Orazio Maffei

Orazio Maffei (1580–1609) was a Roman Catholic cardinal. Born in Rome but belonging to the Mirandola branch of the Maffei, he was the son of Mario Maffei and Plautilla Fabi. Two of his father's brothers had been cardinals, Bernardino (1514–1553) and Marcantonio (1521–1583).

Biography

He studied at the University of Perugia, where he obtained a doctorate. Pope Paul V appointed him a cleric of the Apostolic Camera.

Maffei was named a cardinal by Pope Paul on 11 September 1606, and assigned the deaconry of San Giorgio in velabro on 9 October. On 7 February 1607, he was promoted cardinal-priest, and assigned the titular church of Ss. Marcellino e Pietro.

He was appointed archbishop of Chieti by Pope Paul on 3 September 1607. On 16 Sep 1607, he was consecrated bishop by Marcello Lante della Rovere, Bishop of Todi, with Bishop Metello Bichi, of Sovana, and Girolamo di Porzia, Bishop of Adria, acting as co-consecrators.

Having been archbishop of Chieti for less than a year, he found himself in trouble with Pope Paul V, due to accusations which included violation of his vow of chastity with a woman of the diocese. He was summoned to Rome, where he died on 11 January 1609, at the age of twenty-nine. He was buried in the family tomb in the church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva in Rome.

Francesco Maria Guazzo (Guaccius) dedicated the first edition (1608) of his book, Compendium maleficarum, to Cardinal Orazio Maffei, the Protector of the Ambrosian Order, of which Guazzo was a member.