Mattei (Rome)
Encyclopedia
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 art collections under art enthusiasts such as Ciriaco Mattei
.
The Mattei gave eight Cardinals
to the Catholic Church, among them Girolamo Mattei
(1586), Gaspare Mattei
(1643), Alessandro Mattei
(1803), Mario Mattei
(1832), Lorenzo Girolamo Mattei
(1833) and (as late as 1875) Ruggero Luigi Emidio Antici Mattei
. The founder of one powerful branch of the Mattei was Giovanni Giacomo Mattei
.
(1130–1143). In the 1350s the family moved to the Rione Sant Angelo, and they eventually built six residences in the block called the Isola Mattei. The Mattei established themselves in politics and banking and were closely connected to the politics of the Church
; later to its military conquests.
Though they lived in the Roman Ghetto
, the historic Jewish quarter, they were Roman Catholic. When Pope Paul IV
decided to build a wall around the Ghetto in 1555 and imprison the Jewish population, the Mattei were given a key to the gate.
(together they formed the so called "isola dei Mattei": see Palazzo Mattei
), and one in Trastevere
. Moreover, they owned Villa Celimontana in the rione Celio
. The family assumed control over the bridges closest to their ancestral palace during the papal interregnum, levying charges on various types of traffic, including the Jews who lived in the nearby ghetto when burying their dead outside the city.
The purchase of the territory of Giove in 1597 entitled the Mattei to the title Marquis di Giove (raised in 1643 to a dukedom) in addition to their older title of Nobile Romano. Other Mattei titles included Duke of Paganica and Marquis di Belmonte.
In 1580-1585, Muzio Mattei
commissioned one of the most famous fountains in Rome, the Fontana delle Tartarughe
(Turtle Fountain) in front of his residence.
(1744–1820). Ironically though, the latter Alessandro was also nephew to a Luigi Mattei; born in 1702 who later became a cardinal (not the military Luigi Mattei
listed above).
Though direct relations are not clear, biographies of contemporaries Alessandro Mattei
(1744–1820), Lorenzo Girolamo Mattei
(1748–1833), Mario Mattei
(1792–1870) and Ruggero Luigi Emidio Antici Mattei
(1811–1883) suggest they were all related.
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
during the Middle Ages and early modern era, holding high positions in the papal curia and government office. The family amassed significant art collections under art enthusiasts such as Ciriaco Mattei
Ciriaco Mattei
Ciriaco Mattei was an Italian nobleman of Rome and of the House of Mattei and one of the most prolific art collectors of his time.-Family:...
.
The Mattei gave eight Cardinals
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
to the Catholic Church, among them Girolamo Mattei
Girolamo Mattei
Girolamo Mattei was an Italian Cardinal from the House of Mattei.Mattei was born 8 February 1547, the son of Alessandro Mattei and Emilia Mazzatosta. He was the younger brother of Ciriaco Mattei and the older brother of Asdrubale Mattei, Marquis di Giove...
(1586), Gaspare Mattei
Gaspare Mattei
thumb|Cardinal Gaspare MatteiGaspare Mattei was an Italian cardinal of the house of Mattei.-Life:Mattei was born in Rome, the eldest son of Mario Mattei, duke of Paganica and Prudenzia Cenci; he was a relative of Pope Paul V. He was educated at the Archgymnasium of Rome...
(1643), Alessandro Mattei
Alessandro Mattei
Alessandro Mattei was an Italian Cardinal, and a significant figure in papal diplomacy of the Napoleonic period. He was from the Roman aristocratic House of Mattei.He became Archbishop of Ferrara in 1777, and was created cardinal in 1779....
(1803), Mario Mattei
Mario Mattei
Mario Mattei was an Italian Cardinal, of the Roman noble House of Mattei. He became Dean of the College of Cardinals.-Personal life:Mattei was born on 6 September 1792 in Pergola....
(1832), Lorenzo Girolamo Mattei
Lorenzo Girolamo Mattei
Lorenzo Girolamo Mattei was an Italian cardinal from the house of Mattei. He was promoted to cardinal by pope Gregory XVI in the consistory of 15 April 1833. He was also nominal Latin Patriarch of Antioch.-External links:...
(1833) and (as late as 1875) Ruggero Luigi Emidio Antici Mattei
Ruggero Luigi Emidio Antici Mattei
Ruggero Luigi Emidio Antici Mattei was an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Latin Patriarch of Constantinople from 1866 to 1875, and was elevated to the cardinalate by Pope Pius IX in 1875.Antici Mattei was born in Recanati to Carlo Teodoro Antici, marquis and baron of...
. The founder of one powerful branch of the Mattei was Giovanni Giacomo Mattei
Giovanni Giacomo Mattei
Giovanni Giacomo Mattei was the founder of one powerful branch of the house of Mattei. He was Count Palatine of the Lateran Palace and a Conservatore of Rome, 1451. He married in 1437 to Isabella dei conti dell'Anguillara....
.
History
Mattei family lines reportedly went back to an early Roman family, the Papareschi, and their ancestors included Pope Innocent IIPope Innocent II
Pope Innocent II , born Gregorio Papareschi, was pope from 1130 to 1143, and was probably one of the clergy in personal attendance on the antipope Clement III .-Early years:...
(1130–1143). In the 1350s the family moved to the Rione Sant Angelo, and they eventually built six residences in the block called the Isola Mattei. The Mattei established themselves in politics and banking and were closely connected to the politics of the Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
; later to its military conquests.
