The Simonetti family is an Italian noble family with origins in Tuscany. During the 12th Century different branches in Florence, Terni, Lucca,

Pistoia Pistoia (, is a city and ''comune'' in the Italian region of Tuscany, the capital of a province of the same name, located about west and north of Florence and is crossed by the Ombrone Pistoiese, a tributary of the River Arno. It is a typi ...

and Pescia developed. Other famous branches of this family were established in Jesi,

Palermo Palermo ( , ; scn, Palermu , locally also or ) is a city in southern Italy, the capital (political), capital of both the autonomous area, autonomous region of Sicily and the Metropolitan City of Palermo, the city's surrounding metropolitan ...

, Milan and Bologna. Members of this family have held different titles since the Middle Ages, among them: ''Lords of Jesi'', ''Princes of Musone'', ''marquis'', ''Barons'' in the kingdom of Naples and Rome, ''counts'' in the kingdom of Italy and Bologna, senators and Consuls of Rome and the Kingdom of Italy. The Simonetti also held positions in the Republic of Florence and the Republic of Lucca, among them priori of the signoria, gonfaloniere, captains, members of the council of the elders and the leadership of the

Guelph party The Guelphs and Ghibellines (, , ; it, guelfi e ghibellini ) were factions supporting the Pope and the Holy Roman Emperor, respectively, in the Italian city-states of Central Italy and Northern Italy. During the 12th and 13th centuries, riv ...

Origin of the family

According to

Eugenio Gamurrini Eugenio is an Italian and Spanish masculine given name deriving from the Greek 'Eugene'. The name is Eugénio in Portuguese and Eugênio in Brazilian Portuguese. The name's translated literal meaning is well born, or of noble status. Similar de ...

and

Ludovico Jacobilli Ludovico Jacobilli ("Ludovicus Jacobillus" in Latin) was an Italian hagiographer and historian, a priest at Foligno Foligno (; Southern Umbrian: ''Fuligno'') is an ancient town of Italy in the province of Perugia in east central Umbria, on th ...

the Simonetti from Terni, Milan, Florence, Jesi, Lucca, Osimo, Cingoli, had a single origin. Gamurrini linked the Florentine branch of the family to medieval Lucca but could not find the common ancestor that linked the Simonetti from Tuscany to the Simonetti from Jesi. He pointed to other facts that indicated the connection and the earlier research done by Jacobilli. According to Jacobilli the Simonetti branches were all descendants of a single line of Lombard barons that held fiefs in central Italy. Gamurrini in his ''Istoria genealogica delle famiglie nobili Toscane et Umbre'' studied manuscripts that linked the Simonetti of Milan, Lucca and Florence to Teuprando, a Lombard lord living in Lucca and a descendant of

Aripert I Aripert I (also spelled ''Aribert'') was king of the Lombards (653–661) in Italy. He was the son of Gundoald, Duke of Asti, who had crossed the Alps from Bavaria with his sister Theodelinda. As a relative of the Bavarian ducal house, his was ca ...

, King of the Lombards (see Bavarian Dynasty). Other noble families from Lucca also recognized Teuprando as their ancestor, including the Rolandinghi, Soffredinghi, and Opezinghi. All these families held control of vast areas in the Garfagnana region and held castles around the Lombard city of Barga. Other historians such as

Lord Vernon Baron Vernon, of Kinderton in the County of Chester, is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1762 for the former Member of Parliament George Venables-Vernon. He had previously represented Lichfield and Derby in the House o ...

were more conservative in their studies and researched documentation up to the beginning of the 13th century, still older documentation survived including documents related to ''Ranerio Simonecti'' (Raniero Simonetti), a wealthy nobleman who was alive in 1188 and who was also mentioned by E. Gamurrini. Vernon also studied the family's lordship of parts of the Val d’ Elsa and the castle of Colle.''U.Bosco'' - Encyclopedia Dantesca - see ''Sannella'' p. 6 and p. 7 According to Villani the family was forced to renounce all its titles in Florence and was reduced to ''popolani'' (common citizens) for a short time. The same happened in Lucca, by the beginning of the 15th century they had temporarily lost all prerogatives of nobility in Lucca and Florence, however were still recognized as patricians. Par 16 cacciaguida

Dante mentions the family by ''della Sannella'', one of the ancient names of the family. Dante placed the Simonetti family in Paradiso XVI, among the ancient noble families of Florence and

Cacciaguida Cacciaguida degli Elisei (c. 1098 – c. 1148) was an Italian crusader, the great-great-grandfather of Dante Alighieri. Little is known about his life. He was born in Florence, and two documents from 1189 and 1201 mention his existence. The 1 ...

. In ''Canto'' XVI of ''Paradiso'', Dante says:

''Therefore should not appear a marvellous thing''
''What I shall say of the great Florentines''
''Of whom the fame is hidden in the Past.''

