MAFFEI, BERNARDINO. — Cardinal, born in Bergamo in 1514, died in Rome on 1 August 1553. He studied law at Padua and became secretary to Cardinal A. Farnese, remaining in his service even after the latter was elected pope (Paul III), and was entrusted with the education of the cardinal’s nephew, Alessandro Farnese.
Appointed Bishop of Massa Marittima (1547), then Archbishop of Chieti (1549) and cardinal, he wielded decisive influence in the election of Julius III (1550), under whom he worked actively for the reform of the conclave and of the Roman University. He compiled an elegant *Commentarium in Ciceronis epistolas*, and as a result of long research published a substantial work, *De inscriptionibus et imaginibus antiquorum numismatum*.
BIBL.: P. Bonamici, *De claris pontificum epistolarum scriptoribus*, Rome 1753, p. 237; G. Tiraboschi, *Storia della letteratura italiana*, VII, II, Modena 1772, p. 214; *Concilium Tridentinum*, I, II, IV, X, Freiburg in Br. 1901-37, V. index (contains Maffei’s correspondence with Marcello Cervini); Pastor, V-VI, V. index.