The House of Carafa or Caraffa is the name of an old and influential

Neapolitan Neapolitan means of or pertaining to Naples, a city in Italy; or to: Geography and history * Province of Naples, a province in the Campania region of southern Italy that includes the city * Duchy of Naples, in existence during the Early and Hig ...

aristocratic family of

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance language *** Regional Ita ...

nobles Nobility is a social class found in many societies that have an aristocracy. It is normally ranked immediately below royalty. Nobility has often been an estate of the realm with many exclusive functions and characteristics. The characteri ...

clergy Clergy are formal leaders within established religions. Their roles and functions vary in different religious traditions, but usually involve presiding over specific rituals and teaching their religion's doctrines and practices. Some of the ter ...

, and men of arts, known from the 12th century.

History

The House of Carafa is a cadet branch of the noble

House of Caracciolo The House of Caracciolo () is a prominent aristocratic family from the city of Naples. The Caracciolo are considered one of the most important families in the history of the Kingdom of Naples, holding relevant posts in the Spanish Empire as wel ...

, one of the most prominent families of the

nobility. The family rose to prominence in the

Kingdom of Naples The Kingdom of Naples ( la, Regnum Neapolitanum; it, Regno di Napoli; nap, Regno 'e Napule), also known as the Kingdom of Sicily, was a state that ruled the part of the Italian Peninsula south of the Papal States between 1282 and 1816. It was ...

during the 14th century and established itself as one of the leading noble families of

southern Italy Southern Italy ( it, Sud Italia or ) also known as ''Meridione'' or ''Mezzogiorno'' (), is a macroregion of the Italian Republic consisting of its southern half. The term ''Mezzogiorno'' today refers to regions that are associated with the peop ...

in the 15th century. Across the time, the family split in many lines, the most important being the Princes of Roccella, the Dukes of Andria and Counts of Ruvo, the Princes of Stigliano, the Dukes of Maddaloni, the Dukes of Nocera and the Dukes of Noja. The family gave sixteen

cardinals Cardinal or The Cardinal may refer to: Animals * Cardinal (bird) or Cardinalidae, a family of North and South American birds **''Cardinalis'', genus of cardinal in the family Cardinalidae **''Cardinalis cardinalis'', or northern cardinal, the ...

to the

Catholic Church The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

, including one pope,

Paul IV Pope Paul IV, born Gian Pietro Carafa, C.R. ( la, Paulus IV; it, Paolo IV; 28 June 1476 – 18 August 1559) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 23 May 1555 to his death in August 1559. While serving as pap ...

Notable members

Oliviero Carafa Oliviero Carafa (10 March 1430 – 20 January 1511), in Latin Oliverius Carafa, was an Italian cardinal and diplomat of the Renaissance. Like the majority of his era's prelates, he displayed the lavish and conspicuous standard of living that was ...

(1430 – 20 January 1511), cardinal * Giovanni Pietro Carafa (1476–1559), became

Pope Paul IV Pope Paul IV, born Gian Pietro Carafa, C.R. ( la, Paulus IV; it, Paolo IV; 28 June 1476 – 18 August 1559) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 23 May 1555 to his death in August 1559. While serving as pa ...

from May 1555 until his death *

Gianvincenzo Carafa Gianvincenzo Carafa (1477–1541) was an Italians, Italian Catholic Church, Roman Catholic Bishop (Catholic Church), bishop and Cardinal (Catholicism), cardinal. Biography A member of the ''della Stadera'' branch of the House of Carafa, Gianvinc ...

(1477-1541), cardinal *

Diomede Carafa Diomede Carafa (1492–1560) was an Italian Roman Catholic bishop and cardinal. Biography A member of the House of Carafa, Diomede Carafa was born in Ariano on 7 January 1492, the son of the noble House of Carafa. He was a relative of Gio ...

(1492-1560), cardinal *

Carlo Carafa Carlo Carafa (29 March 1517 – 6 March 1561) was an Italian cardinal, and Cardinal Nephew of Pope Paul IV Carafa, whose policies he directed and whom he served as papal legate in Paris, Venice and Brussels. Early years He was born at Naples in ...

(1517-1561), cardinal, nephew of Pope Paul IV; executed under Pope Pius IV *

Giovanni Carafa, Duke of Paliano Giovanni Carafa (died 5 March 1561), Duke of Paliano, was a papal nephew and minor Italian prince. The son of Giovanni Alfonso Carafa, Count of Montorio, and Caterina Cantelma, Giovanni came to prominence along with his brothers Carlo and An ...

(died 1561), nephew of Pope Paul IV; executed under Pope Pius IV *

Antonio Carafa Antonio Carafa (1538 – 13 January 1591) was an Italian Roman Catholic Cardinal from the House of Carafa. Biography Early years Antonio Carafa was born in Naples to Rinaldo I Carafello Carafa, a local patrician, and Giovanna of the ''signor ...

(1538–1591), cardinal, nephew of Pope Paul IV *

Alfonso Carafa Alfonso Carafa (16 July 1540 – 29 August 1565) was a member of one of the oldest noble families of Naples and a cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. His father was Antonio, Marquis of Montebello, whose uncle, Gian Pietro Carafa, ascended ...

(1540 – 1565), cardinal, grandnephew of Pope Paul IV *

Fabrizio Carafa (bishop) Fabrizio Carafa (1588 – March, 1651) was a Roman Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Bitonto (1622–1651). ''(in Latin)''

(1588–1651),

Bishop of Bitonto The Italian Catholic diocese of Bitonto, in Apulia, had a short independent existence from 1982 to 1986. In the latter year it was united into the Archdiocese of Bari, forming the Archdiocese of Bari-Bitonto. Before 1982, it had existed since the ...