''I saw the Ughi, saw the Catellini,''
''Filippi, Greci, Ormanni, and Alberichi,''
''Even in their fall illustrious citizens;''

''And saw, as mighty as they ancient were,''
''With him of La Sannella, him of Arca,''
''And Soldanier, Ardinghi, and Bostichi.''

Simonetti of Lucca

The Lucca branch of the family became private bankers to Edward I of England and the Pope. The family was also one of the three major banking family dynasties controlling the Riccardi Banks of Lucca. In the year 1308 the Simonetti,

Quartigiani The Quartigiani were a noble family from Lucca, the family was mentioned in the Lucca statute of 1308 as noble and powerful. The family was united by means of marriage with the Simonetti and Antelminelli families. The Antelminelli and Quartigian ...

and other noble families were banned from holding public offices in Lucca. In 1317 the Quartigiani clan regained power and placed Castruccio Castracani in the office of captain-general of the Republic. After a few months in office Castruccio Castracani turned against his protectors and plotted against the

clan, including the Simonetti branch of the family. Many members of the family were killed by Castruccio Castracani and the Simonetti family was banned from Lucca for the second time in a period of a few years. The Simonetti family returned to Lucca after the death of Castracani. Francisco Simonetti dei

was pro Florence and influenced in the acquisition of Lucca by Florence in 134

The Quartigiani and Simonetti were banned from holding office in Lucca for a third time after the reestablishment of the Republic in 1370. The palace and tower of the Simonetti and Quartigiani families were located in the center of Lucca, today called Quartigiani Tower or Torre delle ore (Clock Tower

Simonetti of Jesi

The Simonetti first arrived in Jesi in the 12th century. According to Gamurrini, they were sent by emperor Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor, Barbarossa to govern Jesi as vicars. The first member of this family to appear in a document from Jesi was Raniero son of Capthio in 1201. Raniero was elected podestà of Jesi in 1216. He had four sons, named: Simonetto, Capthio, Gualtiero and Bartolo. The last three became lords of the castle of Castriccione around Cingoli. Bartolo later joined the Sylvestrines and became leader of the order. Simonetto was elected podestà of Cerlongo and was the ambassador of Jesi to the government of the

Marche Marche ( , ) is one of the twenty regions of Italy. In English, the region is sometimes referred to as The Marches ( ). The region is located in the central area of the country, bordered by Emilia-Romagna and the republic of San Marino to the ...

. Simonetto had seven sons; among them were Mercenario Simonetti, a famous

condottiero ''Condottieri'' (; singular ''condottiero'' or ''condottiere'') were Italian captains in command of mercenary companies during the Middle Ages and of multinational armies during the early modern period. They notably served popes and other Europe ...

, Muzzolo and Oddone Simonetti, the last two became Lords of Donazzano. By 1286 the family was very powerful. As a result, they attracted the attention of the Pope and other lords. They were at this time Lords of Castriccione, the castle of Sasso, near Serra San Quirico, the castle of Santa Maria Nuova and other possessions in the Marche. Some members of the family joined the ghibellines during the 13th century and caused a struggle with Rome. The guelphs took Jesi and confiscated the property of the Simonetti and expelled the family from Jesi. In 1298 Rinaldo Simonetti signed a treaty with other nobles swearing allegiance to pope Boniface VIII. Jesi, Mura, Montirozzo

After struggles with the Malatesta family, Tano di Baligano, and Rome, the family returned to Jesi in the 14th century where Filippo Simonetti and Lomo Simonetti were De facto Lords of Jesi. The Church later recognized the lordship of Jesi by the Simonetti and declared the family vicars of the Holy See. The lordship was confirmed a second time by Pope Boniface IX in a papal bull from May 6, 1397. The family was banished from Jesi for a second time in the 15th century. From this branch of the Simonetti originated the Simonetti from Osimo, Ancona and Cingoli. Some members of the Simonetti of Jesi migrated to

Calabria , population_note = , population_blank1_title = , population_blank1 = , demographics_type1 = , demographics1_footnotes = , demographics1_title1 = , demographics1_info1 = , demographics1_title2 ...

, a famous member of this branch was

Cicco Simonetta Francesco (Cicco) Simonetta (1410 – 30 October 1480) was an Italian Renaissance statesman who composed an early treatise on cryptography. Biography Francesco, nicknamed Cicco, was born in Caccuri, Calabria, and received a fine education ...

, secretary of Francesco Sforza.Annuario della nobiltà italiana 188
Available online - Google books
/ref> According to Crollalanza the name was modified to Simonetta in Calabria.

Princes of Musone

In a papal bull of August 9, 1805

Pope Pius VII Pope Pius VII ( it, Pio VII; born Barnaba Niccolò Maria Luigi Chiaramonti; 14 August 1742 – 20 August 1823), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 14 March 1800 to his death in August 1823. Chiaramonti was also a m ...

created the title of Prince of Musone for Count Don Raniero Simonetti from Ancona and his descendants. From this branch was also Cardinal Raniero Simonetti, governor of Rome in the 18th century.

