MAMACHI, TOMMASO MARIA. - Dominican theologian and historian, b. on the island of Chios on 3 Dec. 1713, d. at Corneto Tarquinia (today Tarquinia, Viterbo) on 5 June 1792. A student and professor in the convent of S. Marco (Florence), he received (1740) from Benedict XIV the chair of philosophy at the Urban College of Propaganda Fide in Rome. In 1746 he was elected librarian and then, after a three-year term (28 Apr. 1749), Casanatense theologian for Italy. Pius VI appointed him secretary of the Sacred Congregation of the Index (1779) and in 1781 master of the Sacred Palaces. He was an examiner of bishops and theologian to several cardinals.
Through his works, especially archaeological and historical, in part polemical, M. not only reveals great erudition but also a profound knowledge of Greek and Latin. A first review of all his writings, published and unpublished, was drawn up by A. Papillon (v. bibl.). The work Originum et antiquitatum christianarum libri XX is very erudite, of which only the first 4 were published (Rome 1749-55). Special mention, particularly for Dominican diplomatic history, is deserved by the edition he edited, in collaboration with the Dominicans F. Pollidori, V. Badetti and E. D. Cristianopulo (members of the first Dominican historical society, over which M. had been placed), of vol. I of the Annales Ordinis Praedicatorum (Rome 1756), begun by A. Bremond, with notes and an Appendix of documents; it deals only with the period comprising the life of St. Dominic (1170-1221).
Other works: De animabus iustorum in sinu Abrahae ante Christi mortem, expertibus beatae visionis Dei libri duo (Rome 1766) and Del diritto libero della Chiesa di acquistare e di possedere beni temporali, si mobili che stabili, libri tre (Venice 1766, Rome 1769-70).