House of Carafa

The Carafa were one of the most important Italian aristocratic families of the early modern period.

The family coat of arms shows three silver cross beams in red, it was shown later with a green sloping spine beams and various other additions.

The family came from Naples and grew in the 13th and 14th centuries to become one of the leading noble families in the Kingdom of Naples. With Filippo Carafa acquired in 1378 the first of 15 Carafa cardinal's hat; thus summed up the family in Rome feet and began to expand their influence in Italy. Oliviero Carafa complaining that the relationship of the family of Thomas Aquinas, which was in a fresco by Filippino Lippi in the Carafa Chapel of the church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, which was Olivieros grave laying manifested. As a typical Cardinal of the Renaissance, he used his position to sponsor several family members and, for example, to participate in the economic yield of monasteries.

Gian Pietro Carafa Olivieros nephew ascended in 1555 when Pope Paul IV the Chair of Peter. Through the alliance with France and the subsequent war against Spain, which was to supply the family with its own rule territory, but with the occupation of the Papal States by the Duke of Alba and the Peace of Cave - Palestrina ended. Paul IV strengthened before his pontificate he led Inquisition and made her feared control authority against anyone. After his death in 1559 sentenced him the city of Rome in a posthumous process to death, a statue of him was representative ' beheaded and thrown into the Tiber. Two of his nephews, Carlo (1519-1561) and Giovanni († 1561), who were involved in the military ambitions of her uncle and knew ruthlessly to benefit from the position of their papal uncle, were sentenced to death in 1561. In order for the withdrawal of various asset Title of the family was connected - their position in Italy was ruined.

Some years later, the Carafa were rehabilitated and regained some of their possessions. Comparable influence in the political life of Italy, however, they did not reach. Numerous members of the Carafa were Archbishops of Naples, from the other descendants soar of Field Marshal Antonio Carafa (1642-1691), who fought for the Habsburgs against the Turks and Hungarian insurgents, and the composer Rossini and contemporary Michele Carafa forth.