Barrese

Barrese

Alias: Barresi, de Barresi

Blazon: vairy argent and gules, three pales or overall.

Origins: Normandy (France)

Seat: Palermo, Messina

Notable people: 

• Ruggero de Barresi, a knight and castellan of Caltanissetta. 
• Abbo de Barresi, son of Giovanni, possessed the fief of Militello Val di Noto in 1318, which was elevated to a marquisate on October 24, 1564 (executed January 12, 1565), for Vincenzo Barresi. This title later passed to Carlo, whose only daughter, Caterina, married Fabrizio Branciforte and Barrese, Prince of Pietraperzia, thus transferring the title to the Branciforte family.
• Another Abbo de Barresi the Younger, nephew of the previous, was granted the fief and castle of Pietraperzia on January 29, 1392, by King Martin and Queen Maria for his services to King Federico against rebellious counts, earning great honours, and was married to Rocca de Martina, a lady-in-waiting to Queen Eleonora. This Abbo had two sons, Abbono and Blasco (the first of this name), allocating Pietraperzia to the former and Militello to Blasco, as D'Amico attests. 
• Arcibao Barrese, governor of Messina in 1435.
• Niccolò, Knight of Malta in 1441
• Tommaso was among the most illustrious during King Alfonso's time, possessing the Duchy of Castrovillari in Calabria, the County of Terranova, and other castles. Girolamo was vicar of Val Demone. 
• Gaspare, Knight of Malta and Commander in Marsala in 1494.
• Pietro Antonio, Knight of Malta and Master of the Grand Master's Horse
• Artale, son of Abbo the Younger, who gifted the fief of Pietraperzia to his son Giovanni-Antonio. Giovanni-Antonio was invested with it on August 7, 1483, married Laura Sottile (who brought the fief of Alfano as a dowry), and was the father of Matteo.
• Blasco II, vicar of arms in Catania.
• Matteo's son, Girolamo, was invested with the family's fiefs on June 7, 1533, and passed them to his son Pietro, who was invested on November 3, 1550. 
• Pietro was granted the title of Prince over the fief of Pietraperzia by concession of King Philip II and Marquis over the fief of Barrafranca by privilege on December 22, 1564 (executed April 10, 1565). He was stratigoto of Messina in 1565, Knight of the Golden Fleece, vicar general in Catania and Syracuse to defend them from Turkish invasions, and finally supreme commander of the Sicilian militia. As he had no children, all these assets and titles passed to his sister Dorotea, whose eldest son, Fabrizio Branciforti Barresi and Santapau, inherited all the titles of the Barrese house. 
• Antonio, Knight of Malta, who died during the Siege of 1565.
• Fabrizio, straticotial judge of Messina in 1584 and also a judge of the Grand Court of the Kingdom in 1585.
• Elisabetta Barrese and Bonanno received the title of Count in 1627
• Francesco Barrese and Perollo became Baron of Piana di Barrese in 1657. 
• Fabrizio served as pretorian judge of Palermo in 1751-52

Titles: 

• Prince of Pietraperzia
• Duke of Castrovillari
• Marquis of Barrafranca
• Count of Terranova
• Baron of Piana di Barzini
• Baron of Pedagaggi and Randazzini
• Baron of Xiruni
• Baron of Molisena
• Baron of Bombiscuro
• Baron of Castellar
• Baron of Ogliastro
• Baron of Margi
• Baron of Pietra d'Amico
• Baron of Rigiulfo

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

The Barresi, an ancient and distinguished noble family, originated in France, specifically Normandy, and arrived in Sicily with Count Roger, according to Galluppi and Di Giovanni. They enjoyed nobility in Palermo and Messina from the 11th to the 17th centuries.

The family held numerous fiefs, including Pedagaggi and Randazzini, Xiruni, Molisena, Bombiscuro, Castellar, Ogliastro, Margi, Pietra d'Amico, and Rigiulfo.

With no direct male heirs, the line ended with Pietro Barresi, 1st prince of Pietraperzia, who had no children. The titles passed to his sister Dorotea Barrese and Santapau, wet nurse to King Philip III and wife of Giovanni Branciforte, Count of Mazzarino. Their son, Fabrizio Branciforte and Barrese, through his mother, became the heir to all the titles and fiefs of the most noble Barrese house. These titles are currently held by the noble Lanza family.