As the wife of the secular patriarch of the pope's family in Rome, Colonna became one of the most powerful women in the city and in the surrounding Papal States. This is reflected in the personal wealth she and Barberini amassed during Urban's reign; a pontificate known for its unabashed nepotism. Her status was also made clear by the manner in which she was treated by her peers. In 1634, when crowds were assembled for a tournament at the Piazza Navona, her place is described in the following terms: The event was held in honour of the 1634 visit to Rome of Prince Alexander Charles Vasa of Poland and the Piazza was decorated with tapestries of gold and silver. Colonna distributed diamonds and other prizes to winning tournament entrants. BotanistGiovanni Baptista Ferrari spent a significant amount of time working in the gardens established by Colonna's brother-in-law, CardinalFrancesco Barberini. The second edition of his botany reference book, De Florum Cultura, was dedicated to Colonna in 1638. Colonna was also a patron of botanical artist, Giovanna Garzoni.
Barberini exile
After the death of Pope Urban VIII, newly elected PamphiliPope Innocent X launched an investigation into the Barberini's handling of funds during the Wars of Castro. Colonna's husband, Taddeo, and his brothers, cardinals Francesco Barberini and Antonio Barberini went into exile in Paris with the support of Cardinal Jules Mazarin. Mazarin was the uncle of Marie Mancini; wife of Colonna's nephew Lorenzo Onofrio Colonna and a confidant of Colonna's brother, Cardinal Girolamo Colonna. Mazarin had also served as infantry captain under Colonna's father, Filippo Colonna. In 1646, Colonna joined her husband and children in Paris but not before making a passionate appeal tothe Pope, urging him not to strip the Barberini of their assets. The Pope agreed and, though he paid some debts out of the Barberini estate, left the Barberini alone. While in Paris, Colonna had developed a close friendship with Anne of Austria, Regent of France. When Taddeo died in 1647, Anne urged Colonna to stay in France but Colonna chose return to Rome.
Return to Rome
In 1653, with the assistance of Olimpia Maidalchini, she arranged the marriage of her 22-year-old son Maffeo Barberini to Maidalchini's 12-year-old granddaughter, Olimpia Giustiniani. The marriage resolved many problems at once, reconciling the Barberini and Pamphili families; allowing the remaining Barberini exiles to return to Rome and ensuring the continuation of the Barberini family line. Having returned to Rome, Colonna also planned to build a convent and chapel in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Regina Coeli. To fund the project she appealed to her eldest son, Cardinal Carlo Barberini, for access to part her dowry, which had been substantial and had included the comune of Palestrina, which provided a substantive basis for the hereditary Barberini principality. However, her son declined her request and she was forced to seek funds from her brother, Girolamo. Colonna died in 1658 and was buried at the grounds of the convent.
