BARBERINI, blirffiA-re'416. The name of a celebrated Italian family, prominent in connec tion with the history of the Papacy in the Seventeenth Century. The Barberini settled in Florence in the Eleventh Century, and became prominent in various ways. Francesco Barberini, a contemporary of Dante, was a jurist and poet. Ratl'aelle Barberini was an engineer, and was employed by the Duke of Alva in a diplomatic capacity. The family became powerful through MatTeo Barberini, who was elected Pope in 1623 as Urban V111. He appointed his brother Carlo commander of the Papal forces; another brother, Antonio, was cardinal and Papal Librarian. Francesco, a son of Carlo, was also cardinal, and is known as the founder of the Barberini Library and the builder of the Barberini Palace at Rome. He was a man of learning, and translated Marcus Aurelius. Taddeo, a brother of Francesco, be came commander of the Papal forces, was ap pointed prefect of Rome, and received the prin cipality of Palestrina. He attempted to wrest
Castro from the Farnese family of Parma. An tonio, a brother of the two preceding, likewise a cardinal, was invested with the Duchy of Urbino. The wealth and power of the Barberini excited the jealousy of other Italian nobles, and when Urban's successor, Innocent X.,aseended the Papal throne, lie called the nephews of Urban to account for the mismanagement of their various offices. They were forced to flee, and took refuge in France. Later the family regained their influence in Rome. The principality of Palestrina remained in pos session of the ('olonna branch of the Barbcrini family until 1389. when the male line became extinct. Consult: Reumont, Beitraye zur itali rnischen Geschichte, vol. v. (Berlin, 1867) Thomas, Francesco da Barberini (Paris, 1383).