Emanuele
Blazon: gules, a rampant lion or, holding a standard argent, crossed gules, a border of twelve pieces: argent, a rampant lion gules, and gules, an eagle's talon winged or holding a sword argent. Motto: SIGNIFER VIS ET CLEMENTIAE.
Origins: unknown
Seat: Mazzara, Marsala, Salemi, Trapani, Palermo
Notable people: Rodolfo, Giovanni, Luigi, Tommaso, Giovan Luigi, Giovan Vito, Giovan Vincenzo, Antonio, Benedetto, Giuseppe, Stefano, Francesco, Ferdinand, Francesco Maria, Stanislao, Domenico, Nicholas
Titles:
- Marquess of Torrealta
- Marquess of Villabianca
- Count of Belforte
- Baron of Burgio Millusio,
- Baron of Culcasi,
- Baron of Ganzaria,
- Baron of Reburdone,
- Baron of Granvilla,
- Baron of Miserendino,
- Baron of S. Margherita,
- Baron of Pantano
- Baron of St. Andrea
- Baron of S. Giuseppe,
- Baron of Canalotto,
- Baron of S. Leonardo
- Lord of Merca
Bibliography: Palizzolo Gravina 1871, s.v. "Emanuele"; Mango 1912, s.v. 'Emanuele'
This ancient and noble family claims descent from the royal house of Castile. They held various titles, including the marquisates of Torrealta and Villabianca, the countship of Belforte, and numerous baronies such as Burgio Millusio, Culcasi, Ganzaria, Reburdone, Granvilla, Miserendino, S. Margherita, and Pantano, as well as the salt pan of Villadimare, and the customs of pelage and merca, and the Palermo dyeing customs. The earliest reliable record is of Rodolfo, a knight, counsellor, and familiar of King Peter I of Aragon, who was among the knights of Trapani in 1283. He was one of six knights chosen by King Peter to select the day and place for combat with King Charles of Anjou and was appointed Justiciar of the Valley of Girgenti on February 17, 1283, possessing the fief of Burgio Millusio. Ruggero, a knight, was also among the knights of Trapani in 1283, and Giovanni, in the same year, was among the knights of Lentini and was one of the nobles who disbursed money to the royal court. In addition to Trapani, this family enjoyed nobility in Mazzara, Marsala, Salemi, and Palermo, forming two distinct branches: the Marquises of Villabianca and the Marquises of Torrealta.
Throughout history, many members of this family held significant positions and achieved notable recognition. Luigi (Ludovico), Lord of Merca, was Praetor of Palermo in 1400-1401. Tommaso was a juror of Salemi in 1405-1406, and Giovan Luigi was a juror of Palermo in 1500-1501. Giovan Vito served as Captain of Justice in Marsala in 1556, and Giovan Vincenzo held the same position in Mazzara in 1576-1577. Antonio, son of the late Giovan Vito from Marsala, was granted the title of "don" for himself and his descendants by privilege on February 7, 1622. Benedetto served as Praetorian Judge of Palermo in 1636-1637, of the Grand Criminal Court in 1643, and Vicar General of the Kingdom in 1641 and 1645. He actively opposed Giuseppe D'Alessi and his followers, killing Mariano Rubiani, a leading rebel. He was governor of the Monte di Pietà of Palermo in 1657 and obtained the title of Marquis of Villabianca by privilege on November 17, 1655, executed on July 23, 1657. Stefano (son of the preceding) was Praetorian Judge of Palermo in 1688 and 1696, judge of the Consistory Tribunal in 1692, judge of the Grand Court in 1697, Auditor General of the People of War in 1699, head of the junta of confiscated goods from the rebellious Messinese, and exclusive judge of the Scala and Porto Franco of Messina in 1703, rational legal expert of the Royal Patrimony Tribunal in 1714, and consultant to the Viceroy in 1718. Benedetto was Captain of Mazzara in 1697-1698. Francesco Emanuele and Suares, Marquis of Villabianca, governed the noble company of Charity in Palermo in 1701. Pietro was Prefect of Mazzara in 1701-1702. Benedetto Emanuele and Vanni, Marquis of Villabianca, served as governor of the Monte di Pietà in Palermo in 1711-1712 and 1721, and governor of the company of Charity in 1721. Mariano Emanuele and Napoli, Baron of Butti, was pro-conservator in Alcara in 1732. Benedetto, the first Marquis of Torralta, Baron of S. Giuseppe, Baron of Canalotto, and Baron of S. Leonardo, within his family, was Captain of Mazzara in 1745-1746. Domenico was Captain of Mazzara in 1740-1741. Ferdinando was Prefect of Marsala in 1745-1746 and possibly part of the nobility of that city in 1759. Francesco-Maria Emanuele and Gaetani, Marquis of Villabianca, was Senator of Palermo in 1775-1776, General Commissioner in the kingdom, governor of the noble company of Charity in 1750, governor of the Monte di Pietà in 1755-1756, a passionate and erudite scholar of Sicilian history, and author, among other works, of the "Sicilia Nobile." For his merits, he obtained the title of Count of Belforte by privilege on August 6, 1779, executed on January 21, 1780, and was a knight of the Constantinian Order. Stanislao was a noble juror of Salemi in 1787-1788 and Captain of Justice of the same city in 1805-1806. Domenico Emanuele and Villaraut (brother of the preceding), Marquis of Torrealta, was Captain of Justice of Salemi in 1786-1787, noble juror of that city in 1794-1795, and pro-conservator in 1810. Nicolò was Praetorian Judge of Palermo in 1772-1773, 1784-1785, judge of the Consistory Tribunal in 1791-1793, of the Grand Criminal Court in 1799, of the Grand Civil Court in 1810, and obtained investiture of the title of Baron of S. Andrea on December 20, 1784. Benedetto Emanuele and Vanni, Marquis of Villabianca, was governor of the noble company of Charity. He married Rosaria Vanni in his first marriage, Antonia Vassallo, Baroness of S. Bartolomeo, in his second marriage (of which fief he obtained investiture on April 3, 1792), and Costanza Pilo dei marchesi della Torretta in his third marriage. Baron Benedetto was a noble senator of Salemi in 1812-1813.
Today, this family is represented in the Torrealta branch by Gaetano Emanuele (son of Vincenzo, son of Gaetano, son of Domenico), listed in the definitive register of noble and titled families of the Sicilian region with the titles of Marquis of Torrealta, Baron of S. Leonardo, and Baron of Canalotto. In the Villabianca branch, the family is represented by Giuseppe Emanuele and Salvo (son of Santi, son of Francesco), recognised by ministerial decree on May 30, 1899, with the titles of Marquis of Villabianca and Count of Belforte.
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