Borghese Family
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Who are the Borghese family?
The Borghese were an Italian noble family from Siena who rose to prominence in the 13th century as public officials. The family moved to Rome in the 16th century, gaining wealth and fame when Camillo was elected Pope Paul V in 1605.
Paul V bestowed privileges on his family, including naming his nephew Scipione Caffarelli a cardinal and adopting him into the Borghese family. Scipione, a patron of the arts, played a leading role in church politics and financed the construction of many churches and palaces, most notably the Villa Borghese, which housed his important art collection.
In 1902, the Italian government acquired the Villa Borghese and its collection from the Borghese family.
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Where in Italy did the Borghese family come from?
The Borghese family originated in Siena, Italy, where they were known as magistrates, ambassadors, and public officials in the 13th century. The family later moved to Rome in the 16th century. There, Camillo Borghese was elected Pope Paul V in 1605, increasing the family's wealth and prominence. Several family members remained prominent in church affairs back in Siena, including Cardinals Pier Maria, Francesco, and Scipione.
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Why is the Borghese family considered important in Italian history?
The Borghese family's importance in Italian history stems from their rise to prominence in Rome following Camillo Borghese's election as Pope Paul V in 1605. Paul V bestowed privileges and wealth upon family members, significantly increasing their influence. His nephew, Cardinal Scipione Borghese, was a major patron of the arts, supporting Gian Lorenzo Bernini and building the Villa Borghese, which housed an important art collection. Family members continued to be prominent in church affairs and as patrons of the arts. In the 19th century, Camillo Fillipo Ludovico played a role in Franco-Italian relations and married Napoleon’s sister.
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What roles did the Borghese family play in politics or the church?
The Borghese family rose to prominence in the 16th century when Camillo Borghese was elected Pope Paul V. Paul V bestowed privileges on family members, including naming his nephew Scipione Caffarelli as a cardinal, who then played a leading role in church politics. Other family members prominent in church affairs included Cardinals Pier Maria, Francesco, and Scipione. Pope Paul V also helped his nephew Marcantonio II, who fathered the present branch of the Borghese family. In the 19th century, Camillo Fillipo Ludovico played an important role in Franco-Italian relations, reaching the rank of general in the army and being named governor of Piedmont.
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How did the Borghese family contribute to art and architecture?
The Borghese family significantly contributed to art and architecture, particularly in Rome. In the 17th century, Cardinal Scipione Borghese, nephew of Pope Paul V, played a pivotal role as a patron of the arts. He notably recognized and supported Gian Lorenzo Bernini, who became a prominent sculptor and architect of the Italian Baroque period.
Scipione financed the construction and restoration of numerous churches and palaces in Rome. His major undertaking was the construction of the Villa Borghese, where he amassed a significant collection of sculptures and paintings. The Borghese tradition of artistic patronage was continued by Marcantonio IV, who renovated the Villa Borghese.
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What are some famous landmarks or collections associated with the Borghese family?
The Borghese family, originally from Siena, gained prominence in Rome following Camillo Borghese's election as Pope Paul V in 1605. Cardinal Scipione Borghese, a key figure, significantly contributed to the arts, supporting Gian Lorenzo Bernini and building the Villa Borghese to house his art collection.
The Borghese Gallery is now a state museum in Rome, celebrated for its Italian Baroque paintings and ancient sculptures. The collection was largely assembled by Pope Paul V and Cardinal Scipione Borghese in the 17th century, with additional antiquities acquired by Marcantonio Borghese in the 18th century and Francesco Borghese in the 19th century. In 1902, the Italian government acquired the villa and its collection from the Borghese family.
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Borghese Family, a noble Italian family, originally from Siena, who first gained fame in the 13th century as magistrates, ambassadors, and other public officials. They moved to Rome in the 16th century and there, following the election (1605) of Camillo as Pope Paul V, rose in wealth and fame.
Among the early members, Galgano was papal ambassador to Naples (1456), Pietro was nominated senator by Leo X (pope 1513–21) in 1516, and Giambattista was a famed apologist for Clement VII (pope 1523–34).
The move to Rome was started by Marcantonio (1504–74), the father of Camillo Borghese, the future Pope Paul V. (See Paul V under Paul [Papacy].) Paul V bestowed privileges upon family members, first naming as cardinal his nephew Scipione Caffarelli (1576–1633), whom he adopted into the Borghese family.
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Augmenting his wealth and influence, Scipione played a leading role in church politics. His chief interest, however, was the cultivation of the arts, to which he devoted the greater part of his life and wealth. Most importantly, he recognized and encouraged the talent of the young Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598–1680), who later became the outstanding sculptor and architect of the Italian Baroque.
With the sizable income that he enjoyed from the several ecclesiastic offices that he held, Scipione financed the restoration and construction of many churches and palaces in the city of Rome. His major project was to have the Villa Borghese built in Rome, where he assembled an important collection of paintings and sculptures.
Pope Paul V also helped his nephew Marcantonio II (1601–58), who fathered the present branch of the Borghese family, whose wealth and estates he vastly augmented. Paul V obtained for Marcantonio the important principality of Sulmona and made him prince of Vivaro. Marcantonio married Camilla Orsini (1619), thereby acquiring the estates of the powerful Orsini family. He also arranged the marriage of his son Paolo (d. 1646) to Olimpia, the Aldobrandini heiress.
Other family members who remained prominent in church affairs in Siena included Cardinals Pier Maria (c. 1600–1642), Francesco (1697–1759), and Scipione (1734–82). Somewhat later, Marcantonio III became viceroy of Naples. The Borghese tradition of patronage of the arts was carried on by his nephew Marcantonio IV (1730–1800), who had the Villa Borghese renewed. He also enlarged the Borghese estates by his marriage to the wealthy and prominent Maria Salviati.
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In the 19th century, Camillo Fillipo Ludovico (1775–1832) played an important role in Franco-Italian relations. Having married Napoleon’s sister Marie Pauline (1803), he reached the rank of general in the army and was named governor of Piedmont (1807). After Napoleon’s abdication, he concluded a surrender with the victorious Austrians and later maintained order during the transfer of power. Camillo won infamy for having sold to Napoleon the magnificent Borghese family art collection, part of which he recovered in 1815.
Camillo’s brother Francesco (1776–1839) later became a general. Francesco’s grandsons split the family into two branches. One, led by Paolo (1845–1920), retained the name Borghese; the other, led by Giulio (1847–1914), took the cognomen Torlonia.