Prince of Butera

Prince of Butera

The title of Prince of Butera is an ancient Sicilian aristocratic title. It was initially created in 1563 by King Philip II of Spain (as King of Sicily) for  Ambrogio Santapau Branciforte, Marquess of Licodia. At the time of its creation, it was the first and only Sicilian princely title. The title was held for many generations by the Branciforte family, who were among the most powerful and influential noble houses in Sicily.

Over the centuries, as feudalism waned, the territorial power associated with the principality diminished, but the princely title itself remained a prestigious mark of nobility. 

With Ercole Michele Branciforte, 12th prince of Butera, this branch of the family went extinct, and the prince passed the title to his first daughter, Caterina Branciforte Reggio (1768-1816), who married Niccolò Placido Branciforte Lanza of the princes of Leonforte. They had only a daughter, Stefania (1788-1843), who in 1805 married Giuseppe Lanza Branciforte, 8th prince of Trabia, and as a result, all titles and possessions of the Branciforte family passed to the Lanza.

The present holder is Don Pietro Lanza Branciforte de Luca

Holders

• Ambrogio Santapau Branciforte (1563-1565)
• Francesco Santapau Branciforte (1565-1591)
• Fabrizio Branciforte Barresi (1591-1624)
• Margherita d'Austria Branciforte (1625-1660), with husband Federico Colonna
• Giuseppe Branciforte Branciforte (1661-1675)
• Carlo Maria Carafa Branciforte (1675-1695)
• Giulia Carafa Branciforte (1695-1705)
• Niccolò Placido Branciforte del Carretto (1705-1726)
• Caterina Branciforte Ventimiglia (1727-1763)
• Ercole Michele Branciforte Gravina (1763-1765)
• Salvatore Branciforte Branciforte (1765-1799)
• Ercole Michele Branciforte Pignatelli (1800-1814)
• Caterina Branciforte Reggio (1814-1816)
• Stefania Branciforte Branciforte (1816-1843)
• Pietro Emanuele Lanza Branciforte (1843-1855)
• Giuseppe Lanza Branciforte Spinelli (1855-1868)
• Pietro Lanza Branciforte Galeotti (1868-1929)
• Ottavio Lanza Branciforte Galeotti (1929-1938)
• Francesco Giuseppe Lanza Branciforte Fardella (1938-1954)
• Manfredi Lanza Branciforte de Luca (1954-1995)
• Pietro Lanza Branciforte de Luca (1995-oggi)