Della Torre
Encyclopedia
The Della Torre were an Italian noble family who rose to prominence in Lombardy
during the 12th-14th centuries, until they held the seigniory of Milan
before being ousted by the Visconti
.
The family originally sprung from the small fortified burgh of Primaluna
, in the Valsassina
. The first notable member was one Martino, nicknamed Il Gigante ("The Giant"), who fought in the Holy Land
during the Crusades
. His son Jacopo married a Visconti, Berta, and was captain of Milan. His nephew Raimondo was bishop of Como in 1262-1273 and Patriarch of Aquileia
(1273-1299), while another nephew, Salvino, was podestà
of Vercelli
.
Jacopo's son, Pagano (III), became capitano del popolo of Milan
in 1240, holding the position until his death in 1247. His brother Martino (III)
imposed his personal power over the city, beginning the Torriani lordship, which lasted some 50 years. He died in 1259 and was succeeded by another brother, Filippo. Torriani's possession included also Bergamo
, Lodi, Novara
and Vercelli. The Torriani were a staunch member of the Guelph
party.
Napoleone
gained the power in Milan in 1265, but was defeated by the Visconti in 1277, and the died the following year in imprisonment. His brother Francesco was podestà of Brescia
, Alessandria
, Bergamo, Lodi and Novara, and was killed in the battle of Desio
(1281), again the Visconti. With that victory latter were granted the power in Milan until 1302, when they were in turn ousted. Corrado Mosca, who had been already seignior in 1277-1281, was returned the power, which he held until 1307, being succeeded by his son Guido
. Having tried to raise the people against the Emperor Henry VII
, Guido was forced to flee, and died in 1312.
Florimondo della Torre, son of Corrado Mosca, attempted in vain to regain the power in Milan. His son Pagano was bishop of Padua and Patriarch of Aquileia
in 1319-1332. Another member of the family, Gastone, was also Patriarch of Aquileia from 1316 to 1318. Paganino, Corrado's youngest son, was podestà of Como and Senator of Rome
. Lodovico della Torre
was also Patriarch of Aquileia (1359-65).
A late member, Girolamo, was named Count of Valsassina by Emperor Charles V
, and held possessions in Moravia
until his death in Venice
in 1530. Francesco Torriani was counsellor of Emperor Ferdinand I
, and Imperial baron and ambassador to Venice (1558). Carlo Torriani was governor of Trieste
in 1666.
Lombardy
Lombardy is one of the 20 regions of Italy. The capital is Milan. One-sixth of Italy's population lives in Lombardy and about one fifth of Italy's GDP is produced in this region, making it the most populous and richest region in the country and one of the richest in the whole of Europe...
during the 12th-14th centuries, until they held the seigniory of Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
before being ousted by the Visconti
House of Visconti
Visconti is the family name of two important Italian noble dynasties of the Middle Ages. There are two distinct Visconti families: The first one in the Republic of Pisa in the mid twelfth century who achieved prominence first in Pisa, then in Sardinia where they became rulers of Gallura...
.
The family originally sprung from the small fortified burgh of Primaluna
Primaluna
Primaluna is a comune in the Province of Lecco in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 60 km northeast of Milan and about 13 km north of Lecco...
, in the Valsassina
Valsassina
thumb|250px|The Valsassina plateau.Valsassina is a valley in the Alps of Lombardy, northern Italy, within the province of Lecco.It is included between the Grigne range from West, and the Bergamo Prealps which, in a half-circle stretching from North to East, separate it from the valley of the area...
. The first notable member was one Martino, nicknamed Il Gigante ("The Giant"), who fought in the Holy Land
Holy Land
The Holy Land is a term which in Judaism refers to the Kingdom of Israel as defined in the Tanakh. For Jews, the Land's identifiction of being Holy is defined in Judaism by its differentiation from other lands by virtue of the practice of Judaism often possible only in the Land of Israel...
during the Crusades
Crusades
The Crusades were a series of religious wars, blessed by the Pope and the Catholic Church with the main goal of restoring Christian access to the holy places in and near Jerusalem...
. His son Jacopo married a Visconti, Berta, and was captain of Milan. His nephew Raimondo was bishop of Como in 1262-1273 and Patriarch of Aquileia
Patriarch of Aquileia
The Patriarch of Aquileia was an office in the Roman Catholic Church. During the Middle Ages the Patriarchate of Aquileia was a temporal state in Northern Italy. The Patriarchate of Aquileia as a church office was suppressed in 1752....
(1273-1299), while another nephew, Salvino, was podestà
Podestà
Podestà is the name given to certain high officials in many Italian cities, since the later Middle Ages, mainly as Chief magistrate of a city state , but also as a local administrator, the representative of the Emperor.The term derives from the Latin word potestas, meaning power...
of Vercelli
Vercelli
Vercelli is a city and comune of about 47,000 inhabitants in the Province of Vercelli, Piedmont, northern Italy. One of the oldest urban sites in northern Italy, it was founded, according to most historians, around the year 600 BC.The city is situated on the river Sesia in the plain of the river...