* Fabrizio Carafa (died 1590), Duke of Andria; murdered by composer Carlo Gesualdo (1566–1613), Prince of

Venosa Venosa ( Lucano: ) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Potenza, in the southern Italian region of Basilicata, in the Vulture area. It is bounded by the comuni of Barile, Ginestra, Lavello, Maschito, Montemilone, Palazzo San Gervas ...

and Count of

Conza Conza della Campania (or Conza di Campania; formerly called Compsa, commonly known as Conza (Campanian: )) is a ''comune'' (municipality) and former Latin Catholic (arch)bishopric in the province of Avellino in the region of Campania in souther ...

, for having an affair with Gesualdo's wife *

Girolamo Caraffa Girolamo Caraffa (or Carafa), Marquis of Montenegro (Abruzzo, 1564 – Genoa, 1633) was a general in Spanish and Imperial service from Italian descent. Life Girolamo was born in the noble Neapolitan Caraffa family. His parents were Raina ...

(1564–1633), Marquis of Montenegro, a general in Spanish and Imperial service *

Decio Carafa Decio Carafa (1556–1626) was an Archbishop of Naples who had previously served as papal nuncio to the Spanish Netherlands (1606–1607) and to Habsburg Spain (1607–1611). Life Carafa was born in Naples in 1556, the son of Ottaviano Carafa, l ...

(1556–1626), cardinal *

Pier Luigi Carafa Pier Luigi Carafa (Senior) (18 July 1581, Naples, Italy – 15 February 1655, Rome, during the conclave) was a cardinal of the Catholic Church, and a member of the Roman Curia.Brighton, England. The first seaside piers were built in Englan ...

(1581-1655), cardinal * Porzia Carafa, mother of

Pope Innocent XII Pope Innocent XII ( la, Innocentius XII; it, Innocenzo XII; 13 March 1615 – 27 September 1700), born Antonio Pignatelli, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 12 July 1691 to his death in September 1700. He ...

(1615-1700) * Giuseppe Carafa (died 1647), Neapolitan aristocrat who was killed in July 1647 during the early stages of the Revolt of Masaniello against Spanish Habsburg rule *

Vincenzo Carafa Vincenzo Carafa (5 May 1585 – 6 June 1649) was an Italian Jesuit priest and spiritual writer, elected the seventh Superior-General of the Society of Jesus. He is a Servant of God. Biography Carafa was born in Andria in the Kingdom of ...

(1585-1649), Superior General of the Society of Jesus *

Francesco Maria Carafa image:FrancescoMariaCarafa.jpg, 250px, Francesco Maria Carafa. Francesco Maria Carafa (died 1642) was an Italian nobility, Italian nobleman, 5th Duke of Nochera, a Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece and was Lieutenants of the Kingdom of Arago ...

(died in prison, 1642), 5th Duke of Nochera, a Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece;

Viceroy of Aragon This is a list of viceroys (or lieutenants) of the Kingdom of Aragon. *Alonso de Aragón, bishop of Zaragoza 1517-1520 * Juan de Lanuza y Torrellas 1520-1535 *Beltrán de la Cueva, 3rd Duke of Alburquerque 1535-1539 * Pedro Manrique de Luna y de ...

and

Viceroy of Navarre This is a list of Spanish Viceroys of Navarre from 1512 to 1840, when the function was abolished. *1512 : Diego Fernández de Córdoba y Arellano, marqués de Comares *1515 : Fadrique de Acuña, Conde de Buendía *1516 : Antonio Manrique de Lar ...

Gregorio Carafa Fra Gregorio Carafa (17 March 1615 – 21 July 1690) was a nobleman from the House of Carafa and the 61st Grand Master of the Order of Saint John, from 1680 to his death in 1690. Early life Carafa was born on 17 March 1615 in Castelveter ...

(1615–1690), Grand Master of the Order of St. John from 1680–90 *

(1646–1693); Imperial Field Marshal and Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece *

Pierluigi Carafa Pierluigi Carafa, Junior (4 July 1677 – 15 December 1755) (sometimes spelled as ''Caraffa'') was an Italian cardinal from the famous Neapolitan family of Italian nobles, clergy, and men of arts. He served the papacy as Camerlengo of the Sacre ...

(1677–1755),

Dean of the College of Cardinals The dean of the College of Cardinals ( la, Decanus Collegii Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae Cardinalium) presides over the College of Cardinals in the Roman Catholic Church, serving as '' primus inter pares'' (first among equals). The position was establ ...

Francesco Carafa di Trajetto Francesco Carafa della Spina di Trajetto (29 April 1722, Naples - 20 September 1818, Rome) was an Italian cardinal. Family He belonged to the family of pope Paul IV and of pope Paul V via his mother. He was the great-great uncle of cardinal Dome ...

(1722-1818), cardinal * Ettore Carafa (1767-1799), late 18th-century Neapolitan Republican *

Michele Carafa Michele Enrico Francesco Vincenzo Aloisio Paolo Carafa di Colobrano (17 November 1787 – 26 July 1872) was an Italian opera composer. He was born in Naples and studied in Paris with Luigi Cherubini. He was Professor of counterpoint at the Par ...

(1787-1872), 19th-century Italian composer *

Domenico Carafa della Spina di Traetto Domenico Carafa della Spina di Traetto (12 July 1805 – 17 June 1879) was a Catholic Cardinal, Archbishop of Benevento and Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals. Personal life Carafa was born in Naples, Italy on 12 July 1805. He was the ...

(1805–1879), cardinal

References

{{Set index article 12th-century establishments in Italy Papal families Neapolitan nobility