Dukedom of San Donato

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Duke or Duchess San Donato ((Italian):Duca o Duchessa di San Donato) is a noble title, created in 1602 by the Spanish King Philip III for the Sanseverino dynasty[1]., founded by the Princes of Bisignano and Princes of Salerno, direct descendants of the Norman Kings, First Princes of the Kingdom of Naples, powerful feudal lords who acted as real owners of the region. They accumulated an enormous political and administrative power and attracted artists and men of letters in their own princely palace. The title of 'Duke or Duchess of San Donato' was created with succession according to Spanish nobiliary law. (See Nobiliary Regulations in Spain)

The Dukes of San Donato hold a number of other titles, as set out below.

The present seat of the Duke of San Donato is Palazzo Lupis-de Luna d'Aragona in Grotteria, in the Region of Calabria and south of Naples (in Italy), although the title refers to the fortress town of San Donato, now San Donato di Ninea in the far north of the Region.

The current and 13th Duke of San Donato is HE Don Marco Lupis Macedonio Palermo of Princes of Santa Margherita [2].

Contents

[edit] Ancestry

HE The Duke of San Donato is descended from the Sanseverino, who held the noble title of Prince of Bisignano, and were a celebrated family of Kingdom of Naples in South Italy. The ancestors of the Sanseverino Princes include several cardinals, Viceroy of Naples, three saints, and both generals and admirals of Naples and other states. The Norman count Turgisio was the first to bear the name 'Sanseverino' or 'di Sanseverino', attributed to his control of the fief of Sanseverino[3]

In the 14th Century, the Sanseverino were Princes of Salerno.

[edit] Other Titles

The Dukes or Duchesses of San Donato have historically held the following titles:

