Luigi Gaetano Marini
Encyclopedia
Luigi Gaetano Marini was a natural philosopher, jurist, historian and archeologist. Having received a comprehensive preparatory education at the College of San Marino
and at the seminary
at Rimini
, he was able to pass through the legal and philological studies at Bologna University brilliantly, and to graduate at Ravenna
in utroque jure (in both branches of law). He went to Rome in December, 1764, where he gained the friendship of Cardinal Alessandro Albani and Giuseppe Garampi
. He entered into relations with the most distinguished scholars of his day, and maintained with them an extensive correspondence. In 1772 he was appointed coadjutor to Marino Zampini, prefect of the archives; and was also given the position by the Roman Republic of prefect of the archives at the Vatican
and the Castel Sant'Angelo
, as well as that of president of the Vatican Museum and the Vatican Library. On 18 August 1800, Pius VII made him primus custos of the Vatican Library and also prefect of the archives. In January, 1805, he was made a cameriere d'onore to the pope.
When the archives of the Roman Curia
were carried off to Paris by Napoleon, he accompanied them, and reached Paris, 11 April 1810. After Napoleon's fall the Count of Artois
, viceregent and brother of the king, issued a decree on 9 April 1814, directing the restitution to the Holy See
of the archives, of all documents and Manuscripts, and of several other collections. On 28 April the papal commissioners, Mgr. de Gregorio, Mgr. Gaetano Marini, and his nephew Don Marino Marini, took charge of the whole of this property; but before it had reached Rome Gaetano Marini, who had long been an invalid, died in Paris.
He was master of Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, possessed great legal knowledge, and took up questions of natural philosophy. His great work on papyrus records is a standard work on the investigation of papyri. His book on the Arval Brethren
of ancient Rome brought to light so much that was new, and its appearance created a stir. His classification of five thousand inscriptions, both Christian and heathen, in the Galleria Lapidaria at the Vatican, earned for him the honorary title of "Restorer" of Latin epigraphics. Marini was a cleric, but not a priest. He often prayed for hours before the Blessed Sacrament, and went to communion three times a week. During his residence in Paris he gave away alms to the extent of 3000 scudi (dollars).
San Marino
San Marino, officially the Republic of San Marino , is a state situated on the Italian Peninsula on the eastern side of the Apennine Mountains. It is an enclave surrounded by Italy. Its size is just over with an estimated population of over 30,000. Its capital is the City of San Marino...
and at the seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
at Rimini
Rimini
Rimini is a medium-sized city of 142,579 inhabitants in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, and capital city of the Province of Rimini. It is located on the Adriatic Sea, on the coast between the rivers Marecchia and Ausa...
, he was able to pass through the legal and philological studies at Bologna University brilliantly, and to graduate at Ravenna
Ravenna
Ravenna is the capital city of the Province of Ravenna in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy and the second largest comune in Italy by land area, although, at , it is little more than half the size of the largest comune, Rome...
in utroque jure (in both branches of law). He went to Rome in December, 1764, where he gained the friendship of Cardinal Alessandro Albani and Giuseppe Garampi
Giuseppe Garampi
Giuseppe Garampi was an Italian scholar and collector of documents and books. He was nominated Cardinal of the Catholic Church by Pope Pius VI.-Biography:He was born in Rimini...
. He entered into relations with the most distinguished scholars of his day, and maintained with them an extensive correspondence. In 1772 he was appointed coadjutor to Marino Zampini, prefect of the archives; and was also given the position by the Roman Republic of prefect of the archives at the Vatican
Vatican City
Vatican City , or Vatican City State, in Italian officially Stato della Città del Vaticano , which translates literally as State of the City of the Vatican, is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, Italy. It has an area of...
and the Castel Sant'Angelo
Castel Sant'Angelo
The Mausoleum of Hadrian, usually known as the Castel Sant'Angelo, is a towering cylindrical building in Parco Adriano, Rome, Italy. It was initially commissioned by the Roman Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself and his family...
, as well as that of president of the Vatican Museum and the Vatican Library. On 18 August 1800, Pius VII made him primus custos of the Vatican Library and also prefect of the archives. In January, 1805, he was made a cameriere d'onore to the pope.
When the archives of the Roman Curia
Roman Curia
The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
were carried off to Paris by Napoleon, he accompanied them, and reached Paris, 11 April 1810. After Napoleon's fall the Count of Artois
Charles X of France
Charles X was known for most of his life as the Comte d'Artois before he reigned as King of France and of Navarre from 16 September 1824 until 2 August 1830. A younger brother to Kings Louis XVI and Louis XVIII, he supported the latter in exile and eventually succeeded him...
, viceregent and brother of the king, issued a decree on 9 April 1814, directing the restitution to the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
of the archives, of all documents and Manuscripts, and of several other collections. On 28 April the papal commissioners, Mgr. de Gregorio, Mgr. Gaetano Marini, and his nephew Don Marino Marini, took charge of the whole of this property; but before it had reached Rome Gaetano Marini, who had long been an invalid, died in Paris.
He was master of Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, possessed great legal knowledge, and took up questions of natural philosophy. His great work on papyrus records is a standard work on the investigation of papyri. His book on the Arval Brethren
Arval Brethren
In ancient Roman religion, the Arval Brethren or Arval Brothers were a body of priests who offered annual sacrifices to the Lares and gods to guarantee good harvests...
of ancient Rome brought to light so much that was new, and its appearance created a stir. His classification of five thousand inscriptions, both Christian and heathen, in the Galleria Lapidaria at the Vatican, earned for him the honorary title of "Restorer" of Latin epigraphics. Marini was a cleric, but not a priest. He often prayed for hours before the Blessed Sacrament, and went to communion three times a week. During his residence in Paris he gave away alms to the extent of 3000 scudi (dollars).