making a passionate appeal (in person) to the Pope, urging him not to strip the Barberini of their assets. The Pope agreed and, though he paid some debts out of the Barberini estate, left the Barberini alone. While in Paris, Colonna had developed a close friendship with Anne of Austria, Regent of France (wife of former King Louis XIII of France). When Taddeo died in 1647, Anne urged Colonna to stay in France but Colonna chose return to Rome. Return to Rome In 1653, with the assistance of Olimpia Maidalchini (who was keen to curry favour with Colonna's cardinal brothers-in-law), she arranged the marriage of her 22-year-old son Maffeo Barberini to Maidalchini's 12-year-old granddaughter (Pope Innocent's grand-niece), Olimpia Giustiniani. The marriage resolved many problems at once, reconciling the Barberini and Pamphili families; allowing the remaining Barberini exiles to return to Rome and ensuring the continuation of the Barberini family line. Having returned to Rome, Colonna also planned to build a convent and chapel in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Regina Coeli. To fund the project she appealed to her eldest son, Cardinal Carlo Barberini, for access to part her dowry, which had been substantial and had included the comune of Palestrina, which provided a substantive basis for the hereditary Barberini principality. However, her son declined her request and she was forced to seek funds from her brother, Girolamo. Colonna died in 1658 and was buried at the grounds of the convent. Family Colonna and Barberini had five children: Lucrezia Barberini (1628–1699) who married Francesco I d'Este and became Duchess of Modena. Camilla Barberini (1629–1631) who died in infancy Carlo Barberini (1630–1704) who became a Cardinal Maffeo Barberini (1631–1685) future Prince of Palestrina Niccolò Maria Barberini (1635–1699) References and notes 1601 births 1658 deaths Anna Barberini family 17th-century Italian women 17th-century Italian nobility Princesses of Taranto