He was the brother of Maffeo Barberini, who was elected to the papal throne as Pope Urban VIII.

[1] When Barberini's brother was elected to the papal throne as Pope Urban VIII, Francesco and Antonio were both elevated to Cardinal.

Taddeo was given the title of Prince of Palestrina, later passed on to successive Barberini patriarchs.

In 1626, he published a treatise concerning the disciplinary and administrative reorganization of the Papal army.

He also left an unpublished synopsis on The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli.