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mistress of the vatican.pdf - End Time Deception

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Eleanor Herman<br />

been pleased with Olimpia’s good looks and her Maidalchini charm.<br />

Olimpia was ingratiating. Olimpia was witty. Olimpia possessed a vigor<br />

that promised to rouse even a Pamphilio Pamphili from his noble torpor.<br />

For her part, <strong>the</strong> shrewd Olimpia must have sized up <strong>the</strong> prospective<br />

groom at a glance. This handsome gentleman hid his insipid personality<br />

under a thick varnish <strong>of</strong> Florentine elegance, to <strong>the</strong> great admiration<br />

<strong>of</strong> all. She must have been relieved to see that here was no domineering<br />

temperament to compete with hers. Here was an easygoing man who<br />

would probably do as she asked just to keep harmony in <strong>the</strong> household.<br />

According to an anonymous document in <strong>the</strong> Vatican, Pamphilio “was<br />

a person who at <strong>the</strong> smallest hint would have made himself obey and<br />

respect his consort.” 2<br />

Olimpia must have believed that such a man would be grateful for<br />

<strong>the</strong> clever advice <strong>of</strong> an energetic wife who could shoulder <strong>the</strong> burden <strong>of</strong><br />

his governmental responsibilities. Pamphilio Pamphili could <strong>of</strong>fer her<br />

everything she had been looking for in a husband, even political power.<br />

She jumped at <strong>the</strong> chance to marry him.<br />

The dowry documents, signed on November 1, 1612, show a shocking<br />

inequality in <strong>the</strong> financial contributions to <strong>the</strong> marriage. Olimpia “promises<br />

to give him all her properties and inheritance which came to her<br />

through <strong>the</strong> death <strong>of</strong> Nino Nini, her son.” In return for Olimpia’s wealth,<br />

Pamphilio merely promised “to take her as his legitimate wife.” 3<br />

Sforza Maidalchini must have watched with mixed emotions <strong>the</strong><br />

meteoric rise <strong>of</strong> his perplexing daughter. He was proud <strong>of</strong> her, certainly,<br />

but also perhaps a bit afraid <strong>of</strong> her. He must have noticed her eyes narrow<br />

when she gazed at him, her lips almost imperceptibly tighten. Revenge<br />

is, after all, a dish best served cold. She had already served him<br />

one heaping helping <strong>of</strong> icy vengeance, and now that she had attained<br />

such an exalted position, she might be tempted to cram ano<strong>the</strong>r one<br />

down his throat.<br />

Though Olimpia’s ample Nini inheritance served as her dowry, <strong>the</strong><br />

nervous Sforza belatedly stepped up to <strong>the</strong> plate in an effort to redeem<br />

himself. He agreed to pay three thousand scudi <strong>the</strong> day <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> wedding<br />

along with a valuable pearl necklace and matching earrings, o<strong>the</strong>r pieces<br />

<strong>of</strong> jewelry, and silver. He would pay an additional two thousand scudi<br />

[ 42 ]

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