  • Duke of San Donato, (granted to Don Scipione "junior" Sanseverino, of the ancient Barons of Calvera, by Philip III of Spain, on 29 September 1612 in Valladolid (Spain)[4].
    Portrait of HE the Marquis Don Isidoro Lupis Manso Amato de Luna d'Aragona (1781-1853), Duke of Grottolelle "maritali nomine", 7th Baron of Castania and Cuzzoghieri, husband of Donna Lauretana Macedonio, 7th Duchess of Grottolelle and 8th Baroness of Poligori. (Collection in the Lupis-de Luna d'Aragona Palace in Grotteria, Italy, current seat of the Duke and Duchess of San Donato)
    Portrait of HE the Marquis Don Isidoro Lupis Manso Amato de Luna d'Aragona (1781-1853), Duke of Grottolelle "maritali nomine", 7th Baron of Castania and Cuzzoghieri, husband of Donna Lauretana Macedonio, 7th Duchess of Grottolelle and 8th Baroness of Poligori. (Collection in the Lupis-de Luna d'Aragona Palace in Grotteria, Italy, current seat of the Duke and Duchess of San Donato)
  • Duke of Grottolelle, (granted to HE Don Scipone I Macedonio, by Philip IV of Spain, 4th June 1646), with primogeniture succession. Title inherited by descent to the San Donato Dukes through Donna Lauretana Macedonio, 7th Duchess of Grottolelle and 8th Baroness of Poligori, wife of marquis Don Isidoro Lupis Manso Amato de Luna d'Aragona, Duke of Grottolelle "maritali nomine", 7th Baron of Castania and Cuzzoghieri (qv) [5]
  • Marquis of Ruggiano, (granted to HE don Giovan Vincenzo Macedonio, by King of Spain, 16th November 1629)[6], with primogeniture succession. Title inherited by descent to the San Donato Dukes through Donna Lauretana Macedonio, 7th Duchess of Grottolelle and 8th Baroness of Poligori, wife of marquis Don Isidoro Lupis Manso Amato de Luna d'Aragona, duke of Grottolelle "maritali nomine", 7th Baron of Castania and Cuzzoghieri (qv) [7].
  • Marquis of Oliveto, (granted to HE Don Scipone I Macedonio, by Philip IV of Spain, 4th June 1646), with primogeniture succession. Title inherited by descent to the San Donato Dukes through Donna Lauretana Macedonio, 7th Duchess of Grottolelle and 8th Baroness of Poligori, wife of marquis Don Isidoro Lupis Manso Amato de Luna d'Aragona, duke of Grottolelle "maritali nomine", 7th baron of Castania and Cuzzoghieri (qv)[8].
  • Marquis of Tortora, (granted to HE Don Annibale Macedonio, 1597, confirmed on 27 April 1624)[9], with primogeniture succession. Title inherited by descent to the San Donato Dukes through Donna Lauretana Macedonio, 7th Duchess of Grottolelle and 8th Baroness of Poligori, wife of marquis Don Isidoro Lupis Manso Amato de Luna d'Aragona, duke of Grottolelle "maritali nomine", 7th Baron of Castania and Cuzzoghieri (qv) [10].
  • Marquis of Soragna "'per antico possesso" (granted to Don Bonifacio de Lupis, 8th August 712)
  • Count Palatine (granted to Don Orazio and don Giulio de Lupis, by Leopold of Austria, Emperor of Holy Roman Empire, 9th January 1683[11]) (See Diploma d'investitura dell'Imperatore del Sacro Romano Impero alla casata Lupis )
The monumental front of the Lupis - de Luna d'Aragona - Sanseverino Palace in Grotteria (RC), Italy, current seat of the Duke and Duchess of San Donato
The monumental front of the Lupis - de Luna d'Aragona - Sanseverino Palace in Grotteria (RC), Italy, current seat of the Duke and Duchess of San Donato
  • Baron of Castania and Cuzzoghieri (granted to Don Ferrante Lupis, 11th June 1595)
  • Baron of Poligori, (granted to HE Don Leonardo Macedonio, by Don Giuseppe d"Aragona de Ayerbis 1666), with primogeniture succession. Title inherited by descent to the San Donato Dukes through Donna Lauretana Macedonio, 7th Duchess of Grottolelle and 8th Baroness of Poligori, wife of marquis Don Isidoro Lupis Manso Amato de Luna d'Aragona, duke of Grottolelle "maritali nomine", 7th Baron of Castania and Cuzzoghieri (qv)[12].
  • Baron of Calvera, (granted to Don Ercole Sanseverino, Lord of Calvera and Patrician of Naples of Counts of Tricarico and Chiaromonte, husband of Donna Egidia di Calvera, Lady of Calvera.
  • Baron of the Corrjia of Badolato and Baron of Amato. Title inherited by descent to the San Donato Dukes through Donna Rosa Amato de Luna d'Aragona, wife of marquis Don Fortunato Lupis Palermo di Santa Margherita (1705-1773), 4th Baron of Castania and Cuzzoghieri.
  • Hereditary Patrician of Giovinazzo Title inherited by descent to the San Donato Dukes through the Marquises Lupis family
  • Hereditary Patrician of Amantea Title inherited by descent to the San Donato Dukes through the Barons Amato family.
  • Hereditary Patrician of Messina Title inherited by descent to the San Donato Dukes through Donna Dorotea Palermo of Santa Margherita, wife of marquis Don Giovanni Lupis Macedonio Guerrisi, 9th Duke of Grottolelle, 9th Baron of Castania and Cuzzoghieri (qv)[13].
  • Hereditary Patrician of Antiochia Title inherited by descent to the San Donato Dukes through Donna Dorotea Palermo of Santa Margherita, wife of marquis Don Giovanni Lupis Macedonio Guerrisi, 9th Duke of Grottolelle, 9th Baron of Castania and Cuzzoghieri (qv)[14].
  • Feudal Lord of Grotteria, with Siderno and annexed lands (1365), and half of the fief of Ragusia (today Gioiosa Jonica) (1316). Title inherited by descent to the San Donato Dukes through donna Francesca de Luna d'Aragona.
  • Lord of Nisida Island (in the Gulf of Naples), (granted to HE Don Giovanni Vincenzo Macedonio, 1st marquis of Ruggiano, 1624), with primogeniture succession. Title inherited by descent to the San Donato Dukes through Donna Lauretana Macedonio, 7th Duchess of Grottolelle and 8th Baroness of Poligori, wife of marquis Don Isidoro Lupis Manso Amato de Luna d'Aragona, Duke of Grottolelle "maritali nonine", 7th Baron of Castania and Cuzzoghieri (qv)[15].
  • Noble of Princes of Santa Margherita and Santo Stefano, (title granted to Don Giovanni V Palermo and Arezzo 10th Baron and 1st Prince of Santa Margherita and Santo Stefano, by Philip V of Spain on 9th November 1708 in Madrid). Title inherited by descent to the San Donato Dukes through Donna Dorotea Palermo of Santa Margherita, wife of marquis Don Giovanni Lupis Macedonio Guerrisi, 9th Duke of Grottolelle, 9th Baron of Castania and Cuzzoghieri (qv)[16].
  • Noble of Marquises of Calorendi. Title inherited by descent to the San Donato Dukes through Donna Dorotea Palermo of Santa Margherita, wife of marquis Don Giovanni Lupis Macedonio Guerrisi, 9th Duke of Grottolelle, 9th Baron of Castania and Cuzzoghieri (qv)[17].
  • Noble of Barons of Martini, Mili, Capodarso, Bulgarano etc, . Title inherited by descent to the San Donato Dukes through Donna Dorotea Palermo of Santa Margherita, wife of marquis Don Giovanni Lupis Macedonio Guerrisi, 9th Duke of Grottolelle, 9th Baron of Castania and Cuzzoghieri (qv)[18].
  • Noble of Holy Roman Empire (granted to Don Francesco Lupis, by the Emperor of Holy Roman Empire, 3rd August 1721).

