GENEALOGY
Maison del Balzo/des Baux

Short Historical Essay



Official Site of the del Balzo Family

del Balzo
del Balzo Family History by Enciclopedia Treccani
( Ernesto Pontieri 1931)


FULL GENEALOGY de Baux / del Balzo


 

 

Coat of Arms

Inquartato:
nel I° e 4° di rosso alla stella a 16 raggi di argento
e nel 2° e 3° d'oro alla cornetta d'azzurro legata e guarnita di rosso.

 


Race d'Aiglon , jamais Vassal !
(Coat of Arms des Baux )

Residence: Naples.

   The del Balzo/des Baux dynasty was originated in Provence (France) from the Seigneurs di Balz descendants of William King of Arles and Prince of Orange (1059-1110 c.a.).Some authors with hagiographic aim,sustained their origin from Balthazar,one of the three Magi (the Comet in the Coat-of-Arms was used since remote times).

One of the Most prestigeous family ( Les Baux de Provence) was already famous and powerful,the des Baux were independent Lords,castellan of Les Baux and Arles and wielded very considerable authority at local level ,holding cospicuous fiefs and vaste lands (Vienne,Marseilles,Berry,Bruges, Montpellier,..), they followed Charles I of Anjou in the conquest of the Kingdom of Naples (1263), with Barral, Lord of the "State" of Les Baux (Balzo Balcio, Baltio, Baucio, Baux). Barral one of the winner in the Battle of Benevento ,against the Hoenstaufen was created Count of Avellino by King Charles and was the founder of the most illustrious branch of the family ,was also Great Justiciar of the Realm.

Bertrand, Seigneur of Berre, followed also Charles of Anjou was created Justiciar of the Abruzzi,he received various lands in this province and fought for Charles in Campania,founder of the branch of the Counts of Montescaglioso and Dukes of Andria, enriched with other titles Count of Bisceglie, of Copertino and Duke of Venosa

The del Balzo/des Baux were merely the most famous of several important families who linked the two cornerstone of Charle's empire,Provence and the Realm(Regno)

Giovanni Antonio del Balzo-Orsini powerful Prince of Taranto(1406) ,who owned seven archbishoprics,thirty bishoprics,and over 300 castles,and traveled from Salerno to Taranto without ever setting foot outside his own lands.

Very relevant, was the political role, that several members of this important family,one of the seven greatest of the Realm , managed during the Angevin and Aragonese ruling.They received waste lands and fiefs in recognition of their service:( Earldom: :Acerra 1453, Avellino 1418, Montescaglioso 1307 , Soleto 1443, Ugento 1493, Copertino 1283……. Dukedom: Andria 1494, Nardo' 1497, Venosa 1499… Princedom: : Altamura 1467 , Taranto 1387..)Important relations with Royal Dynasty, Francesco, son of Bertrand first Duke of Andria, married with Margherita of Anjou

Antonia and Giacomo,the first married Federico III d'Aragona, King of Sicilia, and the second Agnese of Anjou; Isabella, daughter of Pirro, prince of Altamura the most powerful Lord of the Realm, executed ,because was one of the inspirer of the Magnates Conspiracy against Ferrante of Aragon King of Naples (1486) married Federico King of Naples ,last of the Aragonese Dynasty.

The del Balzo of Naples ,descend from Battista , to whom Ferrante I° of Aragon King of the Kingdom Naples(1458-1494) in recognition of his service and military help , conceded in1465 the fiefs of S. Croce ,Casa Selvatica and Mirabello. Battista married Cecca of Monfort niece of Guglielmo Count of Campobasso.The sons Vincenzo e Francesco were received by the city of Capua with special Honours . From Vincenzo came the branch of the Barons of S. Croce, extinguished late 18th Century. Francesco was the founder of the Schiavi Lordship ,Dukedom in 1681 ,then Dukes of Caprigliano in 1696 ,then Barons and Dukes of Presenzano{1734).

The Battista branch descend from the second brother of William,last Duke of Andria, Bianchino.In 1615 the cousins of Battista, Scipione and Geronimo del Balzo, claimed at The Council of the Kingdom to regain the lawful possession of the ancient Chapel in the Church of Santa Chiara in Naples, Chapel still today held by the family.

