Ansalone

Ansalone

Alias: Anzalone

Blazon: azure, a three pairs of bands or. Crest: a dog argent,  with a collar or.

Origins: Normandy

Seat: Castrogiovanni, Milazzo, Catania

 Notable people: Pietro, Bonsignore, Giovanni, Andrea da Messina, Ascanio, Paolo, Giuseppe, Antonio, Diego, Pompilio

 Titles: 

Prince of Patti, 

Prince of Roccapalumba, 

Duke of Montagna, 

Marquis of Sorrentino, 

Count of Tindaro, 

Baron of Recalcaccia, 

Baron of Spinagallo

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

The noble Ansalone family is believed to have originated in Normandy, with some accounts tracing their ancestry to Ladislao, a knight from Pannonia who served Emperor Henry VI. Their history in Sicily dates back to figures like Natale, who served as justice of the Valleys of Castrogiovanni, Val Demone, and Milazzo under Peter of Aragon in 1282, and was a supporter of the Sicilian Vespers, becoming master justice under King Peter and army captain under King James. Pietro Ansalone, praised by Zurita, received the castle of Comiso and the office of protonotary of the kingdom from King Frederick.

The family acquired various important fiefdoms over time. Pietro was granted the fiefdoms of Saccolino, Aliano, and Lungarini in 1288, which passed to his daughter Macalda. Bonsignore, a senator of Messina in 1302, bought censual rights of the Royal Demesne of Messina, which were confirmed by King Peter II in 1339 and later to his descendants. Giovanni, a doctor of laws and royal counselor, was a judge of the Magna Curia Rationum of the Kingdom of Sicily in 1409. Another Giovanni purchased the fiefdoms of Camemi, Migaido, and Ogliastro in 1494, passing them to his son Francesco, Baron of Pettineo. Other baronies held by the family included Fiumedinisi and the tuna fisheries of Milazzo.

The Ansalone family held numerous significant positions across Messina, Catania, and Palermo. Federico Ansalone was a stratigo of Messina in 1212, and the family boasted many senators in Messina and three stratigos until 1329. Members like Giuseppe and Paolo Ansalone were founders of the Military Order of the Star, while Antonio was a perpetual conservator of the Royal Patrimony and a founder of the Archconfraternity of Peace and Bianchi of Messina. Later, Antonino Ansalone, Duke of Montagna, served as royal secretary multiple times. Pompilio was a straticotial judge of Messina in 1672. Paolo was a senator of Palermo in the early 17th century, and another Paolo, Prince of Roccapalumba, was captain of justice in Palermo. Domenico Ansalone was noted among the Royal Knights in the noble Mastra of Catania in 1696.

The family also attained ducal and princely titles. Ascanio Ansalone y Escovedo, a master rational of the Royal Patrimony, president of the Great Court, and regent of the Supreme Council of Italy in Madrid, was granted the title of Duke of Montagna in 1642. He also obtained the titles of Prince of Patti, Marquis of Sorrentino, and Count of Tindaro. Paolo Ansalone and Corsetto was invested with the title of Prince of Roccapalumba in 1639. The family's legacy continued through various cadet lines, eventually leading to Alfonsina Corvaja, who inherited from Lauretta Ansalone and married into the Vianisi family. The family also had Knights of Malta, including Fra Pietro, who wrote a book about his family.