House of Simonetti - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The Simonetti family is an Italian

Italy

Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...

noble family with origins in Tuscany

Tuscany

Tuscany is a region in Italy. It has an area of about 23,000 square kilometres and a population of about 3.75 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence ....

. During the 12th Century different branches in Florence

Florence

Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....

, Lucca

Lucca

Lucca is a city and comune in Tuscany, central Italy, situated on the river Serchio in a fertile plainnear the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Lucca...

, Pistoia

Pistoia

Pistoia is a city and comune in the Tuscany region of Italy, the capital of a province of the same name, located about 30 km west and north of Florence and is crossed by the Ombrone Pistoiese, a tributary of the River Arno.-History:...

and Pescia

Pescia

Pescia is an Italian city in the province of Pistoia, Tuscany, central Italy.It is located in a central zone between the cities Lucca and Florence, on the banks of the homonymous river.-History:...

developed. Other famous branches of this family were established in Jesi

Jesi

thumb|250px|Teatro Pergolesi.Iesi is a town and comune of the province of Ancona in the Marche, Italy.It is an important industrial and artistic center in the floodplain on the left bank of the Esino river before its mouth on the Adriatic Sea.-History:Iesi was one of the last towns of the Umbri...

, 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 ,...

and Bologna

Bologna

Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...

.

Members of this family have held different titles since the Middle Ages, among them: Lords of Jesi, Princes of Musone, marquis in the kingdom of Naples and Rome, counts in the kingdom of Italy and Bologna, senators of Rome and the Kingdom of Italy. The Simonetti also held positions in the Republic of Florence

Republic of Florence

The Republic of Florence , or the Florentine Republic, was a city-state that was centered on the city of Florence, located in modern Tuscany, Italy. The republic was founded in 1115, when the Florentine people rebelled against the Margraviate of Tuscany upon Margravine Matilda's death. The...

and the Republic of Lucca

Republic of Lucca

The Republic of Lucca was an ancient State of Tuscany which lasted from 1160 to 1805.After the death of Matilda of Tuscany, the city of Lucca began to constitute itself an independent commune, with a charter in 1160. For almost 500 years, Lucca remained an independent republic...

, among them priori of the signoria

Signoria

A Signoria was an abstract noun meaning 'government; governing authority; de facto sovereignty; lordship in many of the Italian city states during the medieval and renaissance periods....

, gonfaloniere

Gonfaloniere of Justice

Gonfaloniere of Justice was a post in the government of medieval and early Renaissance Florence. Like Florence's Podestà and Priori, it was introduced in 1293 when Giano Della Bella's Ordinamenti di Giustizia came into force....

, captains, members of the council of the elders and the leadership of the Guelph party.

Origin of the family

According to Eugenio Gamurrini and Lodovico Jacobilli the Simonetti from Jesi

Jesi

, Lucca

Lucca

Lucca is a city and comune in Tuscany, central Italy, situated on the river Serchio in a fertile plainnear the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Lucca...

, Florence

Florence

, Osimo

Osimo

Osimo is a town and comune of the Marche, Italy, in the province of Ancona, 15 km south of that town by rail. It is situated on a hill near the Adriatic Sea.Silk-spinning and the raising of cocoons are carried on.-History:...

, Cingoli

Cingoli

Cingoli is a town and comune of the Marches, Italy, in the province of Macerata, about 27 km by road from the town of Macerata. It is the birthplace of Pope Pius VIII.-History:...

, Terni

Terni

Terni is a city in southern Umbria, central Italy, capital of the province of Terni, located in the plain of the Nera river. It is 104 km N of Rome, 36 km NW of Rieti, and 29 km S of Spoleto.-History:...

and Milan

Milan

had a single origin. Gamurrini linked the Florentine branch of the family to medieval Lucca but could not find the common ancestor that linked the Simonetti from Tuscany to the Simonetti from Jesi. He pointed to other facts that indicated the connection and the earlier research done by Jacobilli. According to Jacobilli the Simonetti branches were all descendants of a single line of Lombard barons that held fiefs

