Erba-Odescalchi
Encyclopedia
Erba-Odescalchi, or Odescalchi is the name of a Roman aristocratic family.
This family is supposed to be descended from Enrico Erba, Imperial vicar in Milan in 1165. Alessandro Erba married Lucrezia Odescalchi, sister of Pope Innocent XI
, in 1709, who is believed to have been descended from Giorgio Odescalchi (Jesuit at Como
in 1290). The title of Prince of the Holy Roman Empire
was conferred on Alessandro in 1714, and that of Duke of Syrmium in Hungary
in 1714, with the qualification of Serene Highness.
The head of the family now bears the titles of Prince Odescalchi, Duke of Syrmium, Prince of Bassano
, and others, and he is an Hereditary Magnate of Hungary and a Grandee
of Spain
. The family, which is one of the most celebrated in Italy, owns the Palazzo Odescalchi in Rome, the famous Orsini-Odescalchi castle in Bracciano
, as well as large estates in Italy and Hungary.
The castle in Bracciano
, although now belonging to the Odescalchi family, was originally an Orsini fortress until it was sold due to family debts.
The Princely family is currently represented by H.S.H. Prince Carlo Odescalchi, Prince of the Holy Roman Empire, Duke of Syrmium, etc (b. 1954), whose heir is his son Prince Baldassare Odescalchi.
This family is supposed to be descended from Enrico Erba, Imperial vicar in Milan in 1165. Alessandro Erba married Lucrezia Odescalchi, sister of Pope Innocent XI
Pope Innocent XI
Blessed Pope Innocent XI , born Benedetto Odescalchi, was Pope from 1676 to 1689.-Early life:Benedetto Odescalchi was born at Como in 1611 , the son of a Como nobleman, Livio Odescalchi, and Paola Castelli Giovanelli from Gandino...
, in 1709, who is believed to have been descended from Giorgio Odescalchi (Jesuit at Como
Como
Como is a city and comune in Lombardy, Italy.It is the administrative capital of the Province of Como....
in 1290). The title of Prince of the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
was conferred on Alessandro in 1714, and that of Duke of Syrmium in Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
in 1714, with the qualification of Serene Highness.
The head of the family now bears the titles of Prince Odescalchi, Duke of Syrmium, Prince of Bassano
Bassano Romano
Bassano Romano is a town and comune in the province of Viterbo, in northern Lazio ....
, and others, and he is an Hereditary Magnate of Hungary and a Grandee
Grandee
Grandee is the word used to render in English the Iberic high aristocratic title Grande , used by the Spanish nobility; Portuguese nobility, and Brazilian nobility....
of Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. The family, which is one of the most celebrated in Italy, owns the Palazzo Odescalchi in Rome, the famous Orsini-Odescalchi castle in Bracciano
Bracciano
Bracciano is a small town in the Italian region of Lazio, 30 km northwest of Rome. The town is famous for its volcanic lake and for a particularly well-preserved medieval castle Castello Orsini-Odescalchi...
, as well as large estates in Italy and Hungary.
The castle in Bracciano
Bracciano
Bracciano is a small town in the Italian region of Lazio, 30 km northwest of Rome. The town is famous for its volcanic lake and for a particularly well-preserved medieval castle Castello Orsini-Odescalchi...
, although now belonging to the Odescalchi family, was originally an Orsini fortress until it was sold due to family debts.
The Princely family is currently represented by H.S.H. Prince Carlo Odescalchi, Prince of the Holy Roman Empire, Duke of Syrmium, etc (b. 1954), whose heir is his son Prince Baldassare Odescalchi.
Sources
- Original 1922 Almanach de Gotha (edited by Justice Perthes) entry for the Odescalchi family, link to the original universally-recognised genealogical reference document, with details of family honours