Annibaldi family

The Annibaldi were a powerful baronal family of Rome and the Lazio in the Middle Ages. It began to rise to prominence in the 13th century with the favour of Popes Gregory IX and Alexander IV, in the hollow left by the Counts of Tusculum. In the late years of the same century they were however overwhelmed by the Caetani.

The family's most outstanding figure was Riccardo (1210-1276), who was created cardinal in 1237 by Gregory IX, and bought the fief of Molara. Other family lines than that originated by Riccardo where those of Monte Compatri, Castel Zancato and of the Coliseum. Riccardo was the first protector of the Augustinian Order.

Another cardinal of the family was Annibaldo degli Annibaldi (1230c.-1272c.) who completed his preliminary studies at the Santa Sabina studium conventuale, the forerunner of the College of Saint Thomas and the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Angelicum and later was sent to the studium generale of the Dominican Order at Paris c. 1255.[1] Annibaldo was an associate of Albertus Magnus and Thomas Aquinas, the latter of whom would dedicate his Catena aurea written at the Santa Sabina studium. Anibaldo would become Master of the Sacred Palace by Pope Innocent IV in 1246.

Notes

    1. "D'altra parte, fonti anche antiche affermano che l'A., entrato ancor giovane tra i domenicani nel convento romano di S. Sabina, dopo i primi studi - verosimilmente già sacerdote - fu inviato per i gradi accademici a Parigi e qui la sua presenza è accertata solo dopo il 1255." http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/annibaldo-annibaldi_(Dizionario-Biografico)/ Accessed June 22, 2011