Taddeo Barberini
Encyclopedia
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
. Thanks to their uncle's famous nepotism
, the brothers shaped 17th century Italian politics, religion, art, music and architecture.
and Costanza Magalotti. He was the nephew of brothers cardinal
Maffeo Barberini (later Pope Urban VIII
) and Antonio Marcello Barberini
(later also Cardinal) and of Lorenzo Magalotti. He was the brother of Francesco Barberini
and Antonio Barberini
, both of whom became Cardinals when their uncle became pope.
and Taddeo Barberini's fortunes improved considerably. Pope Urban's nepotism
became legendary and later 17th century popes vowed to be different (though several were not). Almost immediately, Barberini was appointed Gonfalonier of the Church
; Commander of the Papal Army, though during later conflicts it was his brother Cardinal Antonio Barberini who commanded papal and mercenary
troops in the field.
On 14 October 1627 Barberini married Anna Colonna
, daughter of Filippo I Colonna
, at a lavish service presided over by the pope himself at the Castel Gandolfo
. The agreement drawn up between the Barberini and Colonna
stipulated a dowry
worth some 180,000 scudi which included cash and credit as well as a Colonna castle in Anticoli
. It is thought the transfer of the Palestrina
comune
between the two families was, if indirectly, tied to the agreement. Upon transfer, the commune became a fief of the Barberini which allowed the family to appoint one of its number as Prince of Palestrina, a title which was passed from one Barberini patriarch to another while the comune remained among family possessions. Taddeo was given the title and it later passed to his son Maffeo Barberini.
Carlo Barberini renounced his right to inherit his father's titles (as he would have done as eldest son) to become a Cardinal. Barberini's hereditary titles therefore passed to his second son, Maffeo.
As Prince of Palestrina
, Barberini worked to improve local buildings and establish new services, even if many of them were primarily self-serving. He rebuilt the Palazzo Barberini (which still houses the Nile mosaic of Palestrina
) and his son Maffeo later commissioned a new church nearby. Barberini even tried to build a small private casino
which operated for a few years during his administration but closed when future Princes had not interest in gambling.
Barberini's father had used his new found wealth to purchase a number of comunes including Corese, Montemaggiore, Monteflavio
and Monterotondo
. The last of these he had his brother, the pope, raise to a Duchy
and he was appointed Duke of Monterotondo. It seems likely that Barberini would have inherited his father's title. If he did, there are no records to suggest he ever formally used the title; the majority of records only refer to him as Prince of Palestrina.
When Francesco Maria II della Rovere
died in 1631 and the position became vacant, Pope Urban further honoured his nephew, naming him Governor of the Borgo
and Prefect of Rome
. Barberini's investiture as Prefect was celebrated with much pomp and extravagance.
, Duke of Parma and Piacenza
, came to Rome and during his visit managed to insult Barberini's cardinal brothers. Pope Urban responded by banning grain shipments from Farnese controlled areas. When the Farnese were then unable to pay their debts the Pope sent debt collectors. Finally the Pope troops to occupy Castro. The Pope's forces were led by Taddeo Barberini, his brother Antonio and mercenary
field commander Luigi Mattei
.
Castro fell without significant resistance and the victory was celebrated in song by Barberini
family composer, Marco Marazzoli
. But the victory was short lived and thereafter papal troops suffered a series of decisive losses. Pope Urban was forced to accept defeat and signed a peace treaty
with the Farnese Dukes in an attempt to prevent them from marching on Rome itself.
elected Pope Innocent X
of the Pamphili family
. At the Papal conclave of 1644
, Taddeo's cardinal brothers engineered a deal to ensure the safety of their family's fortunes. But the new Pope refused to honour the deal and launched an investigation into alleged financial abuses during the First War of Castro. Taddeo Barberini and his brothers were forced into exile and fled to Paris
in 1646 where they were supported by Cardinal Jules Mazarin. Taddeo's wife Anna Colonna appealed to Pope Innocent urging him to allow the Barberini to keep their property. Innocent agreed but the Barberini remained in exile for several more years.
