Giulia Ammannati

Giulia Ammannati (1538-1620) was the mother of Galileo Galilei. She bore her husband, Vincenzo Galilei seven children, Galileo included. After Vincenzo died in 1591, it fell to Galileo to support his mother and siblings. The fact that he was attending university made the burden that much heavier. Some evidence indicates that Giulia Ammannati was a difficult person to deal with, and surviving letters indicate that reported her son to the Roman Inquisition on more than one occassion for failing to perform his religious duties.

She died of natural causes in 1620.

Giulia Ammannati in "But It Does Move"
Giulia Ammannati was long dead when her son was investigated by the Inquisition in 1633. She was a topic of conversation between Galileo and Cardinal Sigismondo Gioioso. Galileo described her as a dutiful and loving mother. The Cardinal wondered if Galileo had ever wished his father was out of the picture so he might have more attention from his mother. Galileo could not recall such feelings at first.