Fiefdom

A fee was the central element of feudalism and consisted of heritable lands granted under one of several varieties of feudal tenure by an overlord to a vassal who held it in fealty in return for a form of feudal allegiance and service, usually given by the...

in central Italy. Gamurrini in his Istoria genealogica delle famiglie nobili Toscane et Umbre studied manuscripts that linked the Simonetti of Milan, Lucca and Florence to Teuprando, a Lombard lord living in Lucca and a descendant of Aripert I

Aripert I

Aripert I was king of the Lombards in Italy. He was the son of Gundoald, duke of Asti, who had crossed the Alps from Bavaria with his sister Theodelinda. As a relative of the Bavarian ducal house, his was called the Bavarian Dynasty.He was the first Roman Catholic king of the Lombards, elected...

, King of the Lombards (see Bavarian Dynasty

Bavarian Dynasty

The Bavarian dynasty was those kings of the Lombards who were descended from Garibald I, the Agilolfing duke of Bavaria. They came to rule the Lombards through Garibald's daughter Theodelinda, who married the Lombard king Authari in 588...

). Other noble families from Lucca also recognized Teuprando as their ancestor, including the Rolandinghi, Soffredinghi, and Opezinghi. All these families held control of vast areas in the Garfagnana

Garfagnana

Garfagnana is an historical region of Italy, today part of the province of Lucca in the Apennines, in northwest Tuscany, but before the unification of Italy it belonged to the Duchy of Modena and Reggio, ruled by the Este family. For a short time, in the 16th century, it was governed by the poet...

region and held castles around the Lombard city of Barga

Barga

Barga is a medieval town and comune of the province of Lucca in Tuscany, central Italy. It is home to around 10,000 people and is the chief town of the "Media Valle" of the Serchio.-Geography:...

.

Other historians such as Lord Vernon

George Venables-Vernon, 5th Baron Vernon

George John Warren Vernon, 5th Baron Vernon was the only son of George Charles Venables-Vernon, 4th Baron Vernon of Sudbury, Derbyshire, and Frances Maria, only daughter of Admiral Sir John Borlase Warren. He was one of the last Members of Pariament for Derbyshire and the first for South Derbyshire...

were more conservative in their studies and researched documentation up to the beginning of the 13th century, still older documentation survived including documents related to Ranerio Simonecti (Raniero Simonetti), a Florentine nobleman who was alive in 1188 and who was also mentioned by E. Gamurrini. Vernon also studied the family’s lordship of parts of the Val d’ Elsa and the castle of Colle

Colle di Val d'Elsa

Colle di Val d'Elsa or Colle Val d'Elsa is a town and comune in Tuscany, Italy, in the province of Siena.It has a population of c. 20,000...

.

According to Villani the family was forced to renounce all its titles in Florence

Florence

and was reduced to popolani (common citizens). The same happened in Lucca, by the beginning of the 15th century they had lost all prerogatives of nobility

Nobility

Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...

in Lucca and Florence, however were still recognized as patricians.

Dante

Dante Alighieri

Durante degli Alighieri, mononymously referred to as Dante , was an Italian poet, prose writer, literary theorist, moral philosopher, and political thinker. He is best known for the monumental epic poem La commedia, later named La divina commedia ...

mentions the family by della Sannella, one of the ancient names of the family. Dante

Dante Alighieri

placed the Simonetti family in Paradiso XVI, among the ancient noble families of Florence

Florence

and Cacciaguida

Cacciaguida

Cacciaguida degli Elisei was an Italian crusader, the great-great-grandfather of Dante Alighieri.Little is known about his life. He was born in Florence, and two documents from 1189 and 1201 mention his existence; all other details of his biography are those from his most famous descendant's works...

.

In the Divine comedy, in Paradiso XVI, Dante says:

Therefore should not appear a marvellous thing

What I shall say of the great Florentines

Of whom the fame is hidden in the Past.

I saw the Ughi, saw the Catellini,

Filippi, Greci, Ormanni, and Alberichi,

Even in their fall illustrious citizens;

And saw, as mighty as they ancient were,

With him of La Sannella, him of Arca,

And Soldanier, Ardinghi, and Bostichi.

