Coat of arms of Pope Urban VIII, born Maffeo Barberini
Porta San Pancrazio, Gianicolo
Rome, April 2013
“Urban’s pontificate coincided with the ministry of Cardinal de Richelieu of France and with the decisive period of the Thirty Years’ War. His policy, when contrasted with that of his successor, Innocent X, appears to have been decidedly pro-French and hostile to the Roman Catholic cause in Germany. In fact, he desired the extinction of Protestantism everywhere, but, because he ultimately feared Habsburg domination in Italy, he withheld his support from them and allied with their enemy Richelieu. This alliance destroyed the Habsburgs’ claim to be considered the exclusive champions of Roman Catholicism and so turned the Thirty Years’ War into a conflict of dynastic interests that resulted not so much in the triumph of Protestantism as in the ruin of Germany.” (Urban VIII, Encyclopædia Britannica)
The bees. I saw some yesterday at the Grand Trianon. The photo won't be up for a while though, I took too many photos.
ReplyDeleteThis is so full of symbols!