Prince or Princess Belmonte

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Prince or Princess Belmonte (Principe o Principessa di Belmonte) is a noble title created in 1619 by the Spanish crown for the dynasty founded by the Barons of Badolato and Belmonte, hereditary Counts of Lavagna and direct descendants of the papal family of Fieschi, ennobled in the 11th Century. The title of 'Prince or Princess of Belmonte' was created with succession according to Spanish nobiliary law. (See Nobiliary Regulations in Spain)

From the 18th Century the Belmonte Princes were granted the rank of 'Fürsten', Princes of the Holy Roman Empire, with the title Serene Highness. The Princes hold a number of other lesser titles, as given below.

The seat of the Prince of Belmonte is Palazzo Belmonte, in the Bay of Salerno and south of Amalfi (in Italy), although the title refers to the fortress town of Belmonte, now Belmonte Calabro.



Contents

[edit] Ancestry

HE The Prince of Belmonte is descended from the Fieschi, Counts of Lavagna, an ancient family of Liguria in north-west Italy. The Fieschi ancestors of The Belmonte Princes include Sinibaldo, Pope Innocent IV son of Ugone Fieschi, Count of Lavagna, and Ottobuono, Pope Adrian V son of Thedisius Fieschi, as well as several cardinals, a King of Sicily, the Viceroy of Naples to René of Anjou (René I of Naples) (Jacopo Fieschi), three saints including Saint Catherine of Genoa (1447-1510), and both generals and admirals of Genoa and other states. Count Ugone was the first to bear the name 'Fiesco' or Fieschi, attributed to his control of the fiscal affairs of the emperor. In the 13th Century, the Fieschi were allies in Genoa of the House of Grimaldi, modern day Princes of Monaco, in the struggle between the Guelphs and Ghibellines. Through the later Pignatelli line, the Princes of Belmonte are also related to a third pope, Pope Innocent XII, and the Jesuit Saint Joseph Pignatelli (1737-1811), of Saragossa.

The Prince's ancestor, Rubaldo/Robaldo di Fiesco or 'Fieschi', was created Count of Lavagna in c1060. In the mid 12th Century (c1158) Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor 'Barbarossa' confirmed feudal rights in Lavagna to the Fieschi: the beneficiaries included Rubaldo and his nephews Gulielmo, Tebaldo, Enrico, Ruffino, Aldedado, Gherardo; Ottone and his brother Ugone; and Alberto and his brother Beltramino, founder of the Ravaschieri dynasty. The Ravaschieri were themselves also prominent bankers: Giovanni Battista Ravaschiero was later Master of the Mint (Maestro di Zecca) under His Imperial Majesty Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor (1516-1554), and his seal of 'IBR' frequently appears on the coinage of that time. Giovanni Battista was one of 7 children, of whom the eldest brother Giovan Francesco, was Prior of Bari of the Order of Malta (+1555). Germano Ravaschiero followed his father as 'Maestro di Zecca', under King Philip II of Spain, and was the father of Giovan Battista Ravaschieri, 1st Baron of Badolato, and therefore grandfather of Don Orazio, the first Prince Belmonte (see below).

[edit] Other Titles

Prince of Belmonte
Prince of Belmonte
Prince of Belmonte and of the Holy Roman Empire
Prince of Belmonte and of the Holy Roman Empire

The Princes or Princesses of Belmonte are heirs to the following titles:

