Counts of Tusculum

The Counts of Tusculum (Italian: Conti di Tuscolo, Latin: Comites de Tusculana), whose earliest members were also known as the Theophylacti (Italian: Teofilatti), were a powerful noble family from Latium that dominated Roman politics between the 10th and 12th centuries. Their principal stronghold was the ancient city of Tusculum, while their influence in Rome centered near the Church of the Twelve Holy Apostles.

The family’s rise to prominence began with their control of important secular and ecclesiastical offices in Rome. The title “Count” appears to have derived initially less from feudal authority over Tusculum itself than from the office of Count Palatine of the Sacred Lateran Palace (Latin: Comes sacri Lateranensis palatii). During the 10th and early 11th centuries, the Tusculan family became the dominant political force in Rome and developed what modern historiography has termed the "noble-papacy", in which the popes were effectively chosen from among the Roman nobility. Several popes and antipopes of the 11th century came from their family. This period also overlapped with the Pornocracy, when influential women connected to the family played a major role in papal politics.

The Counts of Tusculum gave rise to several important noble lineages, most notably the House of Colonna, traditionally descended from Peter, son of Gregory III, Count of Tusculum. Following the extinction of the main Tusculan branch in the late 12th century, only the descendants of Raino, Count of Tusculum survived, forming the Sant’Eustachio family. The Counts of Segni likewise claimed descent from the Counts of Tusculum.