Taddeo Barberini died in 1647 in exile without ever seeing Rome
again.
and Maffeo Barberini. Carlo was elevated to cardinal by Pope Innocent X and Maffeo married a grand-niece of Pope Innocent X, Olimpia Giustiniani
, and in turn had a son who was elevated to cardinal, Francesco Barberini (Junior)
. Taddeo's daughter, Lucrezia Barberini
, married Francesco I d'Este, Duke of Modena.
Barberini's secretary, Corinzio Benicampi, accompanied the young Carlo Maratta
to Rome in 1636. The well-known Baroque artist later received one of his first commissions, 'The Glory of Saints', from Barberini. The painting was finished in 1645, two years before Barberini's death.
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...
who became 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 Gonfalonier of the Church
Gonfalonier of the Church
The Gonfalonier of the Church or Papal Gonfalonier was a military and political office of the Papal States. Originating from the use of the Papal banner during combat, the office later became largely ceremonial and political...
; commander of the Papal Army. He was a nephew of 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...
and 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...
. Thanks to their uncle's famous nepotism
Nepotism
Nepotism is favoritism granted to relatives regardless of merit. The word nepotism is from the Latin word nepos, nepotis , from which modern Romanian nepot and Italian nipote, "nephew" or "grandchild" are also descended....
, the brothers shaped 17th century Italian politics, religion, art, music and architecture.
Biography
Barberini was born in 1603, the son of Carlo BarberiniCarlo 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 Costanza Magalotti. He was the nephew of brothers 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...
Maffeo Barberini (later 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...
) and Antonio Marcello Barberini
Antonio Marcello Barberini
Antonio Marcello Barberini was an Italian cardinal and the younger brother of Maffeo Barberini, later Pope Urban VIII. He is sometimes referred to as Antonio the Elder to distinguish him from his nephew Antonio Barberini.Born Marcello Barberini in Florence into the Barberini family, he entered the...
(later also Cardinal) and of Lorenzo Magalotti. He was the brother of 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...
, both of whom became Cardinals when their uncle became pope.
Pontificate of Pope Urban VIII
In 1623, Maffeo Barberini was elected as Pope Urban VIIIPope 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...
and Taddeo Barberini's fortunes improved considerably. Pope Urban's nepotism
Nepotism
Nepotism is favoritism granted to relatives regardless of merit. The word nepotism is from the Latin word nepos, nepotis , from which modern Romanian nepot and Italian nipote, "nephew" or "grandchild" are also descended....
became legendary and later 17th century popes vowed to be different (though several were not). Almost immediately, Barberini was appointed Gonfalonier of the Church
Gonfalonier of the Church
The Gonfalonier of the Church or Papal Gonfalonier was a military and political office of the Papal States. Originating from the use of the Papal banner during combat, the office later became largely ceremonial and political...
; Commander of the Papal Army, though during later conflicts it was his brother Cardinal Antonio Barberini who commanded papal and mercenary
Mercenary
A mercenary, is a person who takes part in an armed conflict based on the promise of material compensation rather than having a direct interest in, or a legal obligation to, the conflict itself. A non-conscript professional member of a regular army is not considered to be a mercenary although he...
troops in the field.
On 14 October 1627 Barberini married 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...
, daughter of 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...
, at a lavish service presided over by the pope himself at the Castel Gandolfo
Castel Gandolfo
Castel Gandolfo is a small Italian town or comune in Lazio that occupies a height overlooking Lake Albano about 15 miles south-east of Rome, on the Alban Hills. It is best known as the summer residence of the Pope. It is an Italian town with the population of 8834...
. The agreement drawn up between the Barberini and Colonna
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...
stipulated a dowry
Dowry
A dowry is the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings forth to the marriage. It contrasts with bride price, which is paid to the bride's parents, and dower, which is property settled on the bride herself by the groom at the time of marriage. The same culture may simultaneously practice both...
worth some 180,000 scudi which included cash and credit as well as a Colonna castle in Anticoli
Anticoli Corrado
Anticoli Corrado is a comune in the Province of Rome in the Italian region Latium, located about 40 km northeast of Rome...
