Francesco Barberini als Politiker

Abstract

Abstract Francesco Barberini, the cardinal nephew of Pope Urban VIII (1623–1644), is known to researchers primarily as a patron of the arts. However, he was a member of numerous dicasteries in the Roman Curia and held the office of head of the papal secretariat of state throughout the pontificate. In the early years he hardly appeared in this function. From 1631 onwards, testimonies of his involvement in the correspondence of the office become more frequent in the archives and provide information about his desire to play an active role in papal politics. Detailed autograph minutes to letters sent in cipher to the nuncios in Vienna deal with topics such as the mostly futile request of the imperials for subsidies, the rejection of criticism of the papal policy of neutrality and the improvement of relations between the Holy See and the imperial court. In addition, the attempt to influence the political convictions of members of religious orders working in Vienna and, in particular, the need to win the emperor’s approval for the precedence of the prefect of Rome before the imperial envoy play a noticeable role.