Virginio Orsini (cardinal)

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Virginio Orsini (born 1615; died 21 August 1676) was an Italian Cardinal.

He was of the ducal family of Bracciano, He renounced his birthright in his youth, entered the military order of the Knights of Malta and distinguished himself in the war against the Turks by his bravery.

In December 1641, Pope Urban VIII raised him to the dignity of cardinal, and appointed him Protector of the Polish as well as of the Portuguese Orient. He was commissioned to direct the building of the new fortifications with which Urban VIII enclosed the Leonine City and a quarter of Trastevere.

In 1675 he became Cardinal Bishop of Frascati.

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This article incorporates text from the public-domain Catholic Encyclopedia of 1913.