Simonetti of Lucca

The Lucca

Lucca

Lucca is a city and comune in Tuscany, central Italy, situated on the river Serchio in a fertile plainnear the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Lucca...

branch of the family became bankers to Edward I of England

Edward I of England

Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...

and the Pope

Pope

The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...

. The family was also one of the three major families controlling the Riccardi Bank of Lucca. In the year 1308 the Simonetti, Quartigiani and other noble families were banned from holding public offices in Lucca. In 1317 the Quartigiani clan regained power and placed Castruccio Castracani

Castruccio Castracani

Castruccio Castracani degli Antelminelli was an Italian condottiero and duke of Lucca.-Biography:Castruccio was born in Lucca, a member of the noble family of Antelminelli, of the Ghibelline party. In 1300 he was exiled with his parents and others of their faction by the Guelphs "Black" party,...

in the office of captain-general of the Republic. After a few months in office Castruccio Castracani turned against his protectors and plotted against the Quartigiani clan, including the Simonetti branch of the family. Many members of the family were killed by Castruccio Castracani

Castruccio Castracani

and the Simonetti family was banned from Lucca for the second time in a period of a few years. The Simonetti family returned to Lucca after the death of Castruccio Castracani. Francisco Simonetti dei Quartigiani was pro Florence

Florence

and influenced in the acquisition of Lucca by Florence in 1341.http://archivi.beniculturali.it/ASLU/patrimonio/curiarettori.html The Quartigiani and Simonetti were banned from holding office in Lucca for a third time after the reestablishment of the Republic in 1370. The palace and tower of the Simonetti and Quartigiani families were located in the center of Lucca, today called Quartigiani Tower or Torre delle ore (Clock Tower).http://www.google.ca/books?vid=04Auw29_-MO3S64BTHnoQe&id=jJeGzd64p_MC&pg=PA1&lpg=PA1&dq=Giuseppe+Matraia#PPA46,M1

Simonetti of Jesi

The Simonetti first arrived in Jesi

Jesi

in the 12th century. According to Gamurrini, they were sent by emperor Barbarossa

Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor

Frederick I Barbarossa was a German Holy Roman Emperor. He was elected King of Germany at Frankfurt on 4 March 1152 and crowned in Aachen on 9 March, crowned King of Italy in Pavia in 1155, and finally crowned Roman Emperor by Pope Adrian IV, on 18 June 1155, and two years later in 1157 the term...

to govern Jesi as vicars. The first member of this family to appear in a document from Jesi was Raniero son of Capthio in 1201. Raniero was elected 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 Jesi in 1216. He had four sons, named: Simonetto, Capthio, Gualtiero and Bartolo. The last three became lords of the castle of Castriccione around Cingoli

Cingoli

Cingoli is a town and comune of the Marches, Italy, in the province of Macerata, about 27 km by road from the town of Macerata. It is the birthplace of Pope Pius VIII.-History:...

. Bartolo later joined the Sylvestrines

Sylvestrines

The Sylvestrines are an order of monks under the Benedictine rule forming the Sylvestrine Congregation within the Benedictine Confederation. The order was founded in 1231 by Saint Sylvester Gozzolini....

and became leader of the order. Simonetto was elected podestà

Podestà

of Cerlongo and was the ambassador of Jesi to the government of the Marche

Marche

The population density in the region is below the national average. In 2008, it was 161.5 inhabitants per km2, compared to the national figure of 198.8. It is highest in the province of Ancona , and lowest in the province of Macerata...

. Simonetto had seven sons; among them were Mercenario Simonetti, a famous condottiero, Muzzolo and Oddone Simonetti, the last two became Lords of Donazzano. By 1286 the family was very powerful. As a result they attracted the attention of the Pope and other lords. They were at this time Lords of Castriccione, the castle of Sasso, near Serra San Quirico

Serra San Quirico

Serra San Quirico is a comune in the Province of Ancona in the Italian region Marche, located about 45 km southwest of Ancona.-External links:*...

, the castle of Santa Maria Nuova and other possessions in the Marche. Some members of the family joined the ghibellines during the 13th century and caused a struggle with Rome. The guelphs took Jesi and confiscated the property of the Simonetti and expelled the family from Jesi. In 1298 Rinaldo Simonetti signed a treaty with other nobles swering allegiance to pope Boniface VIII.