  • Prince of Belmonte, (granted to Don Orazio Giovan Battista Ravaschieri Fieschi, of the ancient Counts of Lavagna, by Philip III of Spain, 5th March 1619).
  • Prince (Fürst) of the Holy Roman Empire, (granted to Prince (HRE) Don Antonio Pignatelli y Aymerich, 2nd Marquess of San Vicente, husband of the 6th Princess of Belmonte (in her own right), by Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor, 9th September 1726). Note: the style Prince (or Princess) of Belmonte and of the Holy Roman Empire ceased to be used by the Princes of Belmonte upon the death of HE Princess (Fürstin) Donna Francesca di Paola (Paolina) in 1911.
  • Grandee of Spain, 1st Class, with entitlement to the style ‘His/Her Excellency’ ('Sua Eccellenza') or ‘Most Excellent’ ('Eccellentissime'). Formally addressed as "cousin" ("primo") by the King of Spain (granted 15th July 1712). (See Grandee)
  • Prince of Muro Leccese (granted to Don Antonio Maria Pignatelli, 8th Prince of Belmonte and of the Holy Roman Empire, by Ferdinand IV of Naples, 3rd October 1797)
  • Duke of Acerenza (granted to Don Cosimo Pinelli, by Philip II of Spain (and co-regent of England with Mary I of England), 12th April 1593) (See Duke or Duchess of Acerenza)
  • Duke of Corigliano d'Otranto (granted to Don Antonio Maria Pignatelli, 8th Prince of Belmonte and of the Holy Roman Empire, by Ferdinand IV of Naples, 3rd October 1797)
  • Marquess of Argensola (granted to Don Jerónimo Rocaberti-Pau-Bellera, whose mother was Agnes, Signora di Argensola, by Felipe V of Spain, 12th June 1702). Title inherited by descent to the Belmonte Princes through Doña Giustiniana (Anna) de Aymerich (qv).
  • Marquess of Castellabate (granted to Don Parise Granito, by Charles III of Spain as Charles VII of Naples, the latter throne abdicated in 1759 in favour of his third son Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies, 29th November 1745). Title inherited by descent to the Princes of Belmonte through Don Angelo Granito, 4th Marquess of Castellabate (qv).
  • Marquess of Galatone (feudal control from 5th October 1557, title granted to Don Stefano Squarciafico, Patrician of Genoa, by Philip II of Spain on 29th June 1562) (See Marquess or Marchioness of Galatone). Title inherited by descent to the Belmonte Princes through Donna Anna Maria Ravaschieri Caracciolo, sister of Don Gaetano, 4th Prince of Belmonte (qv).
  • Marquess of San Vicente (granted 1694 to Don Domenico Pignatelli y Vaez, by Charles II of Spain; elevated to a Grandeeship 1771 by Charles III of Spain). Title inherited by descent to the Belmonte Princes through Don Antonio Pignatelli y Aymerich, 2nd Marquess of San Vicente (qv).
  • Count of Copertino (feudal control from 5th October 1557, title granted to Don Stefano Squarciafico, Patrician of Genoa, by Philip II of Spain on 29th June 1562) (See Marquess or Marchioness of Galatone). Title inherited by descent to the Belmonte Princes through Donna Anna Maria Ravaschieri Caracciolo, sister of Don Gaetano, 4th Prince of Belmonte (qv).
  • Count of Lavagna (from c1060 in Liguria, confirmed 1158 by Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor of the Hohenstaufen dynasty, to Rubaldo/Robaldo di Fiesco or Fieschi and his nephews Gulielmo, Tebaldo, Enrico, Ruffino, Aldedado, Gherardo; Ottone and his brother Ugone; and Alberto and his brother Beltramino, who founded the line of the Princes, the Ravaschieri Fieschi). Title inherited by descent to the Belmonte Princes through Don Orazio Giovan Battista Ravaschieri Fieschi, 1st Prince of Belmonte.
  • Baron of Agua Freda (Ayguafreda)
  • Baron of Badolato (granted to Don Giovan Battista Ravaschieri, +21st April 1604)
  • Baron of Belmonte
  • Baron of Rocca Cilento (granted to Don Parise Granito, by Charles III of Spain as Charles VII of Naples, the latter throne abdicated in 1759 in favour of his third son Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies, 29th November 1745). Title inherited by descent to the Princes of Belmonte through Don Angelo Granito, 4th Marquess of Castellabate (qv).
  • Baron of Tresino (granted to Don Parise Granito, by Charles III of Spain as Charles VII of Naples, the latter throne abdicated in 1759 in favour of his third son Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies, 29th November 1745). Title inherited by descent to the Princes of Belmonte through Don Angelo Granito, 4th Marquess of Castellabate (qv).
  • Baron of Veglie (feudal control from 5th October 1557, title granted to Don Stefano Squarciafico, Patrician of Genoa, by Philip II of Spain on 29th June 1562) (See Marquess or Marchioness of Galatone). Title inherited by descent to the Belmonte Princes through Donna Anna Maria Ravaschieri Caracciolo, sister of Don Gaetano, 4th Prince of Belmonte (qv).