Note: the Ducal title of San Donato and most of the subsidiary titles of the Dukes of San Donato 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 recognized, 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

The Dukes of San Donato's Grand Arms
The Dukes of San Donato's Grand Arms

Grand Arms: the separate arms described below both trace the descent of the San Donato ducal title, and include arms brought to the family with an additional title (marked *) through marriage alliances. These quarterings combine to form the 'Grand Arms' of the Dukes or Duchess of the day.

  • Macedonio (Naples)- vaiato of argent and azur, a red-rampant lion, coronet of a Dukes (Grottolelle*).
  • Lupis (Grotteria)- azur, two counter-rampant wolves holding a red heart; coronet of a Marquis (Soragna)*).

MOTTO: VINCERE SCIT ET PARCERE VICTIS"

  • Palermo (Sicily)- coronet of a Prince (Santa Margherita and Santo Stefano*).

Simple Arms: instead of their 'Grand Arms', the Dukes have sometimes preferred to use simpler arms. So, the arms of the most recent San Donato heiress (the 13th Dukes) and her alliance in marriage are currently used (thus, quartering Lupis with Macedonio for 'Lupis Macedonio').

Representation of Coronets: please note that coats of arms depicted in this article obey a convention with respect to coronets, for consistency of illustration. In several cases the coronet corresponding with a rank would be different if shown according to current Spanish or Italian convention. Moreover, some forms of Spanish or Italian coronet have altered over the centuries since the creation of certain titles, and indeed varied further in some cases by area or city-state.

Since the earliest feudal title granted to the immediate ancestors of the Dukes was recognized from 1557 by Philip II of Spain, who was King of England as consort to Mary I, the convention has been followed of showing coronets as used for the same rank in England. An exception has been made in the case of the rank of 'Prince', where Spanish and Holy Roman Empire coronets have been preferred since there is no acceptable English proxy.

[edit] Residences

[edit] Castello Sanseverino di San Donato (San Donato Castle)

See San Donato di Ninea.