. It is thought the transfer of the Palestrina
Palestrina
Palestrina is an ancient city and comune with a population of about 18,000, in Lazio, c. 35 km east of Rome...
comune
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
between the two families was, if indirectly, tied to the agreement. Upon transfer, the commune became a fief of the Barberini which allowed the family to appoint one of its number as Prince of Palestrina, a title which was passed from one Barberini patriarch to another while the comune remained among family possessions. Taddeo was given the title and it later passed to his son Maffeo Barberini.
Carlo Barberini renounced his right to inherit his father's titles (as he would have done as eldest son) to become a Cardinal. Barberini's hereditary titles therefore passed to his second son, Maffeo.
As 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...
, Barberini worked to improve local buildings and establish new services, even if many of them were primarily self-serving. He rebuilt the Palazzo Barberini (which still houses the Nile mosaic of Palestrina
Nile mosaic of Palestrina
thumb|300 px|The Nile Mosaic of Palestrina.The Nile mosaic of Palestrina is a late Hellenistic floor mosaic depicting the Nile in its passage from Ethiopia to the Mediterranean...
) and his son Maffeo later commissioned a new church nearby. Barberini even tried to build a small private casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
which operated for a few years during his administration but closed when future Princes had not interest in gambling.
Barberini's father had used his new found wealth to purchase a number of comunes including Corese, Montemaggiore, Monteflavio
Monteflavio
Monteflavio is a comune in the Province of Rome in the Italian region Latium, located about 35 km northeast of Rome.Monteflavio borders the following municipalities: Licenza, Montorio Romano, Moricone, Palombara Sabina, San Polo dei Cavalieri, Scandriglia.- Festival:During the "Polenta"...
and Monterotondo
Monterotondo
-History:According to some historians, Monterotondo is the heir of ancient Sabine town of Eretum, although the modern settlement appeared in the 10th-11th centuries in a different location...
. The last of these he had his brother, the pope, raise to a Duchy
Duchy
A duchy is a territory, fief, or domain ruled by a duke or duchess.Some duchies were sovereign in areas that would become unified realms only during the Modern era . In contrast, others were subordinate districts of those kingdoms that unified either partially or completely during the Medieval era...
and he was appointed Duke of Monterotondo. It seems likely that Barberini would have inherited his father's title. If he did, there are no records to suggest he ever formally used the title; the majority of records only refer to him as Prince of Palestrina.
When Francesco Maria II della Rovere
Francesco Maria II della Rovere
Francesco Maria II della Rovere was the last Duke of Urbino.- Biography :Born at Pesaro, Francesco Maria was the son of Guidobaldo II della Rovere, Duke of Urbino, Count of Montefeltro and Vittoria Farnese, Princess of Parma...
died in 1631 and the position became vacant, Pope Urban further honoured his nephew, naming him Governor of the Borgo
Borgo (rione of Rome)
Borgo , is the 14th historic district of Rome, Italy. It lies on the west bank of the Tiber, and has a trapezoidal shape. Its coat of arms shows a lion , lying in front of three mounts and a star...
and Prefect of Rome
Prefect
Prefect is a magisterial title of varying definition....
. Barberini's investiture as Prefect was celebrated with much pomp and extravagance.
First War of Castro
In 1639 Odoardo FarneseOdoardo Farnese
Odoardo Farnese was Duke of Parma and Piacenza from 1622 to 1646.-Biography:Odoardo was the sole legitimate son of Ranuccio I Farnese and Margherita Aldobrandini...
, Duke of Parma and Piacenza
Piacenza
Piacenza is a city and comune in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Piacenza...