.
Jacopo's son, Pagano (III), became capitano del popolo of Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
in 1240, holding the position until his death in 1247. His brother Martino (III)
Martino della Torre
-Biography:Martino della Torre was a nephew of Pagano, who established the power of the della Torre family in Milan. In 1241 he opposed to the nomination as podestà of the city of Paola Soresina....
imposed his personal power over the city, beginning the Torriani lordship, which lasted some 50 years. He died in 1259 and was succeeded by another brother, Filippo. Torriani's possession included also Bergamo
Bergamo
Bergamo is a town and comune in Lombardy, Italy, about 40 km northeast of Milan. The comune is home to over 120,000 inhabitants. It is served by the Orio al Serio Airport, which also serves the Province of Bergamo, and to a lesser extent the metropolitan area of Milan...
, Lodi, Novara
Novara
Novara is the capital city of the province of Novara in the Piedmont region in northwest Italy, to the west of Milan. With c. 105,000 inhabitants, it is the second most populous city in Piedmont after Turin. It is an important crossroads for commercial traffic along the routes from Milan to Turin...
and Vercelli. The Torriani were a staunch member of the Guelph
Guelphs and Ghibellines
The Guelphs and Ghibellines were factions supporting the Pope and the Holy Roman Emperor, respectively, in central and northern Italy. During the 12th and 13th centuries, the split between these two parties was a particularly important aspect of the internal policy of the Italian city-states...
party.
Napoleone
Napoleone della Torre
Napoleone della Torre , also known as Napo della Torre, was an Italian nobleman, who was effective Lord of Milan in the late 13th century. He was a member of the della Torre family.-Biography:...
gained the power in Milan in 1265, but was defeated by the Visconti in 1277, and the died the following year in imprisonment. His brother Francesco was podestà of Brescia
Brescia
Brescia is a city and comune in the region of Lombardy in northern Italy. It is situated at the foot of the Alps, between the Mella and the Naviglio, with a population of around 197,000. It is the second largest city in Lombardy, after the capital, Milan...
, Alessandria
Alessandria
-Monuments:* The Citadel * The church of Santa Maria di Castello * The church of Santa Maria del Carmine * Palazzo Ghilini * Università del Piemonte Orientale-Museums:* The Marengo Battle Museum...
, Bergamo, Lodi and Novara, and was killed in the battle of Desio
Battle of Desio
The Battle of Desio was fought on 21 January 1277 between the Della Torre and Visconti families for the control of Milan and its countryside. The battlefield was located near the modern Desio, a commune outside the city in Lombardy, northern Italy....
(1281), again the Visconti. With that victory latter were granted the power in Milan until 1302, when they were in turn ousted. Corrado Mosca, who had been already seignior in 1277-1281, was returned the power, which he held until 1307, being succeeded by his son Guido
Guido della Torre
Guido della Torre , son of Francesco della Torre and Julia Castiglioni, was a Lord of Milan between 1302 and 1312.- Biography :...
. Having tried to raise the people against the Emperor Henry VII
Henry VII, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry VII was the King of Germany from 1308 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1312. He was the first emperor of the House of Luxembourg...
, Guido was forced to flee, and died in 1312.
Florimondo della Torre, son of Corrado Mosca, attempted in vain to regain the power in Milan. His son Pagano was bishop of Padua and Patriarch of Aquileia
Patriarch of Aquileia
The Patriarch of Aquileia was an office in the Roman Catholic Church. During the Middle Ages the Patriarchate of Aquileia was a temporal state in Northern Italy. The Patriarchate of Aquileia as a church office was suppressed in 1752....
in 1319-1332. Another member of the family, Gastone, was also Patriarch of Aquileia from 1316 to 1318. Paganino, Corrado's youngest son, was podestà of Como and Senator of Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. Lodovico della Torre
Lodovico della Torre
Lodovico della Torre was Patriarch of Aquileia from 1359 until 1365.-Biography:His family had included several patriarchs of Aquileia: his great-uncle Raimondo della Torre , and his distant cousins Pagano della Torre and Gastone della Torre .Lodovico started his career as a canon in Aquileia...
was also Patriarch of Aquileia (1359-65).
A late member, Girolamo, was named Count of Valsassina by Emperor Charles V
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
, and held possessions in Moravia
Moravia
Moravia is a historical region in Central Europe in the east of the Czech Republic, and one of the former Czech lands, together with Bohemia and Silesia. It takes its name from the Morava River which rises in the northwest of the region...
until his death in Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
in 1530. Francesco Torriani was counsellor of Emperor Ferdinand I
Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand I was Holy Roman Emperor from 1558 and king of Bohemia and Hungary from 1526 until his death. Before his accession, he ruled the Austrian hereditary lands of the Habsburgs in the name of his elder brother, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor.The key events during his reign were the contest...
, and Imperial baron and ambassador to Venice (1558). Carlo Torriani was governor of Trieste
Trieste
Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of land lying between the Adriatic Sea and Italy's border with Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city...
in 1666.