Note: the Princely title of Belmonte and most of the subsidiary titles of the Princes of Belmonte were granted in the peerage of the Kings of Spain, as rulers of the Kingdom of Naples which was subject to their viceroys. These titles have subsequently been recognised, firstly within the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and secondly within the Kingdom of Italy. Titles granted by the Kings of Spain, having dominion over Naples and other territories, are eligible for recognition by the Spanish throne and subject to the terms of their original grant.

[edit] Arms

Grand Arms: the arms described below trace the descent of the Belmonte title. Included below are also those alliances which have brought an additional title (marked *) to the family through marriage.

  • Pinelli- gules, six pinecones or arranged 3, 2, 1; coronet of a Duke (Acerenza*).
  • Aymerich- argent, four pales azure (Aymerich), in chief per saltire in the first and fourth or, four pales gules (Aragon), in the second and third argent an eagle sable, crowned or, beaked and limbed gules (Sicily). (Note: these arms, granted by Queen Joanna of Castile and Aragon, are often shown with a bordure argent on which is written the motto: “IAM NON MEA SED VESTRA VESTRIS MERITIS COMPARATA”).
  • Rocaberti- of Catalonia- gules, three pales or each charged with three chess rooks azure, coronet of a Marquess (Argensola*).
  • Pignatelli- or, three pignates sable arranged 2, 1, coronet of a Prince of the Holy Roman Empire. (Prince Antonio Pignatelli, Marquess of San Vicente*). Augmentation of Honour of the papal ombrellino and keys in saltire (Pope Innocent XII), and as General of the Imperial Cavalry, the arms all borne on the breast of a double-headed eagle displayed sable crowned and nimbed or (Prince of the Holy Roman Empire*).
  • Granito- party per fess azure and or, in the first a lion proper nascent from the second, armed gules; in the second six points azure arising from the bottom of the shield, coronet of a Marquess (Castellabate*). Motto: "RUMPAR NON FLECTAR".

Simple Arms: instead of their 'Grand Arms', the Princes have sometimes preferred to use simpler arms. So, the arms of the most recent Belmonte heiress (the 10th Princess) and her alliance in marriage are currently used (thus, quartering Granito with Pignatelli for 'Granito Pignatelli').

[edit] Residences

There are five residences commonly associated with the Princes of Belmonte: Belmonte Castle (in Belmonte Calabro), Acerenza Castle, Galatone Castle, Copertino Castle and Palazzo Belmonte.

[edit] Castello di Belmonte (Belmonte Castle)

See Belmonte Calabro.

[edit] Acerenza

See Acerenza

[edit] Castello di Galatone (Galatone Castle)

See Galatone

[edit] Castello di Copertino (Copertino Castle)

See Copertino Castle

[edit] Palazzo Belmonte

The current seat of the Princes of Belmonte for over 250 years is Palazzo Belmonte, at Santa Maria di Castellabate, south of Amalfi. The Granito family acquired the lands surrounding Castellabate and constructed the Palazzo in 1733, incorporating pre-existing buildings. They held the feudality of Castellabate to the end of the feudal era in 1806. Through the Marquesses of Castellabate the Palazzo descended directly to the current Prince Belmonte, including the Granito estates which extend beyond the port of San Marco and Punta Licosa with its lighthouse. At Punta Licosa is the Palazzo Granito built in the 17th Century on the point: on the private chapel's facade can be seen the coat of arms of the Marquesses of Castellabate.

[edit] Succession of the Princes and Princesses of Belmonte

The Principate of Belmonte was granted to the Ravaschieri Fieschi family (also written Ravaschiero or Ravaschiera), Barons of Badolato and Barons of Belmonte, and hereditary Counts of Lavagna, whose private chapel is in the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore, Naples.