, came to Rome and during his visit managed to insult Barberini's cardinal brothers. Pope Urban responded by banning grain shipments from Farnese controlled areas. When the Farnese were then unable to pay their debts the Pope sent debt collectors. Finally the Pope troops to occupy Castro. The Pope's forces were led by Taddeo Barberini, his brother Antonio and mercenary
Mercenary
A mercenary, is a person who takes part in an armed conflict based on the promise of material compensation rather than having a direct interest in, or a legal obligation to, the conflict itself. A non-conscript professional member of a regular army is not considered to be a mercenary although he...
field commander Luigi Mattei
Luigi Mattei
Luigi Mattei was an Italian military General and Marquis de Belmonte. During the 17th century he commanded troops loyal to the papal armies of Barberini Pope Urban VIII and Pamphili Pope Innocent X during the Wars of Castro.-Biography:...
.
Castro fell without significant resistance and the victory was celebrated in song 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...
family composer, Marco Marazzoli
Marco Marazzoli
Marco Marazzoli was an Italian priest and composer.-Early life:Born at Parma, Marazzoli received early training as a priest, and was ordained around 1625. He moved to Rome in 1626, and entered the service of Cardinal Antonio Barberini...
. But the victory was short lived and thereafter papal troops suffered a series of decisive losses. Pope Urban was forced to accept defeat and signed a peace treaty
Peace treaty
A peace treaty is an agreement between two or more hostile parties, usually countries or governments, that formally ends a state of war between the parties...
with the Farnese Dukes in an attempt to prevent them from marching on Rome itself.
Exile and death
In 1644, Barberini's uncle Pope Urban VIII died and the College of CardinalsCollege of Cardinals
The College of Cardinals is the body of all cardinals of the Catholic Church.A function of the college is to advise the pope about church matters when he summons them to an ordinary consistory. It also convenes on the death or abdication of a pope as a papal conclave to elect a successor...
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...
of the Pamphili family
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 ....
. At 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 :...
, Taddeo's cardinal brothers engineered a deal to ensure the safety of their family's fortunes. But the new Pope refused to honour the deal and launched an investigation into alleged financial abuses during the First War of Castro. Taddeo Barberini and his brothers were forced into exile and fled to 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...
in 1646 where they were supported by Cardinal Jules Mazarin. Taddeo's wife Anna Colonna appealed to Pope Innocent urging him to allow the Barberini to keep their property. Innocent agreed but the Barberini remained in exile for several more years.
Taddeo Barberini died in 1647 in exile without ever seeing Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
again.
Issue
Barberini and Colonna had five children:- Lucrezia BarberiniLucrezia BarberiniLucrezia 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:...
(1628–1699) who married Francesco I d'Este, Duke of Modena - Camilla Barberini (1629–1631) who died in infancy
- Cardinal Carlo BarberiniCarlo Barberinithumb|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...
(1630–1704) - Maffeo Barberini (1631–1685) future Prince of PalestrinaPalestrinaPalestrina is an ancient city and comune with a population of about 18,000, in Lazio, c. 35 km east of Rome...
- Niccolò Maria Barberini (1635–1699)
Legacy
The Barberini family was reconciled with the papacy, at least in part, through Taddeo's two sons, Carlo BarberiniCarlo 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 Maffeo Barberini. Carlo was elevated to cardinal by Pope Innocent X and Maffeo married a grand-niece of Pope Innocent X, Olimpia Giustiniani
Olimpia Giustiniani
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 in turn had a son who was elevated to cardinal, Francesco Barberini (Junior)
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:...
. Taddeo's daughter, 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:...
, married Francesco I d'Este, Duke of Modena.
Barberini's secretary, Corinzio Benicampi, accompanied the young Carlo Maratta
Carlo Maratta
Carlo Maratta or Maratti was an Italian painter, active mostly in Rome, and known principally for his classicizing paintings executed in a Late Baroque Classical manner. Although he is part of the classical tradition stemming from Raphael, he was not exempt from the influence of Baroque painting...
to Rome in 1636. The well-known Baroque artist later received one of his first commissions, 'The Glory of Saints', from Barberini. The painting was finished in 1645, two years before Barberini's death.