This branch was also holding Lordships since 1465, received in 1590 in the Order of Malta ,had also five concessions of Dukedoms and one on the family name (1868). One Earldom was granted in 1830, when Francesco,General of the Neapolitan Army, married Queen Isabella ,widow and mother of Francis I of Bourbon King of the Two Sicilies.

The two branches Presenzano and Caprigliano, are in the early XX Century represented by NICOLA, of Nicola, of Pasquale, Duke of Presenzano (mpr.), noble of Capua (m.), Don e Donna , Knight of Honour and Dev. of the Ord. of Malta, b. in Napoli 24 dec. 1884 from Nicola and Enrichetta Ciccarelli Marchioness of Cesavolpe, marr. in Napoli to nob. donna Maria Consuelo Alvarez de Toledo of the Dukes of Bivona, dama of the Order of Malta.

Oncles (sons of Pasquale husband in first wedding to Concetta Bassano dei Marchesi di Tufillo and in second wedding Giulia dei marchesi Brancia dei Principi di Apricena

1° GENNARO, b. 12 dec. 1859 ,died 1929, marr. 20 mar 1897 donna Maria Giovanna Granito Pignatelli dei Principi di Belmonte e dei Marchesi di Castellabate

Issues :

a) RAIMONDO, ( 14 genn. 1898 -3 mag. 1969), magistrato, Gran Priore di Roma del Sovr.Militare Ordine di Malta ,Bali' di Gran Croce di Giustizia, Camer. di Spada e Cappa di S.S.Giovanni XXIII.

b) GIOACCHINO, n. 17 giugno 1900, marr. in I924 Ida Lanzara. Ufficiale di artiglieria di complemento, Cavaliere di On.e Dev. Ordine di Malta. Sons of Gioacchino:

bb) Don Raimondo, ( 1925 -1984) sp.Anna Maria Visocchi da cui:

(1) Don Antonello n.1948
(2) Donna Isabella n.1950

cc) Donna Emilia, n. 1926.sp.il15 giugno 1946 Bar. Don Ferdinando Acton Principe di Leporano

c) MARIA (1901-1993)

d) STEFANIA, ( 1902-1980)

e) ed f) FRANCESCO ed ANTONIO***, gemelli, nati 6 nov. 1903

g) LAURA, nata il 17 maggio 1908.

Ascendenza di Gioacchino del Balzo di Presenzano


***Don Antonio,nob di Capua,Cav.di On. e Devoz. del S.M.Ordine di Malta, Dottore in Scienze Agrarie, n. a Napoli 6 Nov. 1903 + 31 Mar.1947, sposa a Napoli 4 Dicembre 1929, Donna Margherita Ferrara Pignatelli dei Principi di Strongoli Dama di Onore e Devozione dell'Ordine di Malta f. di Ferdinando Bar. di Silvi e Castiglione, maritali nomine Pr. di Strongoli (R.D. 29 Marzo 1928) e di Donna Emilia Pignatelli, Princ. del S.R.I, Princ. di Strongoli e Cont. di Melissa. f.di Don Luigi (1842-1907) ,Pr. di Strongoli e di Donna Carolina dei Baroni Barracco (1854-1933).

Issues:

a) Donna CAROLINA dama di On.e Dev del S.M.O.M. n. a Napoli 1930 sp. a Don Francesco Pironti Duca di Campagna Cav di On. e Dev del S.M.O.M. Patrizio di Ravello il 9 dic 1954, da cui: (1) Don Luigi n.a Napoli 1956 (2) Don Riccardo n.a Roma 1959.

b) Don GENNARO n. a Napoli 1932 Cav .di On e Dev del S.M.O.M. Dottore in Scienze Agrarie sp. a Carla Valsecchi l' 8 Ott.1956, da cui:

(1) Donna Eugenia n.a Roma 1957
(2) Don Antonio n. a Napoli 1961
(3) Donna Francesca n.a Salerno 1966
(4) Don Raimondo n.a Salerno 1972

c) Don FERDINANDO n. a Napoli 1934 Cav di On.e Dev. Del S.M.O.M. Dott. in Chimica sp. a Carla dei Conti d'Amelio il 10 Genn. 1959 da cui:

