Olimpia Giustiniani
Encyclopedia
Olimpia Giustiniani was an Italian noblewoman of the houses of Giustiniani
and Barberini
. She was the grand-daughter of Olimpia Maidalchini
, niece of Pope Innocent X
and wife of Maffeo Barberini, Prince of Palestrina
.
and Pamphili
families.
She was the grand-niece of Pope Innocent X (Giovanni Battista Pamphili of the Pamphili
family) who was the brother-in-law of Olimpia Maidalchini
; Giustiniani's maternal grandmother.
After the Wars of Castro
, Pope Innocent X
had instigated an investigation into the Barberini
family and a number of them had been forced into exile in Paris
. But several years later, Giustiniani's grandmother Olimpia Maidalchini realised her influence over the pope was waning. She set out to engineer a return of the Barberini to Rome, thus currying favour with a number of their family cardinals
. The Barberini, too, were keen to return to Rome and were enthusiastic about Maidalchini's plan.
In 1653, Maidalchini decided that her 12-year-old grand-daughter, Olimpia Giustiniani, would be a perfect match for 22-year-old Maffeo Barberini, son of Taddeo Barberini
, future Prince of Palestrina
and heir to the Barberini estate.
They had five children including Francesco Barberini
and Urbano Barberini. By marriage she became sister-in-law to both Cardinal Carlo Barberini
and Lucrezia Barberini
who married Francesco I d'Este, Duke of Modena.
Giustiniani
Giustiniani is the name of a prominent Italian family which originally belonged to Venice, but also established itself subsequently in Genoa, and at various times had representatives in Naples, Corsica and in the islands of the Archipelago, where they had been the last Genoese rulers of the Aegean...
and 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...
. She was the grand-daughter of Olimpia Maidalchini
Olimpia Maidalchini
Olimpia Maidalchini , also spelled Olympia and known as Donna Olimpia, was the sister-in-law of Pope Innocent X .- Early life :...
, niece of 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...
and wife of Maffeo Barberini, Prince of Palestrina
Palestrina
Palestrina is an ancient city and comune with a population of about 18,000, in Lazio, c. 35 km east of Rome...
.
Biography
Guistiniani was born 18 May 1641 at the Palazzo Pamphili to Andrea Giustiniani and Anna Maria Flaminia Pamphili, of the powerful GiustinianiGiustiniani
Giustiniani is the name of a prominent Italian family which originally belonged to Venice, but also established itself subsequently in Genoa, and at various times had representatives in Naples, Corsica and in the islands of the Archipelago, where they had been the last Genoese rulers of the Aegean...
and 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 ....
families.
She was the grand-niece of Pope Innocent X (Giovanni Battista Pamphili of 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 ....
family) who was the brother-in-law of Olimpia Maidalchini
Olimpia Maidalchini
Olimpia Maidalchini , also spelled Olympia and known as Donna Olimpia, was the sister-in-law of Pope Innocent X .- Early life :...
; Giustiniani's maternal grandmother.
After the Wars of Castro
Wars of Castro
The Wars of Castro is a term referring to a series of events in the mid-17th century revolving around the ancient city of Castro , which eventually resulted in the city's destruction on 2 September 1649...
, 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...
had instigated an investigation into 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...
family and a number of them had been forced into exile in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. But several years later, Giustiniani's grandmother Olimpia Maidalchini realised her influence over the pope was waning. She set out to engineer a return of the Barberini to Rome, thus currying favour with a number of their family cardinals
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...
. The Barberini, too, were keen to return to Rome and were enthusiastic about Maidalchini's plan.
In 1653, Maidalchini decided that her 12-year-old grand-daughter, Olimpia Giustiniani, would be a perfect match for 22-year-old Maffeo Barberini, son of 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...
, future Prince of Palestrina
Palestrina
Palestrina is an ancient city and comune with a population of about 18,000, in Lazio, c. 35 km east of Rome...
and heir to the Barberini estate.
They had five children including Francesco Barberini
Francesco Barberini (iuniore)
thumb|Francesco BarberiniFrancesco Barberini was an Italian Cardinal of the family of Pope Urban VIII and of the Princes of Palestrina.-Biography:...
and Urbano Barberini. By marriage she became sister-in-law to both 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.