Speciale

Speciale

Alias: nan

Blazon: vert, a bend or charged with a lion paw gules, and a star of eight points or in the chief.

Crown of a duke.

Origins: Pisa

Seat: Messina, Palermo, Nicosia

Notable people: 

• Ottavio, who was a sworn official in Messina in 1231
• Francesco, a knight from Messina, was recorded as a feudal lord under King Ludovico 
• Antonio, vice-secret of Lentini in 1398 
• Nicolò Speciale, a knight and master rational, was baron of Paternò, Spaccaforno, Castelluzzo, Graneri, Cassibile, San Marco lo Celso, Monteclimito, and Cipolla, and served as viceroy in Sicily in 1423, 1429, and 1432. 
• Pietro, baron of Cipolla, Alcamo, and Calatafimi, was praetor of Palermo in 1440-41 and 1461, master rational of the kingdom, and viceroy of Sicily in 1448. 
• Vassallo served as captain of justice in Caltagirone in 1444-45 and was possibly the same Vassallo who owned the Cassibile fief and was a senator of Syracuse in 1469-70 and 1472-73. 
• Giovan Matteo was captain of justice in Palermo in 1458-59 and 1460-61. 
• Pietro was appointed judge of the Grand Court in 1497-98. 
• Antonio (or Nicolò Antonio) was a senator of Palermo in 1512-13 and 1522-23. 
• Gabriele had his appointment as secret of Nicosia confirmed with the title of baron in 1643.
• Giuseppe Speciale e Basilotta, captain of justice in Nicosia in 1706-7. 
• Antonino Speciale e Nigrelli, who held the same office in 1740-41.
• Gabriele, who held it in 1744-45. 
• Andrea, Duke of Valverde, was rector of the Hospital of the Incurables in Palermo in 1760, 1763, and 1767. 
• Giuseppe Speciale e Nicosia was captain of justice in Nicosia in 1763-64. 
• Giovan Pietro, baron of Sant'Andrea, held the same position in 1769-70. 
• Francesco Paolo was governor of the Monte di Pietà in Palermo in 1791, 1794, and 1795, rector of the great hospital in 1781, and obtained the investiture of the title of Duke of Valverde in 1807. 
• Giovanni Antonio, baron of Sant'Andrea and Knight of Malta, was a senator of Nicosia in 1798-99. 
• Baron Andrea da Nicosia obtained a favourable opinion from the Protonotary of the Kingdom for a requested marquisate title.
• In more recent times, the title of baron of Salinella was recognised in 1883 for Maria Viola Speciale (daughter of Giuseppe and Gabriele), wife of Gaetano la Motta. 
• In 1887, Serafina Speciale (daughter of Giuseppe and Gabriele), wife of Graziano Cirino, received recognition for the title of baron of Montegrosso. 
• The official list of noble and titled families of the Sicilian region includes Gabriele Speciale (son of Giuseppe and Gabriele Andrea) with the titles of baron of Vaccarizzo, lord of Santa Maria la Nova, Mallia, and the Office of Secret of Nicosia, and Pietro Speciale (son of Giovanni and Giovanni Antonio) with the titles of baron of Sant'Andrea and baron of Pozzo.

Titles: 

• Duke of Valverde, 
• Baron of Cassibile
• Baron of Castelluzzo 
• Baron of Cipolla
• Baron of Graneri
• Baron of Monteclimito
• Baron of Montegrosso
• Baron of Paternò
• Baron del Pozzo
• Baron of Salinella
• Baron of San Marco lo Celso
• Baron of Sant'Andrea 
• Baron of Spaccaforno
• Baron of Vaccarizzo 
• Lord of Santa Maria la Nova
• Lord of Malia

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

The Speciale family is an ancient and noble lineage, believed to have originated in Pisa and noted in Sicily since the 13th century. According to Baronio, they held the privilege of coining money. The family possessed significant duchies and baronies, including Valverde, Alcamo, Calatafimi, Sant'Andrea, Cipolla, Ficarazzi, Mallia, San Marco, Santa Maria la Nuova, Sant'Onofrio, Pozzo, and Vaccarizzo. They also held the office of royal secret in Nicosia. 

The Speciale family enjoyed nobility in Messina during the 13th, 14th, and 15th centuries, as well as in Palermo and Nicosia.