The Consulta Araldica (English: Heraldic Consultative Council) was a college instituted by royal decree on 10 October 1869 to advise the Italian government on noble titles, coats of arms and related matters. It was part of the Ministry of the Interior. As such it combined the roles of the various heraldic colleges which had existed in pre-unification Italy, including the Tribunale Araldico of Lombardy, the Commissione Araldica of Venice and the Congregazione Araldica Capitolina of Rome.
The Consulta Araldica[1] had to be dissolved following the adoption of the Constitution of the Italian Republic in 1947 and the abolition of state recognition and regulation of noble titles.[2] Although today no governmental official or office can grant noble titles, some of the Consulta Araldica's functions are still performed by the Heraldic Office[3] within the Office of the Prime Minister.[2]
For italian titles please refer to the Consulta Araldica's official directories approved by the Council of Ministers and by Royal Decree – Libro d'Oro della Nobiltà Italiana[4][5] The Corpo della Nobiltà Italiana and other nobiliary societies are merely private organisations whose lists of noble families are incomplete.
This article was originally based on its counterpart in the Italian Wikipedia, as retrieved on 2006-09-24: Consulta Araldica.