Maffeo Barberini As Pope Urban VIII
The Barberini acquired great wealth and influence when Cardinal Maffeo Barberini was elected to the papal throne in 1623, taking the name Pope Urban VIII. He elevated a brother Antonio Marcello Barberini (Antonio the Elder) and two nephews, Francesco Barberini and Antonio Barberini, to the cardinalate, made another brother Duke of Monterotondo, and gave a third nephew, Taddeo Barberini, the principality of Palestrina. Taddeo was also made leader of the papal army.
The ecclesiastical, diplomatic and cultural accomplishments of Urban's reign are overshadowed by the nepotism the pope practised. Urban's contemporary, John Bargrave, wrote :
| “ | Upon his elevation, his kindred flew from Florence to Rome like so many bees (which are the Barberini's arms), to suck the honey of the Church, which they did excessively. | ” |
Likewise, the disastrous War of Castro, a pyrrhic victory with which the pontificate concluded, sullied Urban's reputation and the popularity of those family members who survived him.
The often repeated criticism of the pope, for removing ancient bronze beams from the portico of the Pantheon to procure bronze for the baldachin of St. Peter's Basilica and for the papal cannon foundry. An anonymous critic punningly wrote:
| “ | Quod non fecerunt barbari, fecerunt Barberini | ” |
This translates to "What the barbarians did not do, the Barberini did". The pope erected a tablet proudly proclaiming his re-use of these hidden beams for the glory and defense of the church.
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