Antonio Barberini
A cardinal who wielded art, armies, and influence to turn his family into the defining powerhouse of Baroque Rome.
1607–1671 (age 64)·Italian Cardinal·Birthday: August 5
Biography
Born into a Florentine family of modest means, Antonio Barberini’s life was catapulted into the stratosphere when his uncle, Maffeo Barberini, became Pope Urban VIII. Quickly elevated to the rank of cardinal, Antonio became a central figure in the papal court, a role he embraced with a blend of political cunning and lavish taste. He was not merely a churchman; he commanded papal troops during the War of Castro, demonstrating a martial side rare among princes of the Church. His true legacy, however, was written in stone and paint. Alongside his brothers, he became one of the great patrons of the Baroque era, bankrolling artists like Pietro da Cortona and architects who transformed Rome with the exuberant Palazzo Barberini and other monuments. His deep alliance with France, symbolized by his position as Archbishop of Reims, made him a pivotal, sometimes controversial, kingmaker in the conclaves that shaped the papacy for decades.
#1 When Antonio Was Born
The biggest hits of 1607
Antonio's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1607Born
1612Started school
1620Became a teenager
1623Could drive
1625Could vote
1628Turned 21
1637Turned 30
1647Turned 40
1657Turned 50
1667Turned 60
1671Died at 64
Key Achievements
- Served as Archbishop of Reims from 1657, cementing a powerful political alliance between the Papacy and France.
- Commanded papal forces as Captain-General of the Church during the War of Castro in 1641.
- Was a principal patron of the arts, funding the construction and decoration of the monumental Palazzo Barberini in Rome.
- Played a decisive role in multiple papal conclaves, using his influence to sway the election of popes.
Did You Know?
He was nicknamed 'Antonio the Younger' to distinguish him from his uncle, Antonio Marcello Barberini, who was also a cardinal.
He was a member of the same Barberini family that produced the bees, their famous heraldic symbol, which adorn many Roman fountains and buildings.
His pro-French political maneuvers eventually led to his temporary exile from Rome after the death of his uncle, Pope Urban VIII.
“Art is the true treasure of the Church, and I shall be its most devoted patron.”