After struggles with the Malatesta family

House of Malatesta

The House of Malatesta was an Italian family that ruled over Rimini from 1295 until 1500, as well as other lands and towns in Romagna.Malatesta da Verucchio The House of Malatesta was an Italian family that ruled over Rimini from 1295 until 1500, as well as (in different periods) other lands and...

, Tano di Baligano, and Rome, the family returned to Jesi in the 14th century where Filippo Simonetti and Lomo Simonetti were De facto Lords of Jesi. The Church later recognized the lordship of Jesi by the Simonetti and declared the family vicars of the Holy See

Holy See

The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...

. The lordship was confirmed a second time by Pope Boniface IX

Pope Boniface IX

Pope Boniface IX , born Piero Tomacelli, was the second Roman Pope of the Western Schism from November 2, 1389, until October 1, 1404...

in a papal bull from May 6, 1397. The family was banished from Jesi for a second time in the 15th century. From this branch of the Simonetti originated the Simonetti from Osimo

Osimo

, Ancona

Ancona

Ancona is a city and a seaport in the Marche region, in central Italy, with a population of 101,909 . Ancona is the capital of the province of Ancona and of the region....

and Cingoli

Cingoli

Cingoli is a town and comune of the Marches, Italy, in the province of Macerata, about 27 km by road from the town of Macerata. It is the birthplace of Pope Pius VIII.-History:...

. Some members of the Simonetti of Jesi migrated to Calabria

Calabria

Calabria , in antiquity known as Bruttium, is a region in southern Italy, south of Naples, located at the "toe" of the Italian Peninsula. The capital city of Calabria is Catanzaro....

, a famous member of this branch was Cicco Simonetta

Cicco Simonetta

Francesco Simonetta was an Italian Renaissance statesman. He also is remembered for composing an early treatise on cryptography.- Biography :...

, secretary of Francesco Sforza. According to Crollalanza the name was modified to Simonetta in Calabria.

Princes of Musone

In a papal bull of August 9, 1805 Pope Pius VII

Pope Pius VII

Pope Pius VII , born Barnaba Niccolò Maria Luigi Chiaramonti, was a monk, theologian and bishop, who reigned as Pope from 14 March 1800 to 20 August 1823.-Early life:...

created the title of Prince of Musone for Count Don Raniero Simonetti from Ancona

Ancona

Ancona is a city and a seaport in the Marche region, in central Italy, with a population of 101,909 . Ancona is the capital of the province of Ancona and of the region....

and his descendants. From this branch was also Cardinal Raniero Simonetti, governor 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...

in the 18th century.

People

Generic list of people named Simonetti:

From Tuscany:

Dom Bindo Simonetti (Lucca)
Francesco Simonetti dei Quartigiani (Lucca) - Nobleman from the house of Simonetti and Quartigiani. (14th century)
Ser Azzolino Simonetti (Lucca) - Nobleman and banker of the English crown. (14th century)
Ser Guido Simonetti (Lucca) - He 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 Modena
Modena
Modena is a city and comune on the south side of the Po Valley, in the Province of Modena in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy....

in 1299.
Dr. Francesco Simonetti (Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, Lucca) - Italian patriot jailed for 3 years in 1835, he was accused of being a member of Giovine Italia.
Count Luigi Simonetti - Consul of Lucca to Russia from 1834 to 1836.
Antonio Simonetti (Lucca)- Master goldsmith from the 18th century. He was known for his fine work using the baroque style.
Bartolo Simonetti (Florence) - Patrician and chief of the Guelph party in Florence. He was executed by the Florentine people. (14th century)
Raniero Simonetti - Podestà of San Gimignano
San Gimignano
San Gimignano is a small walled medieval hill town in the province of Siena, Tuscany, north-central Italy. It is mainly famous for its medieval architecture, especially its towers, which may be seen from several kilometres outside the town....

and Pistoia
Pistoia
Pistoia is a city and comune in the Tuscany region of Italy, the capital of a province of the same name, located about 30 km west and north of Florence and is crossed by the Ombrone Pistoiese, a tributary of the River Arno.-History:...