[edit] Castello Sanseverino di Policastrello (Policastrello Castle)

See Policastrello

[edit] Palazzo Lupis de Luna d'Aragona (Lupis-de Luna d'Aragona Palace)

Wiev of the Library of Lupis-de Luna d'Aragona-Sanseverino Palace in Grotteria, Calabria, Italy, current seat of the Duke and Duchess of San Donato
Wiev of the Library of Lupis-de Luna d'Aragona-Sanseverino Palace in Grotteria, Calabria, Italy, current seat of the Duke and Duchess of San Donato

The current seat of the Dukes of San Donato is Palazzo Lupis - de Luna d'Aragona - Sanseverino, at Grotteria, in Calabria, south of Naples. The de Luna d'Aragona family acquired the lands surrounding Grotteria and constructed the Palazzo in 1433, incorporating pre-existing buildings, including the "cripta" of the ancient Church of Sant'Antonio. They held the feudality of Grotteria to the end of the XIV century. Through the families Amato, hereditary patrician of Amantea, and de Manso-Infusini, Marquises of Villa, the Palazzo descended directly to the current Duke of San Donato, including the Lupis estates: on the Palace facade can be seen the coat of arms of the Marquises Lupis, dukes of San Donato and barons of Castania and Cuzzoghieri, join to the one of Barons Amato and Marquises de Manso-Infusini.

[edit] Succession of the Dukes and Duchesses of San Donato

The Dukedom of San Donato was granted to the Sanseverino family, Barons of Càlvera and Princes of Bisignano until the last duchess Anna, who died at the age of 9 on 1654, 3rd Duchess of San Donato [19]

On 17th January 1759 the San Donato ducal title was trasferred by "testament" from the 4th duke of San Donato, don Mario Sanseverino di Càlvera, to her unique daughter, donna Vittoria Sanseverino di Càlvera, 5th Duchess of San Donato and then, in marriage to the di Leo family, who held the subsidiary titles of Barons.


[edit] di Leo - Sanseverino (1759)

  • HE Don Francesco di Leo Sanseverino 6th Duke of San Donato. Married 29th May 1621, Donna Anna Colombo and thought the "public Act" signed by Don Mario Sanseverino 4th Duke of San Donato, he became unique heir and inherited the San Donato title as 6th Duke of San Donato. There unique daughter was Donna Chiara di Leo Sanseverino, 7th Duchess of San Donato, 10° Baroness of Policastrello, 6th Baroness of Roggiano, 11th Baroness of Càlvera. Married don Alfonso chevalier Pacelli, who hold the subsidiary title of Baron of Balvano.

[edit] Pacelli - di Leo - Sanseverino (1775-1859)

  • HE Donna Marianna Pacelli di Leo Sanseverino di Càlvera, 8th duchess of San Donato, 11th Baroness of Policastrello, 7th Baroness of Roggiano, 12th Baroness of Càlvera who also hold the title of Baroness of Balvano, Married 30th June 1613 don Francesco Antonio del Mercato, 12th Baron della Foresta del Cilento, 4th Baron of Rutino and Monteforte, 15th Baron of Giungano, Lord of dé Mattarellis etc.

[edit] del Mercato - Pacelli - di Leo - Sanseverino (1823-1888)

  • HE Don Valerio del Mercato Pacelli di Leo Sanseverino di Càlvera 9th duke of San Donato, holding also the title of 5th Baron of Rutino and Monteforte, 12th Baron of Policastrello, 8th Baron of Roggiano, 13th Baron of Càlvera, 13th Baron della Foresta del Cilento, 16th Baron of Giungano etc. His right to the Ducal title of San Donato was granted and confirmed by the Kings of Italy with "Regio Decreto" on 5th October 1888. Inherited the ducal title his daughter, Donna Maria Antonia, 10th Duchess of San Donato. Married the nobleman don Pasquale Lebano.

[edit] Lebano - del Mercato - Pacelli - di Leo - Sanseverino (1899-1970)

  • HE Don Raffaele Lebano del Mercato Pacelli di Leo Sanseverino di Càlvera, 11th Duke of San Donato, holding also the titles of 14th Baron of Policastrello, 10th Baron of Roggiano, 15th Baron of Càlvera, 15th Baron della Foresta del Cilento, 18th Baron of Giungano, 7th Baron of Rutino and Monteforte etc.. Married donna Emilia Carucci Capone, baroness of Acernise and the Ducal title of San Donato was inherited by her daughter, donna Marina Lebano Carucci del Mercato Pacelli di Leo Sanseverino di Càlvera, 12th duchess of San Donato.

