INNOCENT X., CARDINAL GIOVANNI BATTISTA Tatum, was elected in September 1644, after the death of Urban VIII. He was then seventy-three years of age, and is said to have been in great measure ruled by his sister-in-law Donna Olimpia Maidalchini Panfili, who appears to have been an unprincipled woman, very fond of money, and of aggrandising her relatives. Innocent however displayed in several instances much firmness, justice and prudence, and a wish to protect the humble and poor against the oppressions of the great. He diminished the taxes, and at the same time embellished Rome. The people of Fermo on the Adriatic revolted against their governor, being excited by the local nobility and landholders, who were irritated against him for having by an edict of annona kept the price of corn low ; the governor and other official persons were murdered. Inno cent sent a commissioner with troops, and the guilty, without dia. tinction of rank, were punished, some being executed, and others sent to the galleys. The district of Castro and Ronciglioue, near
Rome, was still in possession of the Farnese dukes of Parma, not withatanding the efforts of Urban VIII. to wrest it from them. Disputes about jurisdiction were continually taking place between the officers of the duke and those of the pope. Innocent having con secrated a new bishop of Castro who was not acceptable to the duke, the latter forbade him entering his territories, and as the bishop elect persisted, he was murdered on the road. The pope imme diately sent troops to attack Castro, which being taken, he ordered the town to be razed to the foundations, and a pillar erected on the site, with the inscription "Qui fh Castro." The episcopal see was removed to Acquapendente, and the duchy was reunited to the papal state. Innocent died in 1655, and was succeeded by Alexander VII.