Caesar Baronius was an Italian cardinal and historian belonging to the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri. Born in Sora around 1538, he transitioned from studying law to theology after joining the circle of Philip Neri in Rome. He rose to prominence as the Prefect of the Vatican Library and served as a cardinal under Pope Clement VIII. He is most famous for his massive chronological history of the Church, which sought to provide a scholarly response to contemporary anti-Catholic historical critiques.