and the Pamphili
.
King Philip IV died in 1665 and Colonna assisted in the provision of last rites
. At the death of the King, Colonna returned to his native Italy but died on 4 September 1666 at the Dominican convent in Finale Marina, near Genoa
.
Letters from Milan and Genoa, dated 15 January 1666, verified the news. After six years, his remains were moved to Rome and buried in the chapel of his family in the patriarchal Lateran basilica.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
Cardinal
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
and member of the noble Colonna family
Colonna family
The Colonna family is an Italian noble family; it was powerful in medieval and Renaissance Rome, supplying one Pope and many other Church and political leaders...
.
Biography
Colonna was born at OrsognaOrsogna
Orsogna is a comune and town in the province of Chieti in the Abruzzo region of Italy....
into the Colonna family
Colonna family
The Colonna family is an Italian noble family; it was powerful in medieval and Renaissance Rome, supplying one Pope and many other Church and political leaders...
and his extended family included members of various 17th century Italian royal and noble houses. His father was Filippo I Colonna
Filippo I Colonna
Filippo Colonna , Prince of Paliano, was an Italian nobleman, who was the head of the Colonna family of Rome and the hereditary Gran Connestabile at the court of Naples.-Biography:He was born at Rome...
, Prince of Paliano and his mother was Lucrezia Tomacelli. His sister, Anna Colonna
Anna Colonna
Anna Colonna was an Italian noblewoman of the Colonna and Barberini families and Princess of Paliano-Biography:Colonna was born in 1601; the daughter of Filippo Colonna, Prince of Paliano and Lucrezia Tomacelli, dei signori di Galatro, and was thus Princess of Paliano.On 14 October 1627, at age...
, married Taddeo Barberini
Taddeo Barberini
Taddeo Barberini was an Italian nobleman of the House of Barberini who became Prince of Palestrina and Gonfalonier of the Church; commander of the Papal Army. He was a nephew of Pope Urban VIII and brother of Cardinals Francesco Barberini and Antonio Barberini...
, brother of cardinals Francesco Barberini
Francesco Barberini (seniore)
Francesco Barberini was an Italian Catholic Cardinal. The nephew of Pope Urban VIII , he benefited immensely from the nepotism practiced by his uncle...
and Antonio Barberini
Antonio Barberini
Antonio Barberini was an Italian Catholic cardinal, Archbishop of Reims, military leader, patron of the arts and a prominent member of the House of Barberini. As one of the cardinal-nephews of Pope Urban VIII and a supporter of France, he played a significant role at a number of the papal...
(Antonio the Younger).
Colonna was uncle to the children of his sister and brother-in-law, Maffeo Barberini, Cardinal Carlo Barberini
Carlo Barberini
thumb|Cardinal Carlo Barberini .Carlo Barberini was an Italian Catholic cardinal and member of the Barberini family. He was the grand-nephew of Maffeo Barberini and son of Taddeo Barberini .-Biography:Carlo Barberini was born 1 June 1630 in Rome...
and Lucrezia Barberini
Lucrezia Barberini
Lucrezia Barberini was an Italian noblewoman and, by marriage, Duchess of Modena. Born into the Barberini family, she was the last wife of Francesco I d'Este, Duke of Modena.-Biography:...
who married Francesco I d'Este, Duke of Modena.
He was elevated to cardinal on 30 August 1627 by Barberini
Barberini
The Barberini are a family of the Italian nobility that rose to prominence in 17th century Rome. Their influence peaked with the election of Cardinal Maffeo Barberini to the papal throne in 1623, as Pope Urban VIII...
Pope Urban VIII
Pope Urban VIII
Pope Urban VIII , born Maffeo Barberini, was pope from 1623 to 1644. He was the last pope to expand the papal territory by force of arms, and was a prominent patron of the arts and reformer of Church missions...
, the uncle of his brother-in-law Taddeo.
After the death of Pope Urban, he participated in the Papal conclave of 1644
Papal conclave, 1644
The papal conclave of 1644 was the papal conclave of Cardinals called on the death of Pope Urban VIII. It lasted from 9 August to 15 September 1644 and eventually chose Giovanni Battista Pamphili, who took office as Pope Innocent X.- Urban's influence :...
that elected Pope Innocent X
Pope Innocent X
Pope Innocent X , born Giovanni Battista Pamphilj , was Pope from 1644 to 1655. Born in Rome of a family from Gubbio in Umbria who had come to Rome during the pontificate of Pope Innocent IX, he graduated from the Collegio Romano and followed a conventional cursus honorum, following his uncle...
. He was Archpriest of the patriarchal Lateran basilica and Legate a latere for the opening and closing of the Holy Door
Holy door
Each of the four papal basilicas in Rome has a Holy door . The doors are normally sealed shut from the inside so that they cannot be opened...
in the patriarchal Lateran basilica in the Holy Year of 1650. He took part in the conclave of 1655 that elected Pope Alexander VII
Pope Alexander VII
Pope Alexander VII , born Fabio Chigi, was Pope from 7 April 1655, until his death.- Early life :Born in Siena, a member of the illustrious banking family of Chigi and a great-nephew of Pope Paul V , he was privately tutored and eventually received doctorates of philosophy, law, and theology from...
.
Pope Innocent X appointed him as Ambassador of the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. He was called to Spain by King Philip IV
Philip IV of Spain
Philip IV was King of Spain between 1621 and 1665, sovereign of the Spanish Netherlands, and King of Portugal until 1640...
and appointed as a counselor on state and military affairs. He celebrated the wedding between Emperor Leopold I and Infanta Margarita of Spain (daughter of Philip IV) and as legate accompanied her to Germany.
He was accompanied to Spain by Jules Mazarin (then-17-years-old; later elevated to Cardinal himself). Mazarin later assisted Colonna's brother-in-law Taddeo and his brothers when they went into exile during the short schism between the Barberini
Barberini
The Barberini are a family of the Italian nobility that rose to prominence in 17th century Rome. Their influence peaked with the election of Cardinal Maffeo Barberini to the papal throne in 1623, as Pope Urban VIII...
and the Pamphili
Pamphili
The Pamphili are one of the papal families deeply entrenched in Roman Catholic Church, Roman and Italian politics of the 16th and 17th centuries ....
.
King Philip IV died in 1665 and Colonna assisted in the provision of last rites
Last Rites
The Last Rites are the very last prayers and ministrations given to many Christians before death. The last rites go by various names and include different practices in different Christian traditions...
. At the death of the King, Colonna returned to his native Italy but died on 4 September 1666 at the Dominican convent in Finale Marina, near Genoa
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
.
Letters from Milan and Genoa, dated 15 January 1666, verified the news. After six years, his remains were moved to Rome and buried in the chapel of his family in the patriarchal Lateran basilica.