[edit] Lebano - Carucci - del Mercato - Pacelli - di Leo - Sanseverino (1930-2003)

  • HE Donna Marina Lebano del Mercato Pacelli di Leo Sanseverino di Càlvera 12th Duchess of San Donato, inherit the title and Married in 1953 the marquis Don Giovanni Lupis Macedonio Palermo di Santa Margherita de Luna d'Aragona, who hold the titles of 11th Duke of Grottolelle, 12th Baron of Poligori, 11th Baron of Castania and Cuzzoghieri, hereditary patrician of Giovinazzo etc.

[edit] Lupis - Macedonio - Palermo di Santa Margherita - de Luna d'Aragona - Sanseverino (2003- )

  • HE Marquis Don Marco Lupis Macedonio Palermo di Santa Margherita de Luna d'Aragona Sanseverino di Càlvera, is the present and 13th Duke of San Donato (10th August 1960 - ) 12th Duke of Grottolelle, 14th Marquis of Tortora, 11th Marquis of Ruggiano, 10th Marquis of Oliveto, 8th Marquis of Capriglia, Marquis of Villa, Count Palatine, 13th Baron of Poligori, 12th Baron of Castania and Cuzzoghieri, 16th Baron of Policastrello, 12th Baron of Roggiano, 16th Baron of Càlvera, 20st Baron of Giungano, 9th Baron of Rutino and Monteforte, Baron of Bisaccia, Baron of the Corrija of Badolato, Baron of Amato, 16th Lord of dé Mattarellis, 17th Lord of the Cilento Forest, 11th Lord of the Nisida Island, Feudal Lord of Grotteria joint with Siderno, Martone, San Giovanni and annexed lands, and of half fief of Ragusia (Gioiosa Jonica), Noble of Princes of Santa Margherita and Santo Stefano, Noble of Marquises of Calorendi, Noble of Barons of Martini, Mili, Capodarso, Bulgarano etc, Hereditary Patrician of Giovinazzo, Hereditary Patrician of Amantea, Hereditary Patrician of Messina, Hereditary Patrician of Antiochia etc.

[edit] Style and forms of address

As Spanish and Neapolitan Dukes, The Dukes and Duchesses San Donato are correctly styled and addressed as follows:

On Envelope

HE The Duke of San Donato, HE The Duchess of San Donato, TE The Duke and Duchess of San Donato

Salutation in Letter

Your Excellency, Your Excellencies, Dear Duke, Dear Duchess, or where familiar Dear Don [first name] or Donna [first name]