In 1685 the Belmonte princely title descended in marriage to the Pinelli, bringing the title of Duke or Duchess of Acerenza to the Princes (along with the title of Marquess or Marchioness of Galatone and that of Count or Countess of Copertino through an earlier marriage of the Pinelli with the Squarciafico family); in 1779, on the death of the Princess, the princely title was inherited through marriage (to the Marquess of San Vicente), by the Pignatelli, of the branch of the Princes of Noia; in 1911, the last Princess of Belmonte in the Pignatelli line died and her son inherited the title (this succession was also confirmed by patent in 1887).

The following have held the Princely title of Belmonte since 1619:

[edit] Belmonte- Ravaschieri Fieschi (1619-1685)

Fieschi, Counts of Lavagna
Fieschi, Counts of Lavagna
Ravaschieri, Princes of Belmonte
Ravaschieri, Princes of Belmonte
  • Don Orazio Giovan Battista Ravaschieri Fieschi (of the ancient Counts of Lavagna), grandson of Don Germano Ravaschieri Fieschi and Donna Antonia Scorza, and son of Don Giovan Battista Ravaschieri Fieschi 1st Baron of Badolato and his wife Donna Maria, heiress of Girifalco from her uncle Don Pietro Francesco Ravaschieri Fieschi and herself the daughter of Don Torino Ravaschieri Fieschi, Treasurer ('Tessoriere') of Calabria, and his wife Donna Vittoria Spinola. Baron of Belmonte, Baron of Badolato and Baron of Tortora (in right of Pietro Francesco Ravaschiero + 2nd May 1613), created 1st Prince of Belmonte at Madrid on 5th March 1619 by Philip III of Spain; Grand Seneschal of the Kingdom of Naples ('Gran Siniscalco del Regno di Sicilia'). Patrician of Genoa. Married 29th May 1621, Donna Anna Maria Carracciolo Pisquizi, of the Lords (later Dukes) of Sicignano, Princess of Belmonte, (28th January 1604 - Belmonte 1637). (Note: Don Oronzo's cousin, Don Etoro (Hettore) Ravaschiero, Prince of Satriano and Duke of Cardinale, was made a Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece (Ordine del Tosone) in 1634 by Philip IV of Spain). (+12th October 1645).
  • Don Daniele Domenico Ravaschieri Fieschi, 2nd Prince of Belmonte, 3rd Baron of Badolato, Baron of Belmonte. Married 1stly Donna Eleonora, daughter of Don Francesco Exarquez, Marquess of Lauria, and widow of Don Annibale Sersale, Prince of Castelfranco, Princess of Belmonte; 2ndly the daughter of Don Giovan Francesco Grimaldi, Prince of Gerace, Princess of Belmonte. (1622 - 5th February 1685).
  • Donna Anna Maria Ravaschieri Fieschi, 3rd Princess of Belmonte ‘suo iure’, 4th Baroness of Badolato, Baroness of Belmonte. (Note: Donna Anna Maria succeeded her brother despite being the youngest of four children. Don Ramiro and his son Don Gennaro Francesco died in 1684 and 1662 (at 9 months old) respectively, while Donna Maria Teresina was in holy orders as an Abbess.) Married Don Cosimo Squarciafico Pinelli, 3rd Duke of Acerenza, 5th Marquess of Galatone, 2nd Count of Copertino. (+12th August 1685)

[edit] Belmonte- Ravaschieri Fieschi Pinelli (1685-1779)

