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 Annibaldi (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, OP (1230c.-1272c.), who completed his preliminary studies at the Santa Sabina studium conventuale, and later was sent to the studium generale of the Dominican Order at Paris c. 1255. Annibaldo was an associate of Albertus Magnus and Thomas Aquinas. Thomas dedicated his Catena aurea, which was written while he lived at the Santa Sabina studium, to Annibaldo Annibaldi. Annibaldo was named Master of the Sacred Palace by Pope Innocent IV in 1246. He was named a cardinal in the Consistory of May, 1262, and died in 1272.