(1) Donna Ughetta n. a Roma 1959
(2) Donna Leandra n.a Roma 1961
(3) Donna Margherita n. a Roma 1962
(4) Donna Anna Maria n.a Roma 1964
(5) Don Ludovico Pio n.a Roma 1970

d) Don Gioacchino b. in Napoli il 9 Apr 1945 Knight of Honour and Devotion of S.M. Ordine di Malta e Gran Croce di On.e Dev.(1982) Dott. in Scienze Economiche(1969) Member of AIDIM - Milano Associazione Italiana per Il Marketing Interattivo(1998) Gia' Dirigente Industriale(1982-1998), gia' Consigliere della Unione Industriali -Roma -sezione Juniors (1978-1983). Marketing and P.R. Consultant (1998) Commendatore al Merito della Repubblica (1982) Consigliere dell'O.I.G.A. s.r.l.(1999)


2° (Seconde Nozze) MARIA n.23 Dic 1861

3° FRANCESCO (n. 1863 m. 1916), Spos. 27 giugno 1889 a nob.Carolina Pugnetti

Figli di Francesco (nati tutti a Napoli):

a) Giulia, n, 27 aprile 1890
b) Anna, n. 26 apr. 1891.
c) Maria del Rosario, n. 11 maggio 1892
d) Pasquale, n. 14 Ott. 1893, ferito e decorato croce di guerra.
e) Carmen, n. 23 febbr. 1895.
f) Gerardo, (1896-1951), ufficiale di artíglieria di complemento e decorato croce di guerra.
g) Margherita,, n. 18 ott.1897
h) Enrico, n. 22 luglio 1899, uffic. d'artiglieria di complemento e decorato croce di guerra..
i) Mario, n. 9 sett. 1900, uff. di artig. di complemento.
l) Carlo, n. 15 dic. 1902.
m) Beatrice, n. 16 luglio 1904.
n) Giovanni Battista. n. 22 sett. 1905.
o) Bertrando, n. 24 nov. 1906.
p) Clara, n.3 agosto 1909.
q) Luigi, n. 8 luglio 1911.

4° FILIPPO, n. 19 aprile 1868, cav. di giustizia ordine di Malta, commendatore della Corona d'Italia.

5° FELICIA, n. 14,nov. 1869, spos. (1900) al conte Eduardo Garin di Cocconato.

7° GIOACCHINO, n. 19 sett. 1873, uff. Regia Marina, spos. 8 febbr. 1902 alla nob. Giuseppina Malvinni Malvezzi dei Duchi di S.Candida

Figli: a) GIULIO ( 1903 -1993 ) ,Ambasciatore d'Italia, dott. in giurisprudenza, Bali' Gran Croce d'Obbedienza del S.M.O.M. , Presidente dell'Ass.Cav.It. del S.M.O.M sp. a Roma il 9 genn 1938 nob.Elisa Cavalletti dei Marchesi dell'Oliveto Sabino Patr. Romana, da cui:

(1) Don Raimondo n.1939
(2) Don Cristiano n.1941
(3) Don Luca n.1945
(4) Don Ludovico n.1951
(5) Don Renato n. 1953

b)VINCENZA, n.18 Dic.1904 .spos. Alberto Visocchi

c) MARIA ROSARIA n.27 sett 1906 + 1 ott 1976 sp. nob.Cav. Don Renato Prunas ,Ambasciatore d'Italia .

Linea-secondogenita di Presenzano.

Conte GIUSEPPE, fu del conte generale Francesco, e fu nob. Giulia Carignani dei duchi di Novoli n. in Napoli 15 febbr.1871, Spos. 26 gennaio 1891 alla Nob.Laura Caracciolo Rocco Stella di S. Eramo.

Figli (nati tutti in Napoli):
a) Giulia n.2 genn.1892
b) Emmanuela, n. 11 dic. 1893
c) Maria, n. 30 marzo 1895
d) Bianca, n. 15 agosto. 1899
e) Ernesto, n. 7 agosto I902, uff. di cavalleria.

The branch of Caprigliano was represented in the early XX century by ERNESTO of Francesco,of Raffaele

Duca del Balzo ,Duca di Caprigliano (mpr), nob. di Capua (m.), b. in Napoli, 11 aprile I845, marr.il 25 febbr. 1868 Lady Dorotea Walpoole di Orazio, figlia del Conte di Orford, Pari d'Inghilterra.

