Orsini family

The Orsini are a widespread Roman noble family descended from the Roman family of the Bobonen and had 1100-1900 a significant part in the history of Italy. From the Orsini family were three popes, 24 cardinals and numerous other high dignitaries of the Church and secular princes.

History

The Orsini dive under the name Ursus first time in the late 9th century and appear already in the 10th century among the important Roman noble families. Napoleone Orsini acquired in 1246 an area on a hill opposite the Castel Sant'Angelo and put a castle-palace (in the 19th century. Overbuilt from Palazzo Taverna ). His brother Matteo Rosso Orsini (1178-1246) acquired large possessions between Rome and Siena, who formed the core of the family estates of Mugnano, Bracciano and Monterotondo. In the city of Rome Campo Marzio district of the Orsini lived in many, piled on ancient monuments palaces.

In the 12-13. Century were the Orsini near the Franciscan Order. Matteo Rosso Orsini was a friend of Francis of Assisi and Franciscan Tertiary was. His son Giovanni Gaetano Orsini was a cardinal in 1263 until his election as Pope, protector of the Franciscan Order, when Pope Nicholas III. he gave an interpretation of the Franciscan rule usus pauper poverty, which was controversial. A nephew of Matteo Rosso Orsini, Cardinal Matteo Orsini Rubeo was also protector of the Franciscans.

Since the pontificate of Celestine III as Hyacinto Bobo. fought the family of Bobonen as representatives of the Guelphs long time exasperated with the Ghibelline Colonna to the ruling position in Rome. The influential Roman senator Matteo Rosso Orsini made ​​after the death of Pope Gregory IX. Include the cardinals to elect the successor in 1241 at the Palazzo del Settizonio on the Palatine, so that this election for the first conclave at a papal election was.

In the wake of the Fourth Crusade, members of the family also acquired possessions in Greece. They founded with the help of the Venetians, the county palatine of Cephalonia. 1318 was Nicola Orsini dominion over the course already obtain very reduced Despotate of Epirus.

From the second son of Matteo Rosso Orsini, Napoleone, Lord of Petigliano, came from all subsequent main lines of this family.

A Giovanni Orsini was Sciarra Colonna with Cola di Rienzo fall after Senator of Rome; whose fourth son, Francesco Orsini, was since 1417 Graf 1436 Duke of Gravina. He thus became the progenitor of today alone still flourishing line of the Dukes of Gravina Orsini.

Between 1500 and 1958, the Orsini shared with the Colonna, the dignity of a second prince of the Papal See ( principe assistente al soglio ), which was hereditary since 1735. In the 16th century they joined many marriage alliances with the family of Pope Paul III. , The Farnese.

The line of the Dukes of Gravina received in 1560 the papal title of duke.

The Orsini were princes of the Empire in 1625, 1723 Papal Prince.

Since 1854, the firstborn bore the title of Principe romano with the privilege as " Worldly throne assistant " to assist in the papal mass.

Palazzo Orsini in Monterotondo

Palazzo Orsini in Pitigliano

Castello Orsini Odescalchi in Bracciano -

Castello Orsini Nerola

Palazzo Orsini in Bomarzo

Sacro Bosco ( Parco dei Monstri ) in Bomarzo

Palazzo Orsini in Fara in Sabina

Palazzo Orsini Gravina in Naples

Palazzo Orsini in Milan

Popes

Three Popes came from the Orsini family:

• Celestine III. (* About 1106 as Giacinto Bobone, Jacinto Bobo or Bobo Hyacinto, † 1198 ), 1191-1198 Pope
• Nicholas III. ( Giovanni Gaetano Orsini born, * 1210-1220, † 1280 ), since 1277 Pope
• Benedict XIII. (Born Pietro Francesco Orsini, * 1649, † 1730), since 1724 Pope

Nicholas III. (1277-1280)

Benedict XIII. (1724-1730)

In addition, from the family came several cardinals and some saints refer the main article: nepotism to the Holy See

Count Palatine of Cephalonia and Despot of Epirus

• Maio I. Count Palatine of Cephalonia 1195-1238
• Maio II Count Palatine of Cephalonia 1238-1259
• Ricardo Count Palatine of Cephalonia 1259-1304, Count of Gravina 1284-1291
• Giovanni I. Count Palatine of Cephalonia 1304-1317
• Nikola Count Palatine of Cephalonia 1317-1323, Despot of Epirus 1318-1323
• Giovanni II, Count Palatine of Cephalonia 1323-1325, Despot of Epirus 1323-1335
• Nikephoros II despot of Epirus 1335-1359

Prince of Taranto

The kings of Naples made ​​members of the Orsini del Balzo family temporarily to the Prince of Taranto:

