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Della Leonessa

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Della Leonessa
Italian: Casa della Leonessa
Italian noble family
File:Dellaleonessascudoantico.png
Country France
Italy
Former countries
Kingdom of France
Kingdom of Italy
Titles Prince
Duke
Count
Baron
Lord

The Della Leonessa family (also known as De Lagonissa, Lagonissa, Lagonessa, Lagonesse, or La Gonessa) was an Italian and French noble family of Gothic origin.[1]

History

The Della Leonessa family was a noble family of the Kingdom of Naples, belonging to the Sedile di Capuana. It also enjoyed nobility in Benevento and Capua. It became a protagonist of the historical events of southern Italy under the Angevin dynasty and many of its members held high-level public offices; it also enjoyed the right to mint coins with its own family crest.[2] After the Battle of Benevento in 1266, King Charles I of Anjou granted Guglielmo "William" Della Leonessa the Lordships of Airola and Montesarchio.[3] Later the family also obtained San Martino Valle Caudina and numerous other fiefs, to finally reach a total of one principality, two duchies, three counties and sixty-eight baronies.[4] The branch of the Princes of Sepino and Dukes of San Martino Valle Caudina became extinct in 1816 with Giuseppe Maria II. The latter's aunt, Carlotta (1746–1838), inherited his titles and assets.[5] She married Falco Ruffo, Prince of Scilla. The latter's son, Raffaele (1780–1847), added his mother's surname to his own, having as his only daughter and heir, Maria Carolina Ruffo-Della Leonessa. In 1834, she married Giovanni Pignatelli, 4th Prince of Monteroduni, who added the surname Della Leonessa to his, thus creating the branch of Pignatelli-Della Leonessa.[6]

Notable members

Coat of arms

The coat of arms of the Della Leonessa family were red and silver chequered with nine parts, the five red ones each charged with a golden lily and wrapped in a cloak surmounted by a prince's crown, the highest noble title achieved by it. The Angevin lilies were made to the Knight, Guglielmo Della Leonessa, added by concession of the King Charles I of Anjou.[12]

References

  1. Back to citation Biagio Aldimari (1691). Giacomo Raillard (ed.). Memorie historiche di diverse famiglie nobili, così napoletane, come forastiere. Napoli.
  2. Back to citation Giovan Battista di Crollalanza (1888). Dizionario storico-blasonico delle famiglie nobili e notabili italiane estinte e fiorenti. Vol. 2. Pisa: Direzione del Giornale Araldico.
  3. Back to citation Francesco De Pietri (1634). Dell'historia napoletana. Vol. 2. Napoli: Giovanni Domenico Montanaro.
  4. Back to citation Raissa Teodori (2004). "Fabio Lagonissa". Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani (in Italian). Vol. 63: Labroca–Laterza. Rome: Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana. ISBN 978-88-12-00032-6. fabio-lagonissa.
  5. Back to citation Alfredo Rossi (2011). Ceppaloni. Storia e società di un paese del Regno di Napoli. Ceppaloni: Pro Loco.
  6. Back to citation Berardo Candida Gonzaga (1875). Memorie delle famiglie nobili delle province meridionali d'Italia. Vol. 2. Bologna: Arnaldo Forni Editore.
  7. Back to citation He was Lord of San Nicandro Garganico.
  8. Back to citation He was Lord of San Nicandro Garganico.
  9. Back to citation He was Baron of Finocchito and Lord of Airola, Baiano, Castelfranci, Montefusco and Montesarchio. He married Caterina d'Aquino. Scipione Mazzella (1601). Descrittione del Regno di Napoli. Napoli: Giovanni Battista Cappello.
  10. Back to citation He was Lord of San Nicandro Garganico.
  11. Back to citation He was the 5th Lord of Airola, Baiano, Campora, Castelfranci, Cervinara, Montemarano, Montesarchio, Pannarano, Salpe and San Martino Valle Caudina.
  12. Back to citation Scipione Ammirato (1651). Delle famiglie nobili napoletane. Vol. 2. Firenze: Amadore Massi da Forlì.

Bibliography

Notes
Sources
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