(c. 1199-1200), was also council of Florence.

From Jesi, Osimo, Ancona and Bologna (same branch):

Manetto Simonetti (Jesi) - Condotierro and medieval 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 Lucca
Lucca
Lucca is a city and comune in Tuscany, central Italy, situated on the river Serchio in a fertile plainnear the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Lucca...

.
Ranieri Simonetti (Jesi) - Podestà and Captain of Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...

in 1381.
Sciarra Simonetti (Jesi) - Podestà of Siena
Siena
Siena is a city in Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the province of Siena.The historic centre of Siena has been declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site. It is one of the nation's most visited tourist attractions, with over 163,000 international arrivals in 2008...

in 1381.
Cardinal Raniero Simonetti (Governor of Rome, Noble of Cingoli)
Captain-General Simonetto Simonetti (Jesi) - Commanded the Papal troops and died in battle.
Princess Isotta Simonetti (Bologna) - Princess of Musone
Prince D. Raniero Simonetti (Bologna) - Italian senator and Prince of Musone, he was an important figure in the Italian unification
Italian unification
Italian unification was the political and social movement that agglomerated different states of the Italian peninsula into the single state of Italy in the 19th century...

.
Prince Annibale Simonetti
Prince Annibale Simonetti
Prince Annibale Simonetti was a Roman nobleman from 19th century Italy. He was born in Ancona and was related to the Osimo-Jesi branch of the Simonetti. He was assistant to Pope Pius IX, member of parliament and member of the high council of Rome. As a young man in 1848 he was appointed Minister of...

(Ancona
Ancona
Ancona is a city and a seaport in the Marche region, in central Italy, with a population of 101,909 . Ancona is the capital of the province of Ancona and of the region....

)
Antonio Hercolani-Fava-Simonetti (Bologna) - Lieutenant Grand Master of the Order of Malta (1951–1955)
Fra' Gherardo Hercolani Fava Simonetti
Gherardo Hercolani Fava Simonetti
Fra' Gherardo Hercolani Fava Simonetti is the current Grand Commander of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, and as such he is the religious superior of the professed knights and of the knights and dames in obedience.-Biography:...

(b. 1941, Bologna) - He is the current Grand Commander of the Order of Malta

From Modena:

Count Lorenzo Simonetti
Cardinal Lorenzo Simonetti

From Rome:

Michelangelo Simonetti (1724–1781) - Papal architect, he designed numerous neoclassical
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...

buildings in Rome and the Vatican.
Cardinal Giuseppe Simonetti (Rome)
Marquis Filippo Simonetti (Sabina, Rome)
Giacinta Simonetti (daughter of Marquis Simonetti, Rome. Mother of explorer Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza
Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza
Pietro Paolo Savorgnan di Brazzà, best known as Pierre Paul François Camille Savorgnan de Brazza , was a Franco-Italian explorer, born in Italy and later naturalized Frenchman...

)http://www.brazza.culture.fr/en/homme/giacinta.htm

From Napoles:

Marquis Saverio Simonetti (Napoli, Secretary of State - Sicily)

From Liguria:

Claudio Simonetti
Claudio Simonetti
Claudio Simonetti is an Italian composer who has specialized in the scores for Italian and American horror films since the 1970s.- Biography :...

, Italian musician born in Sao Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...

, son of Maestro Enrico Simonetti.
Enrico Simonetti - Maestro
Maestro
Maestro is a title of extreme respect given to a master musician. The term is most commonly used in the context of Western classical music and opera. This is associated with the ubiquitous use of Italian vocabulary for classical music terms...

. He was active in Brazil, United States and Italy.

From Milan:

J. Aubrey Simonetti, Italian-American architect, writer, poet & artist, son of Dino John Simonetti (member of the masonic Order of DeMolay & Knights Templar
Knights Templar
The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon , commonly known as the Knights Templar, the Order of the Temple or simply as Templars, were among the most famous of the Western Christian military orders...

)

Origin of the family

Simonetti of Lucca

Simonetti of Jesi

Princes of Musone

People

Further reading