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The Princes of Ottaiano (or Ottajano) are a cadet branch of the ducal dynasty of Tuscany. Along with the Veronese Medici Counts of Caprara, and Gavardo, they make up the last and closest descendants to the main line of the House of Medici.
The founder of the Ottajano line was Ottaviano de 'Medici, who married Bartholomea Giugni and gave issue to Bernardetto and Constance, Countess of Donoratico. Bernardetto instead married Giulia de 'Medici, daughter of the Duke of Florence Alexander, then down the branch of Cosimo the Elder and Lorenzo the Magnificent.[1] It was Bernardetto who bought from Gonzaga in 1567 the fief of Ottajano located near Naples.[2] Over the centuries the remaining House of Medici has reached a leading position in the aristocracy of the Kingdom of Two Sicilies. Among the members of the dynasty are leaders of the Roman Catholic Church, ambassadors, cardinals (Francesco de 'Medici Ottaiano), a pope, and Don Luigi de' Medici, representative of the Kingdom of Naples at the Congress of Vienna.[3]
The branch is still in existence under the current head Giovanni Battista, who holds the titles of Prince of Ottajano and Duke of Sarno.[4] Most significantly, Ottaviano de' Medici draws attention to Vatican law (at the time), which suggests that either the line of Ottaiano or the Veronese Medici should have inherited the grand duchy of Tuscany.[5] instead of the Habsburg-Lorraine line since both Medici branches were closer descendants[6] than Francis I, who was a great-great-great-grandson of Francesco I de' Medici, on the female line. However, due to the Habsburg-Lorraine influence they were able to secure Florence for themselves.[7] Thus, the Princes of Ottaiano, and the Veronese Counts have common ancestry with most royal monarchies, and the branches are the collateral branch of the House of Medici.[8] Additionally, in the modern day, the resulting House of Medici has still maintained close ties with the remains of the House of Bonaparte.[9]