fwo_536661 - COMTAT-VENAISSIN - AVIGNON - URBAIN VIII (Maffeo Barberini) Liard N.D. Avignon

COMTAT-VENAISSIN - AVIGNON - URBAN VIII (Maffeo Barberini)

(6/08/1623-29/07/1644)

Maffeo Barberini was born in Florence in 1568. Paul V raised him to the rank of cardinal. He was elected pope at the age of fifty-five on August 6, 1623 and was consecrated on September 29, 1623 as Urban VIII. In 1630, he gave the title of eminence to the cardinals and ecclesiastical electors of the Holy Empire. He opposed the policy of Louis XIII and Richelieu during the Thirty Years War. They had in fact sided with the King of Sweden, Gustave II Adolphe, who was one of the great defenders of the Reformation. In 1631, the Duchy of Urbino was united with the domains of the Church. He died in Rome on July 29, 1644.