| Shock & Outrage | Table of Contents | Friends & Enemies | The House Olimpia Built | Olimpia's World |
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| For a decade in the 17th century, a woman ran the Catholic Church through her brother-in-law and reputed lover, Pope Innocent X. Cardinals bowed to her and princes feted her as she made international policy, waged war, patronized Rome's greatest Baroque artists, and made herself rich with Vatican gold. Born of a humble family, at 15 Olimpia Maidalchini escaped the terrifying confines of the convent, marrying first for money and second for nobility. Widowed twice, she single-handedly seated her indecisive brother-in-law on the throne of St. Peter's. Admired, hated envied, and feared, Olimpia suffered the tragedy of being born an intelligent, ambitious, and cunning woman in a man's world, yet she triumphed, achieving her wildest dreams despite her gender. Against all odds, she became the Mistress of the Vatican – an event that would shake the Catholic Church to its very foundations. For almost four centuries this astonishing story of a woman's absolute power over the Vatican has been successfully buried – until now. |
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