Pope Innocent X, on whose orders the city of Castro was destroyed on September 2, 1649. Portrait by Diego Velázquez.

The Wars of Castro describe a series of events in the mid-seventeenth century revolving around the ancient city of Castro (located in present-day Lazio, Italy), which eventually resulted in the city's destruction on September 2, 1649. The conflict was a result of a power struggle between the papacy (first Pope Urban VIII and then Pope Innocent X) and the Duchy of Parma, which controlled Castro and its surrounding territories.

Causes

Papal politics of the mid-seventeenth century were complicated, with frequently shifting military and political alliances across the Catholic world. While it is difficult to trace the precise origins of the feud between the duchy of Parma and the papistry, it can be safely assumed that its origins lie in political maneuverings occurring in the years or even decades preceding the start of military action.

Odoardo Farnese, Duke of Parma and Piacenza, who controlled Castro, had quarrelled with Pope Urban VIII's influential nephews during a visit to Rome in 1639. These offended relatives of the Pope convinced him to ban grain shipments originating in Castro from being distributed in Rome and the surrounding territory, thereby depriving Duke Odoardo of an important source of income. As a result, Duke Odoardo was unable to pay debts due to Roman creditors. These unpaid and unhappy creditors sought relief from the pope, who turned to military action in an attempt to force payment.

First War of Castro

Pope Urban VIII responded to the requests of Duke Odoardo's creditors by occupying the duchy with the forces of his nephew Taddeo (general of the papal army ) on October 13, 1641, and then excommunicating Odoardo and rescinding his fiefdoms (which had been granted by Pope Paul III — Odoardo's great-great-great-grandfather — in 1545) on January 13, 1642. Odoardo countered with a military march of his own, this time on the papal state; his forces threatened to enter Rome. Odoardo also allied with the Republic of Venice, Modena, and Tuscany. The Pope, who had earlier turned to Spain for assistance, received little, as Spain was occupied by the 30 years war.

After attempted peace negotiations failed in 1643, the papal forces suffered a crucial defeat in the battle of Lagoscuro in 1644 resulting in the surrender of the papal forces; a peace was agreed to in Ferrara on March 31 of that year. Under the terms of the peace, Odoardo was readmitted to the Catholic Church and his fiefdoms were restored to him. Grain shipments from Castro to Rome were once again allowed, and Odoardo was to resume payments to his Roman crditors. This peace settlement concluded the first war of Castro, and was widely considered a disgrace to the papacy, which was unable to impose its will through use of military force.

Aftermath

Pope Urban VIII died just a few months after the peace settlement was agreed to, on July 29, 1644. On September 15, Pope Innocent X was elected to replace him. Two of the nephews of Pope Urban VIII, Taddeo and his brother Cardinal Antonio Barberini , were forced to abandon Rome after the first War of Castro and flee to France when Pope Innocent X began an investigation into illicit profits taken by the Barberini family during the war. There they depended on the hospitality of Louis XIV, King of France, until 1653 when they reconciled with Innocent X and returned to Rome.

Second War of Castro

The Wars of Castro were renewed in 1649, when Duke Ranuccio II (Odoardo's heir) refused to pay back Roman creditors as his father had agreed to in the treaty signed five years prior. He also refused to recognize the new cardinal of Castro appointed by Pope Innocent X. When the cardinal, Cristoforo Guarda, was killed en route to Castro, Pope Innocent X accused Duke Ranuccio II of murdering him. In retaliation for this alleged crime, forces under the pope marched on Castro on September 2, and on the pope's orders completely destroyed the city. Duke Ranuccio II was forced to cede control of the territories around Castro back to the pope, who then tried to use the land to settle accounts with the Duke's creditors. This marked the end of the second war of Castro, and the final demise of the city, as it was never rebuilt.

See also

• Farnese family

References

• Cigola, Riccardo. "History: Facts & Persons". Retrieved January 23, 2005.
• Ganse, Alexander (November 19, 2004). "World History at KMLA: War over Parma, 1641-1644". Korean Minjok Leadership Academy.
• Miranda, Salvador. "The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church: Biographical Dictionary". Florida International University Library. Retrieved January 24, 2005.
• Ott, Michael. The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume VIII (1910). "Pope Innocent X". Robert Appleton Company.
• Ott, Michael. The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume XV (1912). "Pope Urban VIII". Robert Appleton Company.