Prince Assistants to the Papal Throne

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The Prince Assistants to the Pontifical Throne are hereditary offices of the Roman Curia. They date from the early sixteenth century, and survived the reform of the Prefecture of the Pontifical Household in 1968. Today the only hereditary posts still in use at the Vatican are the Prince Assistants to the Pontifical Throne.

There are two posts, which are currently held by Prince Don Alessandro Torlonia, Prince Torlonia, Prince of Fucino, Prince of Canino and Musignano, and Prince Don Marcantonio Colonna, Prince and Duke of Paliano. The Colonna family have been Prince Assistants since 1710. The Torlonia family were appointed in 1958 (their title dates from 1854 also), in succession to the Prince Orsini, who had been Prince Assistants from c.1735 to 1958.

[edit] External links

• Almanach de la Cour - The Hereditary Officers of the Papal Court