Dukes of Gravina

• Francesco Orsini († 1456 ), Conte di Gravina e Campagna, since 1436 Duca di Gravina, son of Giovanni Orsini († 1439), Roman senator
• Giacomo Orsini, whose son, called Jacobello († 1472 ), 1456 2nd Duca di Gravina, Conte di Campagna, father of Lorenzo I de ' Medici
• Raimondo Orsini, whose son, 3rd Duke of Gravina
• Francesco Orsini, whose son, 4th Duke of Gravina, of Cesare Borgia strangled on 18 January 1503.
• Don Ferdinando I. Orsini († 1549), whose son, 5th Duke of Gravina
• Don Antonio Orsini († 1553), whose son, 6th Duca di Gravina
• Don Ferdinando II Orsini (1538-1583), whose son, 7th Duke of Gravina
• Don Michele Antonio I Orsini († 1627 ), whose son, 8th Duca di Gravina
• Donna Maria Felice Orsini († 1647), whose sister, 9 Duchessa di Gravina; dispensed with in favor of the title and sold the fief and the city of Gravina in 1639 to
• Don Pietro Francesco Orsini († 1641), called Ducapatre, 10th Duca di Gravina, nephew of Cardinal Flavio Orsini,
• Don Ferdinando III. Orsini (1623-1658), whose son, 11 Duca di Gravina, 2nd Principe di Solofra and Count of Muro Lucano
• Don Pietro Francesco Orsini (1649-1730), whose son, 12 Duca di Gravina, etc., 1724, Benedict XIII. pope
• Don Domenico I. Orsini (1652-1705), whose brother, since 1667 13 Duca di Gravina
• Don Ferdinando Bernualdo Filippo Orsini (1685-1734), whose son, 14 Duca di Gravina, 1724 Prince of Roccagorga, Imperial Prince with the title Highness ( " Celsissimus " )
• Don Domenico Orsini II (1719-1789), 15th Duke of Gravina, etc.; he entered the ecclesiastical state, and therefore refrained 1760 on title and rule in favor of his son
• Don Filippo Bernualdo Orsini (1742-1824), 16-17. Duca di Gravina, 7 Principe di Solofra (The enumeration varies since the mid-18th century ). Since his son Domenico Orsini (* 1765 ) died early as 1790, his grandson followed him
• Don Domenico Orsini (1790-1874), as 17-18 Duca di Gravina, Prince Roman since 1854 ( Principe romano )
• Don Filippo Orsini (1842-1924), whose son, 18-19. Duca di Gravina, 6 Roman Prince
• Don Domenico Napoleone Orsini (1868-1947), whose son, 19-20. Duca di Gravina, 10th Principe di Solofra, 9th Principe di Vallata, 6th Principe di Roccagorga
• Virginio Orsini (1892-1942), [ 21 Duca di Gravina etc.]
• Filippo Orsini (1920-1984), whose son, [ 22 Duca di Gravina etc.]
• Domenico Napoleone Orsini ( b. 1948 ), whose son, [ 23 Duca di Gravina, 13th Principe di Solofra, 12th Principe di Vallata, 9th Principe di Roccagorga ]

Dukes of Bracciano

• Paolo Giordano Orsini I. (1541-1585), 1560 1st Duke of Bracciano
• Virginio Orsini (1572-1615), whose son, 2nd Duke of Bracciano, 1629 Prince of the Empire, Knights of the Golden Fleece
• Paolo Giordano III. Orsini († 1645), whose son, Duke of Bracciano
• Ferdinand IV Orsini, whose brother, the Duke of Bracciano
• Flavio Orsini († 1698 ), whose son, Duke of Bracciano; ∞ Marie- Anne de La Trémoille

The line went out with Flavio's death.

Other family members

• Francesco Napoleone Orsini, († 1312), Cardinal of the Catholic Church
• Clarice Orsini (1453-1488), since 1468 the wife of Lorenzo I de ' Medici
• Alfonsina Orsini (1472-1520), since 1487 the wife of Piero II de ' Medici
• Giovanni Battista Orsini, († 1503), Cardinal of the Catholic Church
• Giordano Orsini (cardinal 1145 ) ( † 1165 ), Italian ecclesiastic, cardinal
• Giordano Orsini (cardinal 1278 ) ( † 1287 ), Italian ecclesiastic, cardinal
• Giordano Orsini (cardinal 1405) ( 1360/1370-1438 ), Italian priest, Archbishop of Naples and Cardinal
• Giordano Orsini ( condottieri ) ( † 1484 ), Italian Condottiere
• Giordano Orsini di Monterotondo (1525-1564), Italian Condottiere
• Gerolama Orsini (* 1503, † 1570)
• Vicino Orsini (1523-1585), military officer, politician, philosopher, patron, architect of the Sacro Bosco in Bomarzo