Pope Urban VIII (baptised 5 April 1568 – 29 July 1644), born Maffeo Barberini, was pope from 1623 to 1644. He was the last pope to expand the papal territory by force of arms, and was a prominent patron of the arts and reformer of Church missions. He practiced nepotism on a grand scale, enriching various members of his family. Among the cardinals he created were his brother Antonio Marcello Barberini and his nephews Francesco and Antonio Barberini. The massive debts incurred during his papacy greatly weakened his successors. He was also involved in a controversy with Galileo and his theory on heliocentrism.
- In the 1632 series: In 1634: The Galileo Affair, he was saved from assassination by a devout Calvinist and anti-papist accompanying some Grantville citizens. In 1635: The Cannon Law he was rescued by Grantvillers from an attempt to overthrow him.
- The various Cardinals Barberini played important roles as themselves in the South and South-west Europe thread that began with the Andrew Dennis tale "Between the Armies" (Ring of Fire), and continued in 1634: The Galileo Affair and 1635: The Cannon Law.
Read more about this topic: List Of 1632 Characters
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