Pinelli, Dukes of Acerenza
Pinelli, Dukes of Acerenza
  • HE Don Galeazzo (also Gaetano) Ravaschieri Fieschi Pinelli, 4th Prince of Belmonte, 4th Duke of Acerenza, 6th Marquess of Galatone, 3rd Count of Copertino, 5th Baron of Badolato, Seigneur (Signore) of Veglie, Leverano, San Cosimo etc. Married 30th June 1613 Donna Giustiniana Pignatelli, daughter of Don Fabrizio Pignatelli, 1st Prince of Noia and Marquess of Cerchiara and Donna Violante de Sangro, daughter of Don Giovanni Francesco 1st Prince of Sansevero and of Donna Andreana Carafa (2nd October 1595 - 15th September 1624). Died 1711 without issue, and was succeeded by his brother Don Oronzo.
  • HE Don Oronzo Ravaschieri Fieschi Pinelli, 5th Prince of Belmonte, 5th Duke of Acerenza, 7th Marquess of Galatone, 4th Count of Copertino, 6th Baron of Badolato, Seigneur (Signore) of Veglie, Leverano, San Cosimo etc., High Counsellor of State to His Imperial & Royal Highness Emperor Charles VI; elevated by the Emperor on 15th July 1712 to the rank of Grandee of Spain, 1st Class (See Grandees of Spain) in the feudal title and rank of the Dukedom of Acerenza, with succession ‘per i suoi figli maschi e femmine in perpetuo’, thus being granted the style for himself, his heirs, heiresses and their consorts of ‘Most Excellent Lord/Lady’ or ‘His/Her Excellency (HE)’ (See Grandee). Married 5th May 1701 Donna Violante di Sangro, of the Prince of Viggiano, Princess of Belmonte. (18th January 1661 - 25th March 1722).
Rocaberti, Marquesses of Argensola
Rocaberti, Marquesses of Argensola
  • HSH Princess (Fürstin) Donna Anna Francesca Ravaschieri Fieschi Pinelli, 6th Princess of Belmonte ‘suo iure’ and 1st Princess of the Holy Roman Empire ‘maritali nomine’, daughter and heiress of the 5th Prince, Grandee of Spain 1st Class, 6th Duchess of Acerenza, 8th Marchioness of Galatone, 5th Countess of Copertino, 7th Baroness of Badolato, Signore di Veglie, Leverano, San Cosimo etc. Married 26th May 1721, Prince (HRE) Don Antonio Pignatelli y Aymerich, for which occasion the writer Metastasio produced the musical serenade 'Epithalamium'. (Note: Don Antonio's sister, Doña Marianna, Countess of Althann, was lady in waiting to the Empress Elizabeth, consort of Emperor Charles VI and mother of Empress Maria Theresa.) Don Antonio was 2nd Marquess of San Vicente (son of the 1st Marquess Don Domenico Pignatelli y de Vaez, General of Artillery and Cavalry, Field Marshal in the Principality of Catalonia, Governor and Commandant General of the Province of Extremadura, Viceroy and Captain General of the Kingdom of Navarra and Galicia (Spain) and of his Catalan wife Doña Giustiniana (Anna) de Aymerich, daughter of Don Bernard de Aymerich Lord of Bernalda and of Doña Maria de Argensola of the Marquesses of Argensola; through her 3rd Marquess of Argensola); General of the Imperial Cavalry, created 1st Prince (Fürst) Belmonte of the Holy Roman Empire, styled 'His Serene Highness the Prince of Belmonte' (maritali nomine) 'and of the Holy Roman Empire', (4th August 1685 - 26th January 1771). (14th August 1702 - 8th January 1779)

[edit] Belmonte- Ravaschieri Fieschi Pinelli Pignatelli (1779-1911)

