Cenci, Beatrice,
called the beautiful parricide, the daughter of Francesco Cenci, a noble Roman, who, after his second marriage, behaved toward the children of his first marriage in the most shocking manner, procured the assassination of two of his sons, on their return from Spain, and abused his youngest daughter Beatrice. She planned and executed the murder of her father and was beheaded in 1577. She is the alleged subject of a painting by Guido, and is the heroine of one of Shelley's most powerful plays. Recent researches have deprived the story of its romantic elements, and have shown Beatrice to be a very commonplace criminal. Her stepmother and brother, who were equally guilty with her, were also executed.
Entry from Everybody's Cyclopedia, 1912.