The Imperiali (or Imperiale) family is a

prince A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. Th ...

ly noble family. It is one of the most important Italian families and was a key protagonist of European history among aristocratic families. Originating from the

Republic of Genoa The Republic of Genoa ( lij, Repúbrica de Zêna ; it, Repubblica di Genova; la, Res Publica Ianuensis) was a medieval and early modern maritime republic from the 11th century to 1797 in Liguria on the northwestern Italian coast. During the Lat ...

it was previously named Tartaro (10th century), and descends from the

House of Ventimiglia The Ventimiglia were a noble family of Liguria, now in Italy. Descendants of the family held positions and titles of nobility in Sicily in Mediaeval times and later. Members of the family * Giovanni I Ventimiglia (1383–1475), eighth count o ...

. It was one of the most powerful families dominating the city's politics in the 17th and 18th century and owned a vast amount of land in Italy.

Titles

The various titles of the Imperiali family acquired over years are the following: *

Grandees of Spain Grandees of Spain ( es, Grandes de España) are the highest-ranking members of the Spanish nobility. They comprise nobles who hold the most important historical landed titles in Spain or its former colonies. Many such hereditary titles are held ...

* Princes of Francavilla (1639) * Princes of

Sant'Angelo dei Lombardi Sant'Angelo dei Lombardi is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Avellino in the Campania region of southern Italy. It has been a historical spot of significance in mezzogiorno history. Information Geography Just on a hilltop near the Fredano ...

(1718) * Princes of

Montafia Montafia is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Asti in the Italian region Piedmont, located about southeast of Turin and about northwest of Asti. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 986 and an area of .All demographics and ...

(1725) * Princes of Castagneto (1789) * Marquises of

Latiano Latiano ( Brindisino: ; Leccese: ) is a ''comune'' in the province of Brindisi in Apulia, on the southeast coast of Italy. Its main economic activities are tourism and the growing of olives and grapes. Bartolo Longo Bartolo Longo (February 1 ...

(1668) * Marquises of Oyra (1572) * Marquises of

Livorno Livorno () is a port city on the Ligurian Sea on the western coast of Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Livorno, having a population of 158,493 residents in December 2017. It is traditionally known in English as Leghorn (pronou ...

(1725) * Marquises of

Pianezza Pianezza is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Turin in the Italian region Piedmont, located about northwest of Turin Turin ( , Piedmontese language, Piedmontese: ; it, Torino ) is a city and an important business and cu ...

(1725) * Marquises of Roatta (1725) * Marquises of Casetelnuovo (1725) * Marquises of

Moretta Moretta is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont, located about southwest of Turin and about north of Cuneo. As of 1-1-2017, it had a population of 4 141 and an area of .All demographics and other st ...

(1725) * Marquises of Dego (1725) * Marquises of Cagna (1725) * Marquises of

Giusvalla Giusvalla ( lij, Giüsvala, pms, Giusvâla) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Savona in the Italian region Liguria, located about west of Genoa and about northwest of Savona. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 439 an ...

(1725) * Marquises of Piana nel Monferrato (1725)

Cardinals of the Catholic Church

The Imperiali family possessed a strong presence in religion and had three cardinals: Lorenzo Imperiali (1612-1673).

Giuseppe Renato Imperiali Giuseppe Renato Imperiali (1 May 1651 – 18 February 1737) was an Italian cardinal, and known as an avid bibliophile. Biography He was born in Francavilla Fontana in Apulia, in the Kingdom of Naples, into an aristocratic family which had com ...

(1651-1737) participated in the papal enclave after the death of

Pope Innocent X Pope Innocent X ( la, Innocentius X; it, Innocenzo X; 6 May 1574 – 7 January 1655), born Giovanni Battista Pamphilj (or Pamphili), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 15 September 1644 to his death in January ...

and was only one vote short of being elected pope. Cosimo Imperiali (1685-1764): Born in Genoa, he was great-grand-nephew of Cardinal Lorenzo Imperiali, nephew of Cardinal

, and cousin of Cardinal

Giuseppe Spinelli Giuseppe Spinelli (1 February 1694 – 12 April 1763) was an Italian cardinal. He was prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. Biography A native of Naples, he was the son of Giambattista Spinelli, marquis of Fuscaldo, prin ...

. He was made cardinal in 1753. He participated in the Conclave of 1758, that elected

Pope Clement XIII Pope Clement XIII ( la, Clemens XIII; it, Clemente XIII; 7 March 1693 – 2 February 1769), born Carlo della Torre di Rezzonico, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 6 July 1758 to his death in February 1769. ...

Historical Buildings

Palazzo Imperiali in Genova

The palace was built in around 1560 for Giovan Vicenzo Imperiale.

Villa Imperiali in Genova

The villa was purchased by the Imperiali family from the Catteneo. Its gardens are currently open to the public and the building is host to the communal library known as "Lercari".

Castle of Francavilla Fontana

Originally built in 1455 by Giovanni Antonio del Balzo

Orsini Orsini is a surname of Italian origin, originally derived from Latin ''ursinus'' ("bearlike") and originating as an epithet or sobriquet describing the name-bearer's purported strength. Notable people with the surname include the following: *Angel ...