Pignatelli, Princes of the Holy Roman Empire
Pignatelli, Princes of the Holy Roman Empire
  • HSH Prince (Fürst) Don Antonio Pignatelli, 7th Prince of Belmonte and 2nd Prince of the Holy Roman Empire, Grandee of Spain 1st Class, 7th Duke of Acerenza, 9th Marquess of Galatone, 4th Marquess of Argensola, 3rd Marquess of San Vicente, 6th Count of Copertino, 8th Baron of Badolato, Signore di Veglie, Leverano, San Cosimo etc.. Lieutenant General, President of the Royal Academy of Science and Letters. Knighted in the Royal Order of St. Januarius by Charles III of Spain, 1766. Married 1stly 24th February 1754 Donna Francesca Revertera, daughter of Don Nicolo Duke of Salandra and Duchess Maria Theresa, herself daughter of the Austrian Count Francesco Ignazio von Thürheim and Countess Maria Maximiliana Rebecca Salburg von Thürheim, (died 1756) (Note: the Thürheim were Hereditary Falconers to the Holy Roman Emperor in the lands of Austria); 2ndly 28th August 1762 Donna Chiara Spinelli, daughter of Don Troiano 9th Duke of Laurino and Donna Barbara Caterina Pinto y Mendoza, 3rd Princess of Montacuto (herself daughter and heir of Prince Don Gregorio and Cristina Malaspina of the Marquesses of Fosdinovo), Princess of Belmonte and of the Holy Roman Empire. (27th March 1722 - 2nd January 1794). [Note: His Eminence Cardinal Domenico Pignatelli di Belmonte (19th November 1730 - 5th February 1803), the younger brother of HSH Prince (Fürst) Don Antonio, was ordained priest 22nd September 1753, elected bishop of Caserta and chosen as Assistant at the Pontifical Throne 25th February 1782, being consecrated Bishop, 3rd March 1782 in Rome. He was promoted to the metropolitan see of Palermo, 29th March, 1802 and was Viceroy of Sicily, 1802 - 1803. Created cardinal priest 9th August 1802. He is buried in the church of the Theatine Fathers, Palermo.]


  • HSH Prince (Fürst) Don Antonio Maria Pignatelli, 8th Prince of Belmonte and 3rd Prince of the Holy Roman Empire, 1st Prince of Muro Leccese, Grandee of Spain 1st Class, 8th Duke of Acerenza, 1st Duke of Corigliano d'Otranto, 10th Marquess of Galatone, 5th Marquess of Argensola, 4th Marquess of San Vicente, 7th Count of Copertino, 9th Baron of Badolato, Signore di Veglie, Leverano, San Cosimo, Specchia, Gildone etc. Married 12th May 1783 Donna Giovanna Pignatelli Aragona Cortés, daughter of Don Ettore Pignatelli Aragona Cortés, 9th Prince of Noia and of the Holy Roman Empire and Princess Donna Anna Maria Piccolomini d’Aragona, 7th Princess of Valle and Grandee of Spain 1st Class, also 16th Duchess of Amalfi &c &c and Patrician of Siena, (herself daughter and heir of the Prince of Valle and Donna Margherita Caracciolo, 5th Duchess of Girifalco), Princess of Belmonte and of the Holy Roman Empire. (7th July 1763 - 17th August 1798).
  • HSH Prince (Fürst) Don Gennaro Pignatelli, 9th Prince of Belmonte and 4th Prince of the Holy Roman Empire, 2nd Prince of Muro Leccese, Grandee of Spain 1st Class, 9th Duke of Acerenza, 2nd Duke of Corigliano d'Otranto, 11th Marquess of Galatone, 6th Marquess of Argensola, 5th Marquess of San Vicente, 8th Count of Copertino, 10th Baron of Badolato, Signore di Veglie, Leverano, San Cosimo etc. Married 11th December 1823, Donna Carmela de Chiaro, Princess of Belmonte and of the Holy Roman Empire. (28 February 1777 - 28 July 1829).
  • HSH Princess (Fürstin) Donna Francesca di Paola (Paolina) Pignatelli, 10th Princess of Belmonte ‘suo iure’ and 5th Princess of the Holy Roman Empire, 3rd Princess of Muro Leccese, Grandee of Spain 1st Class, 10th Duchess of Acerenza, 3rd Duchess of Corigliano d'Otranto, 12th Marchioness of Galatone, 7th Marchioness of Argensola, 6th Marchioness of San Vicente, 9th Countess of Copertino, 11th Baroness of Badolato, Signora di Veglie, Leverano, San Cosimo etc., all 'suo iure'. Married 12th January 1839, Don Angelo Granito, 4th Marquess of Castellabate, Baron of Rocca Cilento and Tresino, Gentleman of the Bedchamber to Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies (appointed 4 June 1843), awarded the degree of Peer of the Realm (13 May 1848), Superintendent of the Royal Archives (appointed 6th June 1848), styled 'Prince of Belmonte' (maritali nomine). (3rd April 1824 – 30th August 1911).