Sister: ADELAIDE, b. in Napoli 10 genn. 1843, dama di Palazzo della Regina Margherita marr.with Francesco Pignatelli, Principe di Strongoli.

Zio cugino:
a) GIOVAN BATTISTA, di Antonio e di Maria d'Ayala Valva dei Marchesi di Valva n.a Napoli il 3 nov.1898 + 6 marzo 1983 sp. a Napoli il 29 Apr.1922 donna Clotilde Capece Minutolo di Bugnano dei duchi di Miranda.

Duca del Balzo ,Duca di Caprigliano. Da cui:

(1) Don Vincenzo Alessandro n.1923
(2) Donna Maria Teresa n.1924
(3) Don Antonio n.1926
(4) Don Francesco n.1926
(5) Donna Stefanella n.1931
(6) Don Fabrizio n.1935

FRATELLI E SORELLE

b) Don Luciano (1899-1980)
c) Donna Teresa (1900-1957)
d) Donna Maria Antonia n.1902
c) Donna Dorotea (1904-1976)
d) Don Ernesto(1906-1979)


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History Pignatelli family


Historical Notes on Neapolitan Nobility and Aristocracy

There were many States in Historical Italy,each with a separate nobility.

They differed in structure, wealth and power.

After the unification of Italy previous Nobility laws and customs were maintained.

Historically, since the introduction of the Feudal System,Titles were granted by Emperors ,Kings(German,Austrian,French,Spanish) and Popes,in addition Powerful Lords (Milan Dukes, Tuscany ,Venice,Parma...) also conceded Titles To local Aristocracy.

The hereditary Titles of Principe,Duca,Marchese,Conte,Barone were granted by Patent Letter by Emperors,Popes and Kings out of the Feudal System of the Holy Roman Empire.

The Status of Patrizio is related to the City of origin.

The Title of Don means Noble Rank and The Consulta Araldica(Italian authority after the unification ,which supervised the Titles recognition and concession) in 1929 granted this historical custom (Don and Donna) only to those Feudal Families(mainly Naples and Sicily) of Princes ,Dukes , the Roman Nobility and some Lombard Families.

When the Italian Republic was established in 1946,all Titles were abolished, but the Noble Families recognized before 1928, were authorized to incorporate the title on the surname.

Naples (Dukedom then Realm)

All Conquerors of Southern Italy adopted the Feudal System, Land possession was divided in Fiefs since the Lombard invasion in 590-839 AD (the first Dukedom was established in Benevento in 758 AD).
With the Normans invasion (Tancredi and Roger d'Hauteville 1060-1194) a further implementation was undertaken, but mainly from the Lombard feudal structure than the Frankish.

The Hohenstaufen with Conrad and Frederick (1194-1266) introduced the Female Succession.The conquest of the Realm by Charles I of Anjou (1266) ,in order to avoid collaterals succession established the concept of legitimate descendants.

Under the Angevins (1262-1441) and Aragonese(1442-1495) ruling not changements were made.

With the Emperor Charles V (Spanish Ruling 1503) the system was modified as the last descendant died ,remote and collateral lines must succeed male and/or female.

During the Reign of Philip II of Spain (1595) and Charles VI of Austria( 1720) was introduced the Male succession in spite of Female with equal right.

The titles of Princes and Dukes were granted outside the Royal Family already under the Angevins and Aragonese ruling (Queen Jeanne I 1343 and Alfonso the Magnanimous 1442): Prince of Taranto (1373) to Giacomo del Balzo;Duke of Andria(1343) to Francesco del Balzo;Prince of Salerno (1442) to Antonello Sanseverino....

Under the Spanish Viceroyalty and ruling (1504-1707) titles were distributed lavishly.

With the arrival of The Bourbons (1740-1799 and the restoration 1805-1861) the practice of a husband to adopt the title of the woman was officially legitimate. The titles of Prince in the Royal Family were allowed only to primogeniture of Males.

During the Napoleon Ruling (1799-1815) the Feudalism was officially abolished by Joseph Bonaparte (1806), but all titles granted were confirmed by Ferdinand IV of Bourbon ,King of the Two Sicilies.




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