. It was purchased by the Imperiali family from S. Carlo Borromeo, from the

House of Borromeo ), type=Noble family, country=, estates= Rocca d'Angera Palazzo Borromeo, Milan Castel of Peschiera Borromeo Borromean Islands Villa Borromeo, Arcore, titles=* Prince of Angera * Marquess of Romagnano * Count of Arona * Count of Peschiera * Lo ...

, in the 16th century for 40,000 ounces of gold.

Castle Imperiali di Villa Castelli

The castle was purchased by the Imperiali in the 17th century from the

family.

Castello di Sant'Angelo dei Lombardi

The building dates back to the 10th century. Major works were carried out by the

Caracciolo Caracciolo () is an Italian surname most associated with the noble House of Carácciolo from the Kingdom of Naples. Other people with the name include: * Alberto Caracciolo, Argentinian musician * Andrea Caracciolo, Italian footballer * Battiste ...

family in the 17th century and by Prince Placido Imperiale after purchasing the building. The

1980 Irpinia earthquake The 1980 Irpinia earthquake ( it, Terremoto dell'Irpinia) took place in Italy on 23 November 1980, with a moment magnitude of 6.9 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of X (''Extreme''). It left at least 2,483 people dead, at least 7,700 injured, an ...

severely damaged the building's structure. Arco Cellamare 02

Palazzo Imperiali di Latiano

Palazzo Imperiali-Filotico di Manduria

Palazzo Imperiali a Avetrana

Palazzo Imperiali a Salza Irpina

Villa Imperiali a Vicenza

Palazzo Cellamare The Palazzo Cellamare or Cellammare is a monumental palace located in via Chiaia 139 in the Quartiere San Ferdinando of Naples, Italy. The entrance is near the church of Santa Caterina a Chiaia. History The palace was erected in the 16th century ...

Torre dell'Antoglietta

Famous members

Michele Imperiali Simeana, Prince of Montena and Francavilla Michele Imperiali Simeana, Prince of Montena and Francavilla (before 1736–1782) was a Spanish grandee and collector of classical sculpture, who also acted as major domo to the King of Naples and was a Knight of the Golden Fleece from 1770 onwards. ...

(c1736-1782). *Davide Imperiale (1540-1612). * Giovanni Vincenzo Imperiale (1582-1648), politician. *Giulio I Imperiale (1680-1738), first prince of Sant'Angelo dei Lombardi. *

Caterina Imperiale Lercari Pallavicini Caterina Imperiale Pallavicini (also spelled "Catharina"; pen name, Arsinda Poliades; floruit, fl. 1721) was an 18th-century Neo-Latin (New Latin) poet from the greater Genoa region. Her work, which was published in the collections of the Pontifical ...

(fl. 1721),

Neo-Latin New Latin (also called Neo-Latin or Modern Latin) is the revival of Literary Latin used in original, scholarly, and scientific works since about 1500. Modern scholarly and technical nomenclature, such as in zoological and botanical taxonomy ...

poet and member of the

Pontifical Academy of Arcadia The Accademia degli Arcadi or Accademia dell'Arcadia, "Academy of Arcadia" or "Academy of the Arcadians", was an Italian literary academy founded in Rome in 1690. The full Italian official name was Pontificia Accademia degli Arcadi. History F ...

. *The Marquis

Guglielmo Imperiali Marquis Guglielmo Imperiali (19 August 1858 – 20 January 1944) was an Italian nobleman and diplomat. A liberal associated with the political left, he was a scion of the conservative Imperiali family.Grassi Orsini (2004) His most important posi ...

(1858-1944), diplomat. *The Marquis

Pierre Imperiali The Marquis Pierre Guillaume Imperiali des Princes de Francavilla (17 May 1874 – 10 January 1940) was a Belgian politician. As a member of the Catholic Party, he served as a member of the parliament (1912–1919), and later senator. He is known ...

(1874-1940) (second cousin of Guglielmo), Belgian politician and senator, inventor of the

Imperiali quota The Imperiali quota is a formula used to calculate the minimum number, or quota, of votes required to capture a seat in some forms of single transferable vote or largest remainder method party-list proportional representation voting systems. It i ...

and of the

Imperiali method A highest-averages method, also called a divisor method, is a class of methods for allocating seats in a parliament among agents such as political parties or federal states. A divisor method is an iterative method: at each iteration, the number ...

. *Giovanni Imperiali d'Afflitto di Francavilla (1890-1983) Italian army general in the first and second world war. Descendant from the princely House d’Afflitto. *

Katie Boyle Caterina Irene Elena Maria Boyle, Lady Saunders (née Imperiali dei Principi di Francavilla; 29 May 1926 – 20 March 2018), usually known as Katie Boyle, was an Italian-born British actress, writer, radio announcer, television personality, gam ...

(1926–2018), daughter of the Marchese Demetrio Imperiali di Francavilla and his English wife, was a British television personality, game-show panelist and animal rights activist, very well known from the 1960s on.Boyle, Katie, ''What This Katie Did: An Autobiography''.Littlehampton Book Services Ltd, 1st edition (9 October 1980); .

References

Bibliography

*Gian Domenico Oltrona Visconti, Imperialis Familia, Piacenza 1999.

External links

The Castello Imperiali at Francavilla Fontana

* ttps://web.archive.org/web/20110929061801/http://www.comunediandretta.it/Viaggiatori%20in%20Irpinia.htm The journey of Gian Vincenzo Imperiale in 1633
History and biographies of the Imperiali of Genova and of the Sant'Angelo branch

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