People

Generic list of people named Simonetti: From Tuscany: *Dom Bindo Simonetti (Lucca) *Francesco Simonetti dei Quartigiani (Lucca) - Nobleman from the house of Simonetti and

. (14th century) *Ser Azzolino Simonetti (Lucca) - Nobleman and banker of the English crown. (14th century) *Ser Guido Simonetti (Lucca) - He was Podestà of

Modena Modena (, , ; egl, label=Emilian language#Dialects, Modenese, Mòdna ; ett, Mutna; la, Mutina) is a city and ''comune'' (municipality) on the south side of the Po Valley, in the Province of Modena in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern I ...

in 1299.

*Dr. Francesco Simonetti (Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, Lucca) - Italian patriot jailed for 3 years in 1835, he was accused of being a member of Giovine Italia. *Count Luigi Simonetti - Consul of Lucca to Russia from 1834 to 1836. *Antonio Simonetti (Lucca)- Master goldsmith from the 18th century. He was known for his fine work using the baroque style. *Bartolo Simonetti (Florence) - Patrician and chief of the Guelph party in Florence. He was executed by the Florentine people. (14th century) *Raniero Simonetti - Podestà of

San Gimignano San Gimignano () is a small walled medieval hill town in the province of Siena, Tuscany, north-central Italy. Known as the Town of Fine Towers, San Gimignano is famous for its medieval architecture, unique in the preservation of about a dozen of ...

and

(c. 1199–1200), was also council of Florence. From Jesi, Osimo, Ancona and Bologna (same branch): *Manetto Simonetti (Jesi) - Condotierro and medieval Podestà of Lucca. *Ranieri Simonetti (Jesi) - Podestà and Captain of Bologna in 1381. *Sciarra Simonetti (Jesi) - Podestà of Siena in 1381.Archivio di Stato di Siena
N. 191 1381 gennaio 3 - 1382 luglio 24 n.a 194 Deliberazioni del Consiglio Generale *Cardinal Raniero Simonetti (Governor of Rome, Noble of Cingoli) *Captain-General Simonetto Simonetti (Jesi) - Commanded the Papal troops and died in battle. *Princess Isotta Simonetti (Bologna) - Princess of Musone *Prince D. Raniero Simonetti (Bologna) - Italian senator and Prince of Musone, he was an important figure in the

Italian unification The unification of Italy ( it, Unità d'Italia ), also known as the ''Risorgimento'' (, ; ), was the 19th-century political and social movement that resulted in the consolidation of different states of the Italian Peninsula into a single ...

. *

Prince Annibale Simonetti Prince Annibale Simonetti was a Roman nobleman from nineteenth-century Italy. He was born in Ancona and was related to the Osimo-Jesi branch of the Simonetti. He was assistant to Pope Pius IX, member of parliament and member of the high council ...

( Ancona) *Antonio Hercolani-Fava-Simonetti (Bologna) - Lieutenant Grand Master of the Order of Malta (1951–1955) * Fra' Gherardo Hercolani Fava Simonetti (b. 1941, Bologna) - He is the former Grand Commander of the Order of Malta CardinalGiuseppeSimonetti

From Modena: *Count Lorenzo Simonetti *Cardinal Lorenzo Simonetti From Rome: *Marquis Alessandro Simonetti (1966-//) and daughter Valentina Simonetti (1999-//) *Michelangelo Simonetti (1724–1781) - Papal architect, he designed numerous neoclassical buildings in Rome and the Vatican. *Cardinal Giuseppe Simonetti (Rome) *Marquis Filippo Simonetti (Sabina, Rome) *Giacinta Simonetti (daughter of Marquis Simonetti, Rome. Mother of explorer Pierre Savorgnan de Brazzabr>
From Naples: * Antonio Sanseverino, (ca. 1477–1543), Neapolitan branch; Cardinal Priest (1527-1537), Cardinal Bishop (1537–1543); Archbishop of Taranto (1528–1543). *Marquis Saverio Simonetti (Napoli, Secretary of State - Sicily)

Gallery

File:FamigliaDellaSannella.jpg, Simonetti della Sanella File:Cover Vol II Istoria genealogica delle famiglie nobili Toscane et Umbre Eugenio Gamurrini (Firenze 1671).jpg, Gamurrini File:Simonetti de Cingoli e Jesi.jpg, Simonetti of Jesi File:StemmaSimonettiDellaSannella 2.jpg, Simonetti of Florence File:Tower in Lucca.jpg, Quartigiani Tower - Lucca File:Sercambi lucca.jpg, Sercambi - Medieval Lucca

Footnotes

{{DEFAULTSORT:House Of Simonetti Families of Florence Families of Lucca Simonetti Political families of Italy