Alliata

Alliata

 Alias: Agliata


 Blazon: or, three pales sable. The shield supported by an imperial two-headed eagle sable, with an imperial crown or.

 Origins: Palermo

 Seat: Palermo

 Notable people: Filippo, Gerardo, Andreotto, Antonio, Rainero, Giacomo, Giovanni, Andrea, Giuseppe, Domenico

 Titles: 

Prince of Villafranca, 

Prince of Ucria,

Prince of Montereale, 

Prince of Buccheri, 

Prince of Trecastagni, 

Prince of Buonfornello, 

Prince of Ucria, 

Prince of Castrorao,

Prince of Gangi,
Prince of Valguarnera,
Prince of Gravina,

Duke of Saponara,
Duke of Salaparuta,
Duke of Pietratagliata,
Duke of Sala,

Marquess of Roccella,

Count of Asaro  

Baron of Pedara,
Baron of Villafranca,
Baron of Viagrande,

Baron of Castellammare, 

Baron of Roccella, 

Baron of the Scannatura, 

Baron of Solanto, 

Baron of S. Anna (formerly of Troccoli) 

 Bibliography: Mango 1912, s.v. 'Alliata'


The Alliata family, a noble lineage, has a history extending back centuries. While some accounts attempt to trace their origins before the year 1000, a more verifiable genealogy begins with their arrival in Sicily from Pisa in the 14th century. Filippo is believed to be the first to bring the family to Sicily. In 1413, his son Rainero, along with his wife Maddalena and children Pietro, Benedetto, Ginevra, and Filippo, were granted Palermitan citizenship, a privilege later confirmed by King Alfonso in 1441.

Over the generations, the Alliatas produced many illustrious figures. Gerardo Alliata served as the Protonotary of the Kingdom in the latter half of the 15th century, a significant role also held by other family members. In 1499, brothers Andreotto (a doctor of both laws) and Antonio Alliata were granted permission to build and populate the town of Villafranca on their fief of Troccoli. Upon Antonio's death without heirs, Antonio's properties were inherited by Andreotto. In 1513, Andreotto purchased the feifs of Purachi and Pirato, which were confirmed in 1516. He also served as a praetorian judge in Palermo.

The family branched into several lines, including the Barons of Castellammare, Scannatura, Roccella, and Solanto, and the Princes of Bonfornello. Many members held prominent positions such as praetor, captain of justice, and senator of Palermo. Noteworthy figures include Rainero (praetor in 1493-94), Giacomo (captain of justice in 1503-1504), Mariano (Baron of Roccella, captain of justice in 1539-40), Giovanni (Baron of Solanto, captain of justice in 1592-93, 1596-97, and 1605-06), Andrea (Baron of Roccella, senator in 1645-46), Francesco Alliata e Spatafora (Baron of Solanto, senator in 1680-81 and 1694-95), and Blasco Maria, Prince of Bonfornello (granted in 1677), Marchese of Roccella, Knight of the Order of Alcantara, and captain of justice in 1678-79.

A particularly significant branch emerged with the Barons of Villafranca, who were elevated to the rank of princes in 1609. Francesco Alliata e Paruta, the first Prince of Villafranca, was also Duke of Salaparuta (granted in 1625), Praetor of Palermo (1625-26), and governor of the noble Compagnia dei Bianchi. His son Giuseppe inherited the titles in 1637 and served as Praetor of Palermo (1647-48). The titles and feifs later passed to Francesco Alliata, who married Margherita Colonna. Their son, Giuseppe, inherited the Principality of Villafranca, the Duchy of Sala, and the feifs of Taya and S. Anna (formerly Troccoli) in 1698. This Giuseppe was a captain of justice in Palermo (1708-09), a gentleman of the chamber to King Vittorio Amedeo II of Savoy, and a Lieutenant General Field Marshal to Emperor Charles VI, from whom he received the privilege of Grandee of Spain of the 1st class in 1722. He married Giovanna Bonanno e del Bosco and later Anna Maria di Giovanni e Morra, heiress of the principalities of Buccheri, Castrorao, and Trecastagni, and the baronies of Pedara, Viagrande, etc. Their son, Domenico, confirmed the Grandeeship of Spain in 1770. Domenico married Vittoria di Giovanni e Pagano, heiress of the titles of Prince of Montereale, Prince of Ucria, Duke of Saponara, etc. Their son, Giuseppe Letterio, was invested with the title of Prince of Buccheri in 1751 but predeceased his father. He married Maria Felice Colonna e Salviati.

Giuseppe Letterio's sons were Fabrizio and Vincenzo. Vincenzo Alliata e Colonna, through a donation from his grandmother Vittoria Di Giovanni, was invested with the title of Duke of Saponara in 1775, establishing another branch of the family. Fabrizio Alliata e Colonna was invested with the title of Prince of Villafranca in 1775 and Prince of Montereale in 1784. He married Giuseppa Moncada e Branciforte and was the father of Giuseppe and Luigi, from whom the Dukes of Pietratagliata descend.

Giuseppe Alliata e Moncada was invested with numerous titles in 1804 and 1805, including Prince of Villafranca, Prince of Ucria, Prince of Montereale, Prince of Buccheri, Prince of Trecastagni, Prince of Castrorao, Baron of Pedara, Baron of Viagrande, and Duke of Saponara. He married Agata Valguarnera, a court lady and heiress to titles such as Prince of Gangi, Prince of Valguarnera, Prince of Gravina, and Count of Asaro. He was an hereditary peer of the Kingdom of Sicily, a gentleman of the chamber, and a Knight of San Gennaro. Their children included Fabrizio, Alessandro, and Eduardo. After Fabrizio and Alessandro died without issue, all the titles of the Alliata and Valguarnera houses passed to Eduardo Alliata e Valguarnera. He married Felicita Lo Faso and had a son, Giuseppe, who, with Marianna Bazan e Trigona, Baroness dei Sollazzi di Salomone, had Alvaro and Gabriele (twins), Felicita, Enrico, Amalia, and Maria.

The branch originating from Vincenzo Alliata e Colonna had Domenico, a gentleman of the chamber and senator of Messina. Domenico married Laura Di Giovanni and had Giovanni, Pasquale, and Francesco. Giovanni married Giulia Bianchini and had Arturo, Domenico, and Laura. Pasquale married Emanuela dei marchesi Cardillo and had Domenico, Antonio, Filippo Neri, and Laura. Domenico Alliata Cardillo married Teresa Gravina and had Pasquale, Emanuela, Rosa, Caterina, and Ida. Filippo Neri Alliata Cardillo married Caterina Gravina and had Emanuela.

The line of the Dukes of Pietratagliate began with Luigi Alliata e Moncada. He married Maria Cirilla Marassi e la Rocca, heiress to the titles of Duke of Pietratagliate and Baron of Camitrice, and had Fabrizio and Giovan Battista. Fabrizio Alliata e Marassi married Marianna Moncada and had Pietro (Duke of Pietratagliata), Giovanni, Luigi, Ernesto, Cirilla, Teresa, and Maria.

The Alliata family has a notable history of members joining the Order of Malta, with documented entries in 1530, 1557, 1579, and 1590, among others. Throughout their history, various prominent members of the family held high offices of state, including president, vicar general, protonotary of the kingdom, praetor, senator, and stratico. The family also boasts many Knights of Malta, Calatrava, and San Gennaro, and was honored with the Grandeeship of Spain and the title of Prince of the Holy Roman Empire. Today, the noble Alliata family in Palermo is divided into three main lines: the Princes of Villafranca (Dukes of Salaparuta, etc.), the Dukes of Saponara, and the Dukes of Pietratagliata.