Oral Address

Excellency, Excellencies, Duke, Duchess, or where familiar Don [first name] or Donna [first name]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Granted to Don Scipione "junior" Sanseverino, of the ancient Barons of Calvera, by Philip III of Spain, on 29 September 1612 in Valladolid (Spain). See: Atienza y Navajas, Julio de; Barón de Cobos de Belchite, Títulos nobiliarios concedidos por Monarcas españoles en Nápoles existentes en el archivo general de Simancas, in: "Nobiliario español, Diccionario heraldico de apellidos españoles y de títulos nobiliarios", Madrid 1954, p. 1039-: "Duques - San Donato - A Escipión Sanseverino. Valladolid, 29 de septiembre de 1602"
  2. ^ "Libro d'oro della Nobiltà Italiana (XIX edition 1989)", Consulta Araldica del Regno d’Italia, September 1987. Retrieved on [[1]]. 
  3. ^ Turgisio, most noble Norman knight, came to the kingdom at the time of Robert Guiscard duke of Apulia, by whom he was made Count of Sanseverino. In 1084, as stated in the diplomas of la Cava, he was already count and he adopted as his surname the term "of Sanseverino". Luca Sanseverino in 1485 became prince of Bisignano, the feud that he bought for the sum of 22 thousand ducats. Girolamo II, prince of Bisignano, who with other barons was murdered in 1487. Girolamo's wife was Bandella Gaetana, and from them were born Bernardino and others. In 1495, Ferdinando I of Aragon returned the feuds to the rebellious barons; but the house of Sanseverino did not get them back until 1505. The reintegration by means of the royal commisioner Lavalle, in favor of the prince Pietro Antonio Sanseverino was made in 1546. Bernardino III, prince, married Dianora Piccolomini and had Pietro Antonio, 11th count of Tricarico, 4th prince of Bisignano, the same who received with such splendor in his estates the emperor Charles V, when he came back from Algiers, and received the Golden Fleece. Pietro Antonio married a second time, to Evina (sic) Castriota and from this marriage originated: Nicolò Bernardino, 10th count of Tricarico, 5th prince of Bisignano, who joined in marriage the daughter of the Duke of Urbino, Isabella della Rovere, from whom he had only one son, Francesco Teodoro, who preceded his father in death at age 14 years and in a saintly manner. After the death of Nicolò Bernardino, there were no other descendants, so the direct line of the princes of Bisignano became extinct with him, leaving the following feuds, according to Scipione Ammirato: In Calabria, Bisignano - S. Marco - Cassano - Strongoli - Corigliano - Castrovillari - Acri - Altomonte - La Regina - Saracino - San Donato - Malvito - Luzzi - Rose - Ruggiano - Tarsia - Terranova - Casalnuovo - Trebisaccia - Morano - Mormanno - Abate Marco - Grisolia - Belvedere - Sanguinetto - Bonifati e S. Agata - 12 in Basilicata - 3 in Terra d'Otranto, in all 41! The death without heirs of Nicolò Bernardino, last prince of Bisignano, originated a fierce litigation in the Sacred Royal Council, among the many pretenders to his estates. The king Philip IV granted them to Luigi Sanseverino, count of Saponara, (except S. Marco and Castrovillari, which with a royal decree he gave to the Duke of Gravina) a very distant cousin, referring to an old "privilegio" accorded and confirmed many times to the Sanseverino by the Kings of Naples, stated that only the male heirs can inherit titles and fiefs. ""in quantumcunque remotus etiam decimo et ulteriori gradu ex quacumque linea trasversali, adscendenti seu descendenti... Et inter ipsos de cognomine de Sancto Severino progenitura et gradus servatur...".
  4. ^ See: Títulos nobiliarios concedidos por Monarcas españoles en Nápoles existentes en el archivo general de Simancas, . p. 1039-, "Duques - San Donato - A Escipión Sanseverino. Valladolid, 29 de septiembre de 1602"
  5. ^ The present duke obtained a recogniction from the Italian Authorities ("Con sentenza del Consiglio di Stato n. 515 del 3 giu. 1997 e successivo decreto del Ministro di Grazia e Giustizia dell' 11 feb. 1998") of his right to use surnamens and titles of the noble families Macedonio (dukes of Grottolelle, marquises of Ruggiano, Tortora etc, as indicated) and Palermo (princes of Santa Margherita and Santo Stefano etc, as indicated), in force of the fact, recognized by Italian authorities, that he is the unique descendant of those noble families, because donna Lauretana Macedonio, (1797 - 1838) 7th duchess of Grottolelle etc. - that was the last of the Macedonio family and his paternal direct ancestor - married the marquis don Isidoro II Lupis Manso Amato de Luna d'Aragona (1781 - 1853). The couple got the marquis don Orazio III Lupis Macedonio (b. 1830), (married to donna Clementina Guerrisi Floccari, b. 1832) from when the marquis don Giovanni Lupis Macedonio (1865 - 1936), married to donna Dorotea Palermo of Princes of Santa Margherita and Santo Stefano (1863 - 1936) - her too the last of the Palermo prince of Santa Margherita family - and from that couple born the marquis don Orazio IV Lupis Macedonio Palermo di Santa Margherita (1892-1962) , General of the Italian Army, and grand-father of the present duke of San Donato, the marquis don Marco Lupis Macedonio Palermo of Princes of Santa Margherita (1960- ).
  6. ^ See: Títulos nobiliarios concedidos por Monarcas españoles en Nápoles existentes en el archivo general de Simancas. p. 1039-, "Marqués - Ruggiano - A Aníbal Macedonio. Madrid, 16 de noviembre de 1629 "
  7. ^ See note nbr. 5
  8. ^ See note nbr. 5
  9. ^ See: Títulos nobiliarios concedidos por Monarcas españoles en Nápoles existentes en el archivo general de Simancas. p. 1039-, "Marqués - Tortura (sic) - A Aníbal Macedinio (sic). Madrid, 27 de abril de 1624"
  10. ^ See note nbr. 5
  11. ^ "Diploma d'investitura dell'Imperatore del Sacro Romano Impero alla casata Lupis", StaatArchive (Vienna, Austria), 1683. Retrieved on [[2]]. 
  12. ^ See note nbr. 5
  13. ^ See note nbr. 5
  14. ^ See note nbr. 5
  15. ^ See note nbr. 5
  16. ^ See note nbr. 5
  17. ^ See note nbr. 5
  18. ^ See note nbr. 5
  19. ^ After the death of the last direct duchess of San Donato, Anna Sanseverino (at the age of 9), the Crown of Naples sold the fief only (not including the title) of San Donato, to the Ametrano family. But Mario Sanseverino, the nearest cousin of duchess Anna, claimed it for himself, referring to an old "privilegio" accorded and confirmed many times to the Sanseverino by the Kings of Naples stated that only the male heirs can inherit titles and fiefs. ""in quantumcunque remotus etiam decimo et ulteriori gradu ex quacumque linea trasversali, adscendenti seu descendenti... Et inter ipsos de cognomine de Sancto Severino progenitura et gradus servatur..." . This genealogy is fully documented, and with "Regio Decreto" on 5th October 1888, those rights were recognized by the former Kingdom of Italy. (see: "Genealogia di Ercole Sanseverino, barone di Càlvera, e suoi discendenti", Napoli 1902, and "Illustrazioni dell'albero genealogico della famiglia Cianci di Leo Sanseverino", Napoli 1906) Those facts originated two legal claims for the San Donato title, both legal and recognized. One referring to the Ametrano-Sambiase descendants, that BOUGHT the title, without any "blood" relation with the Sanseverino. And another referring to the (Mario) Sanseverino-del Mercato-Lebano descendants, that INHERITED the title by direct "blood" connection with the Sanseverino. But the "anomaly" stated below, were "resolved" in favor of the last line of succession (Sanseverino-del Mercato-Lebano) because of the death, without children, of the last representant of the first line of succession (Ametrano-Sambiase), don Ladislao Sambiase Sanseverino, duke of Malvito and prince of Bonifati, born in Naples 14th February 1881 (and succeeded to his brother Paolo + 7 February. 1929), that got no children from his marriage to Margherita Nardi (see "Libro d'oro della Nobiltà Italiana", ediz. XX, vol. XXII, 1990-1994, pag. 538 and Libro d'oro della Nobiltà Mediterranea, on web)