Though they lived in the Roman Ghetto
Roman Ghetto
The Roman Ghetto was a ghetto located in the rione Sant'Angelo, in Rome, Italy, in the area surrounded by today's Via del Portico d'Ottavia, Lungotevere dei Cenci, Via del Progresso and Via di Santa Maria del Pianto close to the Tiber and the Theater of Marcellus...
, the historic Jewish quarter, they were Roman Catholic. When Pope Paul IV
Pope Paul IV
Pope Paul IV, C.R. , né Giovanni Pietro Carafa, was Pope from 23 May 1555 until his death.-Early life:Giovanni Pietro Carafa was born in Capriglia Irpina, near Avellino, into a prominent noble family of Naples...
decided to build a wall around the Ghetto in 1555 and imprison the Jewish population, the Mattei were given a key to the gate.
Property
In Rome the Mattei owned five palazzi in the rione, or quarter, of Sant'AngeloSant'Angelo (rione of Rome)
Sant'Angelo is the eleventh historic district or rione of Rome, often written as rione XI - Sant'Angelo. Its coat of arms is an angel on a red background, holding a palm branch in its left hand. In another version, the angel holds a sword in its right hand and a scale in its left.Sant'Angelo, the...
(together they formed the so called "isola dei Mattei": see Palazzo Mattei
Palazzo Mattei
thumb|250px|right|The courtyard of the Palazzo Mattei di Giove.The Palazzo Mattei di Giove is the most prominent among a group of Mattei houses that forms the insula Mattei in Rome, Italy, a block of buildings of many epochs...
), and one in Trastevere
Trastevere
Trastevere is rione XIII of Rome, on the west bank of the Tiber, south of Vatican City. Its name comes from the Latin trans Tiberim, meaning literally "beyond the Tiber". The correct pronunciation is "tras-TEH-ve-ray", with the accent on the second syllable. Its logo is a golden head of a lion on a...
. Moreover, they owned Villa Celimontana in the rione Celio
Celio (rione of Rome)
Celio is the XIXth rione of Rome. Its logo is the bust of an African, with an elephant headdress with golden tusks on a silver background, in memory of an African bust that was found in via Capo d'Africa.- Churches :* San Giovanni a Porta Latina...
. The family assumed control over the bridges closest to their ancestral palace during the papal interregnum, levying charges on various types of traffic, including the Jews who lived in the nearby ghetto when burying their dead outside the city.
The purchase of the territory of Giove in 1597 entitled the Mattei to the title Marquis di Giove (raised in 1643 to a dukedom) in addition to their older title of Nobile Romano. Other Mattei titles included Duke of Paganica and Marquis di Belmonte.
In 1580-1585, Muzio Mattei
Muzio Mattei
Muzio Mattei was an Italian nobleman of the House of Mattei. He helped the Mattei rise to prominence by supporting political and cultural initiatives of the Pope and the Church in Rome.-Political activity:...
commissioned one of the most famous fountains in Rome, the Fontana delle Tartarughe
Fontana delle Tartarughe
The Fontane delle Tartarughe is a fountain of the late Italian Renaissance, located in the Piazza Mattei, in the Sant'Angelo district of Rome, Italy. It was built between 1580 and 1588 by the architect Giacomo della Porta and the sculptor Taddeo Landini...
(Turtle Fountain) in front of his residence.
Family tree
House of Mattei family tree during the 16th and 17th centuries:Differentiation
Like many noble Italian families of the period, sons were often named in honour of their predecessors. It the case of the Mattei, the same christian names are given many times over. The Alessandro Mattei listed in the final branch of the family tree above, though sources suggests he undertook an ecclesiastic career, is not Alessandro MatteiAlessandro Mattei
Alessandro Mattei was an Italian Cardinal, and a significant figure in papal diplomacy of the Napoleonic period. He was from the Roman aristocratic House of Mattei.He became Archbishop of Ferrara in 1777, and was created cardinal in 1779....
(1744–1820). Ironically though, the latter Alessandro was also nephew to a Luigi Mattei; born in 1702 who later became a cardinal (not the military Luigi Mattei
Luigi Mattei
Luigi Mattei 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.-Biography:...
listed above).
Though direct relations are not clear, biographies of contemporaries Alessandro Mattei
Alessandro Mattei
Alessandro Mattei was an Italian Cardinal, and a significant figure in papal diplomacy of the Napoleonic period. He was from the Roman aristocratic House of Mattei.He became Archbishop of Ferrara in 1777, and was created cardinal in 1779....
(1744–1820), Lorenzo Girolamo Mattei
Lorenzo Girolamo Mattei
Lorenzo Girolamo Mattei was an Italian cardinal from the house of Mattei. He was promoted to cardinal by pope Gregory XVI in the consistory of 15 April 1833. He was also nominal Latin Patriarch of Antioch.-External links:...
(1748–1833), Mario Mattei
Mario Mattei
Mario Mattei was an Italian Cardinal, of the Roman noble House of Mattei. He became Dean of the College of Cardinals.-Personal life:Mattei was born on 6 September 1792 in Pergola....
(1792–1870) and Ruggero Luigi Emidio Antici Mattei
Ruggero Luigi Emidio Antici Mattei
Ruggero Luigi Emidio Antici Mattei was an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Latin Patriarch of Constantinople from 1866 to 1875, and was elevated to the cardinalate by Pope Pius IX in 1875.Antici Mattei was born in Recanati to Carlo Teodoro Antici, marquis and baron of...
(1811–1883) suggest they were all related.