Girolamo Mattei (1606 - 1676) was an Italian nobleman of the

House of Mattei 200px, Cortile Mattei di Giove The House of Mattei was one of the most powerful noble families of Rome during the Middle Ages and early modern era, holding high positions in the papal curia and government office. The family amassed significant a ...

and

Duke Duke is a male title either of a monarch ruling over a duchy, or of a member of royalty, or nobility. As rulers, dukes are ranked below emperors, kings, grand princes, grand dukes, and sovereign princes. As royalty or nobility, they are rank ...

of Giove. Mattei was born in 1606, the son of

Asdrubale Mattei Portrait of Asdrubale Mattei di Giove by students of Caravaggio (c. 1615). Asdrubale Mattei (died 1638), Duca di Giove, was an Italian nobleman of the House of Mattei, an avid art collector and a patron of Caravaggio. Family Mattei was the thi ...

, ''Marquis di Giove'', and his wife Costanza Gonzaga (of the

House of Gonzaga ) , type = Noble house , country = , estates = Ducal Palace (Mantua) Ducal Palace (Nevers) , titles = * Prince of Arches * Duke of Montferrat * Duke of Mantua * Duke of Guastalla * Duke of Nevers * Duke ...

). He was the older brother of

Luigi Mattei Luigi Mattei (died 1665) was an Italian military General and Marquis de Belmonte. During the 17th century he commanded troops loyal to the papal armies of Barberini Pope Urban VIII and Pamphili Pope Innocent X during the Wars of Castro. Biogr ...

; Marquis di Belmonte and military ally of the

Barberini The House of Barberini are a family of the Italian nobility that rose to prominence in 17th century Rome. Their influence peaked with the election of Cardinal Maffeo Barberini to the papal throne in 1623, as Pope Urban VIII. Their urban palace ...

and Pope Urban VIII. He was a nephew of Ciriaco Mattei and Cardinal Girolamo Mattei. In 1643, Pope Urban VIII issued a papal bull recognising Giove as a Duchy of the Mattei, thus making Girolamo Mattei, ''Duca di Giove''. His bull was issued with the words, ''affinché la terra sia adorna al titolo più degno'' (roughly: ''that the earth is adorned with those more worthy of title'').

Family

In 1666 he married Eugenia Spada (1639-1717), sister of Cardinal Fabrizio Spada.Testamenti Spada
/ref> He had at least one child, Alessandro Mattei (1670-1729), who inherited his father's titles.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mattei, Girolamo, Duca di Giove 1606 births 1676 deaths Dukes of Italy Date of birth unknown Date of death unknown Place of birth unknown Place of death unknown