Duke or Duchess of Acerenza

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[edit] Creation of the Title

Duke or Duchess of Acerenza is a noble title created by the Kings of Spain for Don Cosimo Pinelli, Patrician of Genoa, on 12th April 1593, with succession stipulated according to Spanish nobiliary law. Don Cosimo had held the office of Grand Chancellor ('Gran Cancelliere') of the Kingdom of Naples from 1557-1562. The feudality of Acerenza had been acquired three decades before this grant by Galeazzo Pinelli (1563). Inherited by marriage with the Pinelli, the title is currently held by the Prince or Princess Belmonte, and may be used by the Prince's heir as a courtesy title.

[edit] Succession

• Don Cosimo Pinelli, 1st Duke of Acerenza (d. 1601), son of Donna Livia Squarciafico and Don Galeazzo Pinelli, married twice: to Donna Nicoletta Grillo, daughter of Don Agapito Grillo, Guardian ('Custode') of the Galley of Admiral Andrea Doria, and of Donna Luisa, daughter of Don Marco Centurione Marquess of Estepa and of Donna Battina Negrone, and previously to Donna Dianora d’Avalos. (Note: Donna Clemenza and Donna Lucrezia were the daughters of Don Cosimo by Donna Dianora, the former married Don Fabrizio Cantelmo, 4th Duke of Popoli, of the ancient Provencal seigneurs of Tarascon, Boulbon and Romans, the latter married Antonio Guevara, of the Counts of Potenza, Hereditary Grand Seneschals of the Kingdom of Sicily and Naples.)

• Don Galeazzo Francesco Pinelli, 2nd Duke of Acerenza, Marquess of Chersi, married Donna Livia Squarciafico (d. 1602), daughter of Genoese Don Uberto Squarciafico (d. 1562), whose dowry included the fief of the Contea or Earldom of Copertino, acquired in 1557. Uberto had also acquired the feudalities of Galatone, Lequile, Veglie and Leverano in the same year. Don Galeazzo obtained the Marquesate of Tursi in 1568 from Don Giovanni Andrea Doria, 6th Prince of Melfi.

• Don Cosimo Pinelli, 3rd Duke of Acerenza. Married Donna Anna Maria Ravaschieri Fieschi, 3rd Princess of Belmonte suo iure. (Note: on 23rd May 1642, Don Cosimo presented to the Archbishop of Acerenza and Matera, Simone Carafa Roccella (1638-1647), a building for the foundation of a seminary in Acerenza to serve the diocese.)

• Don Galeazzo Francesco Pinelli, 4th Duke of Acerenza, married Donna Giustiniana Pignatelli, daughter of Don Fabrizio Pignatelli, Marquess of Cerchiara

Dukes and Duchesses of Acerenza and Grandees of Spain on the Acerenza Fief, also Princes and Princesses of Belmonte, and of the Holy Roman Empire (for consorts of these Dukes and Duchesses, see Prince or Princess Belmonte)

• HE Prince Don Oronzo Ravaschieri Fieschi Pinelli, 5th Duke of Acerenza

• HSH Princess (Fürstin) Donna Anna Francesca Ravaschieri Fieschi Pinelli, 6th Duchess of Acerenza

• HSH Prince (Fürst) Don Antonio Pignatelli, 7th Duke of Acerenza

• HSH Prince (Fürst) Don Antonio Pignatelli, 8th Duke of Acerenza

• HSH Prince (Fürst) Don Gennaro Pignatelli, 9th Duke of Acerenza

• HSH Princess (Fürstin) Donna Francesca di Paola (Paolina) Pignatelli, 10th Duchess of Acerenza

• HE Prince Don Gioacchino Granito Pignatelli, 11th Duke of Acerenza

• HE Prince Don Gioacchino Granito Pignatelli, 12th Duke of Acerenza

• HE Prince Don Angelo Granito Pignatelli, 13th and current Duke of Acerenza

[edit] Arms

The Arms: a list of the individual arms related to the Dukes of Acerenza is given below.

• Squarciafico- a wheel, coronet of a Marquess (Galatone)

• Pinelli- gules, six pinecones or arranged 3, 2, 1; coronet of a Duke (Acerenza)

• Grillo- azure, a bend dexter argent, charged with a 'grillo' (grasshopper) proper

• Pignatelli- or, three pignates sable arranged 2, 1, all borne on the breast of a double-headed eagle displayed sable crowned and nimbed or, overall the coronet of a Prince of the Holy Roman Empire (Prince Antonio Pignatelli, Prince of Belmonte). Augmentation of honour for the General of the Imperial Cavalry.

• Ravaschieri- bendy gules and argent, the 4th bend gules charged with an ermine proper; overall the coronet of a Prince (Belmonte). Augmentation of honour for the Office of the Grand Seneschal of the Kingdom of Naples.

• Fieschi- bendy azure and argent, coronet of a Count of the Holy Roman Empire, (Lavagna). Augmentation of honour of the papal ombrellino and keys in saltire. Augmentation of honour for a Count of the Holy Roman Empire: all borne on the breast of a double-headed eagle displayed sable crowned and nimbed or.