Dampyr #172 (2014) pages 43-44: Almost like a queen

Harlan summarizes his research about Olimpia Maidalchini:

“When Giovanni Battista Pamphili, her second husband's brother, became Pope Innocent X, she acquired enormous power, so much so that she was nicknamed the Lady Pope. It is said that Maidalchini organized the prostitution trade and embezzled from the charitable committees for the Jubilee of 1650. Supposedly, while Pope Innocent X was dying, she stole two chests full of gold from under his bed. Be that as it may, everyone agreed that every decision in Rome required her approval. She died of plague in her Viterbo estate of San Martino al Cimino, at the age of sixty-three.”

“Wow, that woman was already some sort of demon.”

“Let's just say that in the seventeenth century world, which was dominated by male arrogance and greed, Maidalchini knew how to make her own profit.”

“Aside from the history lesson, you told me you found something interesting.”

“Yes… before dying it seems that Maidalchini left a legacy in Rome, including her infamous two million scudi. Palmieri's great discovery was the name of the lucky heir, a French nobleman.”

“Come on, spit it out... or do you want to keep me in suspense?”

The part about Olimpia operating as the regent of the sick Pope is essentially true. The other bits may be lies promulgated to discredit her. She did use her position to take bribes in exchange for lucrative church jobs, a process known as "simony" after a similar incident in the Bible. A man named Simon tried to bribe the Apostle Peter (whose birth name was also "Simon") but was rebuffed.