Pignatelli

Pignatelli

Alias: none

Blazon: or, three pots (It. "pignate") sable 2 and 1. Mantle and crown of a prince.

Origins: Lombardy, then Naples

Seat: Palermo

Notable people: 

• Ettore, Count of Monteleone, who was for 18 years President of the Kingdom of Sicily under Charles V. He was naturalised a Sicilian in 1518, and confirmed pro se et suis in 1528. 
• Another Ettore, who married Giovanna D'Aragona Tagliavia e Cortes in 1654, thus becoming the first prince of Castelvetrano, Duke of Terranova, Marquess of Avola, Marquess of Favara and Count of Borgetto. 
• Andrea Frizio, who inherited and represented the illustrious houses of Aragon, Tagliavia, and Cortes through his mother Giovanna d'Aragona, along with vast estates in Castelvetrano, Terranova, and the great vassalages of the Marquisate del Valle in the Indies. 
• Nicolò, Duke of Monteleone and Prince of Castelvetrano, was a Knight of the Golden Fleece and served as viceroy in Sicily and Sardinia from 1719-1722. 
• Diego, invested in 1724, also a Knight of the Golden Fleece, was a grand admiral and grand constable of the kingdom of Sicily, and a colonel of a cuirassier regiment in Naples. 
• Andrea Fabrizio, invested in 1751, was a Grandee of Spain of the first class who reclaimed the states of Noja and Cerchiara. 
• A second Ettore, invested in 1766, was also a Grandee of Spain of the first class and Prince of the Holy Roman Empire, acquiring various baronies and feuds, including Pietra, Belice, Burgio, Millusio, the Duchy of Terranova, and the Marquisate of Favara. 
• Domenico, a Neapolitan patrician and Archbishop of Palermo, was elected president and captain general of the kingdom of Sicily in 1802. 
• Giuseppe, Duke of Monteleone and Prince of Castelvetrano, was a praetor of Palermo in 1838.
• Giuseppe Pignatelli and Fardella, who on 10 August 1906 received recognition for the titles of Prince of the Holy Roman Empire, Prince of Castelvetrano, Duke of Terranova, Marquis of Avola, Marquis of Favara, Marquis of Caronia, Count of Borgetto, Baron of Sant'Angelo Muxaro, Baron of Casteltermine, and Birribaida, and Lord of Montedoro. He was married to Rosa de la Gandara and had children Maria Gloria, Antonio, and Maria Anna.

Titles: 

• Prince of the Holy Roman Empire
• Prince of Castelvetrano
• Duke of Terranova
• Duke of Monteleone
• Marquess of Avola, 
• Marquess of Favara
• Marquess of Caronia
• Count of Borgetto
• Baron of Sant'Angelo Muxaro
• Baron of Casteltermine 
• Baron of Burgio Millusio
• Baron of Birribaida 
• Lord of Montedoro

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

The Pignatelli family, an ancient and noble Neapolitan lineage, traces its origins back to the times of the Republic of Naples, with Lucio Pignatelli, a constable, being an early progenitor. The family is also believed to have Lombard origins, being noted there since the early 12th century. They enjoyed nobility in Naples (in the Seggi of Capuana and Nido), Aversa, Bari, Benevento, Lucera, Tropea, Rome, Venice, Sicily, and Spain. They joined the Jerusalem order in 1420, were awarded the Golden Fleece, the Grandee of Spain, and the dignity of Prince of the Holy Roman Empire, even yielding a Pope, Innocent XII.

A branch of the family transferred to Sicily with Ettore Pignatelli, Count of Monteleone and Borrello, who served as viceroy under Emperor Charles V. He founded the convent of San Francesco di Paola outside Palermo's walls, the monastery of the Sett'angeli, and the Company of Charity. He acquired the state of Caronia and eventually gained the title of Duke of Monteleone.