Aldobrandeschi family

Summary

The Aldobrandeschi family was an Italian noble family from southern Tuscany.

Aldobrandeschi family
Founded9th century
FounderEriprando Aldobrandeschi
Final rulerGuido I Aldobrandeschi
Titles
Dissolution1451
Castle of the Aldobrandeschi in Scarlino.

Overview edit

Of probable Lombard origin, they appear in history as counts in the 9th century. The first known count was Hildebrand II (857). Their possession extended to what is now southern Tuscany and northern Lazio regions of Italy.

In 1274, their lands were divided between the County of Santa Fiora and the County of Sovana, which thenceforth were ruled by different branches of the family. After the extinction of the Aldobrandeschi of Sovana, the county was assigned to the Orsini. The Aldobrandeschi heiress of Santa Fiora married into the Sforza family.[1][2]

The most famous members were: Guglielmo Aldobrandeschi, who lived in the 13th century and is cited by Dante Alighieri as the Gran Tosco ("Grand Tuscan"); Guglielmo's son is also cited in Canto XI of the Purgatorio in the Divine Comedy as an example of a sinner of pride; and Margherita, the last of the Aldobrandeschi of Sovana, who married Guy de Montfort, Count of Nola, and passed rule over Soana to her daughter Anastasia and son-in-law, Romano "Romanello" Orsini and their heirs.[1]

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b "ALDOBRANDESCHI in "Enciclopedia Italiana"". www.treccani.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2021-04-22.
  2. ^ "Storia Aldobrandeschi". Maremma Toscana (in Italian). Retrieved 2021-04-22.

External links edit

  Media related to House of Aldobrandeschi at Wikimedia Commons