[edit] See also

[edit] Further reading

  • N. Cianci di Leo Sanseverino, Genealogia di Ercole Sanseverino, barone di Calvera, e suoi discendenti, Napoli 1902
  • N. Cianci di Leo Sanseverino, Illustrazioni dell'albero genealogico della famiglia Cianci di Leo Sanseverino, Napoli 1906.
  • N. Cianci di Leo Sanseverino, Nuove illustrazioni dell'albero genealogico della famiglia Cianci di Leo Sanseverino. Napoli, Morano, 1902.
  • B. Mazzilli, Cenni Storici su Calvera (ed. Dedalo libri, Bari, 1980
  • A. Rivelli, Memorie storiche della città di Campagna, reprint Forni, Bologna, 2002
  • I Sanseverino Conti di Potenza e di Saponara, in “Rivista trimestrale di studi sull'Italia Centromeridionale”, Roma, 1975 - fascicolo III-IV).
  • Fascicolo “Cianci di Leo Sanseverino”, arch, della ex Consulta Araldica del Regno d’Italia, Roma
  • Atienza y Navajas, Julio de; Barón de Cobos de Belchite,Títulos nobiliarios concedidos por Monarcas españoles en Nápoles existentes en el archivo general de Simancas, in: "Nobiliario español, Diccionario heraldico de apellidos españoles y de títulos nobiliarios", Madrid 1954, p. 1039-1043.

[edit] External links