Prospero Farinacci

Prospero Farinacci
Giuseppe Cesari called Cavalier D'Arpino, Portrait of Prospero Farinacci, 1607, oil on canvas (Museo nazionale di Castel Sant'Angelo, Rome, Italy)
Born(1554-11-01)November 1, 1554
Died31 December 1618(1618-12-31) (aged 64)
Resting placeSan Silvestro al Quirinale
NationalityItalian
Occupation(s)Jurist, lawyer, judge
Known forPraxis et Theorica Criminalis, one of the most influential works of criminal jurisprudence in Civil law countries until the reforms of Cesare Beccaria (1738–94).
ChildrenLudovico Farinacci
Parent(s)Marcello Farinacci and Bernardina Farinacci
Academic background
Alma mater
Academic advisors
  • Tobia Nonio
  • Rinaldo Ridolfi
Influences
Academic work
DisciplineCriminologist, legal theorist, criminal lawyer, defense attorney
School or traditionMos italicus iura docendi
InfluencedVirtually every area of criminal law in Western civil law countries under the Ancien Régime

Prospero Farinacci (1 November 1554 – 31 December 1618) was an Italian Renaissance jurist, lawyer and judge. His Praxis et Theorica Criminalis (Practice and Theory of Criminal Law) was the strongest influence on criminal law in Civil law countries until the Age of Enlightenment. Farinacci defended Beatrice Cenci who was accused of killing her father in the most famous criminal case of the time. As a judge he was known for his harsh sentencing.