[edit] Belmonte- Ravaschieri Fieschi Pinelli Pignatelli Granito (‘Granito Pignatelli’) (1911- )

Granito, Princes of Belmonte
Granito, Princes of Belmonte
  • HE Prince Don Gioacchino Granito Pignatelli, 11th Prince of Belmonte (confirmation of inheritance of title by letters patent dated 3rd April 1887), 4th Prince of Muro Leccese, Grandee of Spain 1st Class, 11th Duke of Acerenza, 4th Duke of Corigliano d'Otranto, 8th Marquess of Argensola, 5th Marquess of Castellabate, 13th Marquess of Galatone, 7th Marquess of San Vicente, 10th Count of Copertino, 12th Baron of Badolato, Veglie, Leverano, Baron of Rocca Cilento and Tresino, Knight Commander of the Johanniterorden (Sweden), Deputy of the National Parliament, Librarian of the State Archive of Naples. Married 13th November 1869, Donna Maria Caterina d’Ayala Valva, of the Marquess of Valva, Princess of Belmonte. Succeeded by his grandson. (Note: Gennaro Cardinal Granito Pignatelli di Belmonte, Dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals and Grand Prior of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (from 1937) was the brother of HE Prince Don Gioacchino.) (2nd November 1849 - 6th April 1934).
  • HE Prince Don Gioacchino Granito Pignatelli, 12th Prince of Belmonte, 5th Prince of Muro Leccese, Grandee of Spain 1st Class, 12th Duke of Acerenza, 5th Duke of Corrigliano d'Otranto, 9th Marquess of Argensola, 6th Marquess of Castellabate, 14th Marquess of Galatone, 8th Marquess of San Vicente, 11th Count of Copertino, 13th Baron of Badolato, Veglie, Leverano, Baron of Rocca Cilento and Tresino. Married 23rd April 1938 Donna Marcella Scheggi, Princess of Belmonte. (19th March 1913 - 22nd May 1982).
  • HE Prince Don Angelo Gennaro Granito Pignatelli, Prince of Belmonte (9th February 1939 - ).

[edit] Style and forms of address

As Spanish and Neapolitan Princes and Grandees of Spain (1st Class), The Princes and Princesses Belmonte are correctly styled and addressed as follows:

On Envelope

HE The Prince of Belmonte, HE The Princess of Belmonte, TE The Prince and Princess of Belmonte

Salutation in Letter

Your Excellency, Your Excellencies, Dear Prince, Dear Princess, or where familiar Dear Don [first name] or Donna [first name]

Oral Address

Excellency, Excellencies, Prince, Princess, or where familiar Don [first name] or Donna [first name]

[edit] See also

[edit] Further reading

  • Bernabo, B. (1994/1998), I Conti di Lavagna e l’alta Val di Vara, in Atti del Convegno I Fieschi tra Papato e Impero, ed. Calcagno, D., Lavagna and Chiavari Casa Ravaschiera
  • Firpo, M. (1994/1998), La ricchezza e il potere: le origini patrimoniali dell’ascesa della famiglia Fieschi nella Liguria Orientale tra XII e XIII secolo, in Atti del Convegno I Fieschi tra Papato e Impero, ed. Calcagno, D., Lavagna and Chiavari
  • Ganducci, O. Famiglie nobili di Genova, secolo XVIII, ms. 94. Santa Margherita Ligure, Biblioteca Comunale
  • Ilari, Annibale (2001- Tipografica L. Palazzotti), I Gran Priori di Roma del Sovrano Militare Ordine di Malta
  • Magri, Andrea (1640), Memorie della Nobilissima Famiglia Ravaschiera, Discendente da Gli'Antichissimi Conti di Lavagna
  • Mediolani, (1611), Antiquae Familie Scortiae, et Aliarum Comitum Lavaniae Antiquissima Monumenta
  • Montefusco, Luigiantonio, Nobilta nel Salento Vol. III, Istituto Araldico Salentino, Lecce
  • Musso, G.A. Stemmario p. 95
  • Ruvigny, Marquis de (1914), The Titled Nobility of Europe
  • Turchi, Gabriele (2004), Storia di Belmonte (Dalle origini alla fine del secolo XIX)
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