Pope Urban VIII (Maffeo Barberini)

Maffeo Barberini, born in Florence in 1568, was Pope Urban VIII from 1623 to 1644. In 1633 he let the Inquisition have its way against Galileo Galilei and compel his abjuration. According to the Britannica he was the last pope to practise nepotism on a grand scale and enriched his family to an extent that astonished even the Romans; the Catholic Encyclopedia calls his excessive nepotism his greatest fault. He had cannon for the Castel Sant'Angelo cast from the bronze of the Pantheon. His nephews involved him in a useless war over Castro.

Life dates

1568-1644 (about 76 years old)

Country

Italy, Vatican City

Institutions

Papal States
Roman Inquisition

Category

Financial misconduct, Heresy trials

Level of evidence

B two independent scholarly sources · what does this mean?

Background

Course of events

1. Maffeo Barberini was born in Florence in April 1568, elected pope on 6 August 1623 and died in Rome on 29 July 1644.
   Evidence: Michael Ott, The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 15 (1912), Wikisource-Ausgabe 1913, Absatz 1

   „Maffeo Barberini, born at Florence in April, 1568; elected pope, 6 August, 1623; died at Rome, 29 July, 1644.“

Who received the assets, who profited?

1. According to the Britannica Urban was the last pope to practise nepotism on a grand scale; he enriched his family to an extent that astonished even the Romans. The Catholic Encyclopedia calls his excessive nepotism his greatest fault: three days after his coronation he made his nephew Francesco a cardinal, later also his nephew Antonio and his brother; his nephew Taddeo became Prince of Palestrina and Prefect of Rome. It is scarcely credible what riches accrued to the family as a result. Twice Urban had theologians examine whether his nephews might keep their possessions; both times they decided in the nephews' favour.
   Evidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Abschnitt Urban VIII.

   „Urban was the last pope to practise nepotism on a grand scale. He failed to found a princely house; but he enriched his family to an extent that astonished even the Romans.“

   Evidence: Michael Ott, The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 15 (1912), Wikisource-Ausgabe 1913, Abschnitt Nepotismus

   „Urban's greatest fault was his excessive nepotism. Three days after his coronation he created Francesco Barberini, his nephew, cardinal“

   Evidence: Michael Ott, The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 15 (1912), Wikisource-Ausgabe 1913, Abschnitt Nepotismus

   „A third nephew of Urban, Taddeo Barberini, was made Prince of Palestrina and Prefect of Rome. It is scarcely credible what immense riches accrued to the Barberini family through Urban's nepotism.“

   Evidence: Michael Ott, The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 15 (1912), Wikisource-Ausgabe 1913, Abschnitt Nepotismus

   „Urban twice appointed a special committee of theologians to investigate whether it was lawful for his nephews to retain their possessions, but each time the committee decided in favour of his nephews“

See also

• Person 1475-1521 · about 46 years old

  Pope Leo X (Giovanni de' Medici)

  • Germany
  • Italy
  • Vatican City
  • Financial misconduct
• Person 15 Feb 1564-8 Jan 1642 · 77 years old

  Galileo Galilei

  • Italy
  • Admission
  • Heresy trials
  • Censorship

Scholarly literature and reference works

1. Reference work
   Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911): Urban (popes), Abschnitt Urban VIII., 1 January 1911. Original · Archive copy (retrieved 30 Oct 2026)
2. Reference work
   Michael Ott, The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 15 (1912), Wikisource-Ausgabe 1913: Pope Urban VIII, 1 January 1913. Original · Archive copy (retrieved 31 Oct 2026)

Last changed on 31 October 2026. Is something missing or wrong? Suggest an addition or correction.