Tagliavia

Tagliavia

Alias: nan

Blazon: azure, a palm proper, fruited of two bunches or, rooted also or. 

Alias: gules, four pales or; a palm or fruity argent overall.

A velvet mantle fringed with gold and topped by the crown of a Prince of the Holy Roman Empire.

Origins: Swabia (Germany), then Milan

Seat: Palermo, Sciacca

Notable people: 

• Federico, who served as praetor of Palermo in 1327-28 
• Giovanni, who held the same office in 1341-42. 
• Francesco was praetor in 1342-43
• Antonino was the captain of justice in Salemi from 1404 to 1406 
• Giovanni Antonio, Baron of Castelvetrano, founded the church and convent of the Dominican fathers in Castelvetrano in 1470. 
• Giovanni Vincenzo obtained the title of Count of Castelvetrano in 1538 and was stratigoto of Messina in 1521-22 and 1526-27. 
• Giovanni, regent and captain general of the Kingdom in 1528, received the title of Marquis of Terranova in 1530. 
• Pietro, a cardinal of the Holy Roman Church, was Archbishop of Palermo and president of the Kingdom of Sicily under Charles V.
• Carlo, one of the most distinguished figures of this family, served as captain of justice in Palermo (1545-46), deputy of the Kingdom, Grand Constable, Admiral, president and captain general in Sicily (1566, 1567-68, 1571, 1577). He was a Grandee of Spain and a Knight of the Golden Fleece, known as "magnus siculus." Carlo obtained the title of Marquis of Avola in 1544, Duke of Terranova in 1561, Prince of Castelvetrano in 1564, and Count of Borgetto in 1566.
• Giovanni, Carlo's son, became vicar general of the Kingdom in 1573 and, through his wife Maria de Marinis, brought the marquisate of Favara into the family. 
• Giorgio was granted the title of Don in 1583 and held the feuds of Pietra Belice and Cellaro.
• Bartolo was a deputy of the Kingdom in 1594. 
• Another Carlo, Prince of Castelvetrano, was a deputy of the Kingdom in 1599 and captain general of the Sicilian cavalry. 
• Giovanni, Prince of Castelvetrano, was a Knight of the Golden Fleece in 1609. 
• Calogero served as a deputy of the Kingdom in 1621 and 1624.
• Diego, brother of Giovanni, Prince of Castelvetrano, was a commander of the Order of Saint James, a Grandee of Spain, chief equerry to Queen Marianna of Austria, general of the cavalry in Naples, stratigò of Messina in 1606, Prince of the Holy Roman Empire, captain general of Sardinia, and a State Counsellor and ambassador to the Holy See. Through his wife Stefania Cortes y Mendoza, granddaughter of Ferdinand I, he became Marquis of Valle in the Indies. This line eventually became extinct in the Pignatelli family through the marriage of Giovanna, Diego's daughter, to Ettore Pignatelli, Duke of Monteleone.
• Mario, who obtained the title of Marquis of San Giacomo in 1671. 
• Giuseppe was captain of justice in Sciacca in 1688-89. 
• Another Mario held the same position in Sciacca in 1745-46 and acquired the title of Duke of Alagona in 1771, which he passed to his son Francesco Onofrio in 1776. 
• Giuseppe Tagliavia e Tagliavia received investiture of the title of Marquis of San Giacomo in 1787.

Titles: 

• Prince of Castelvetrano
• Duke of Terranova
• Duke of Alagona
• Marquess of Avola
• Marquess of San Giacomo
• Marquess of Favara
• Count of Borgetto
• Baron of Burgio Milluso
• Baron of Castelvetrano
• Baron of Cellaro
• Baron of Lazzarino
• Baron of Perrana
• Baron of Pietra Belice
• Baron of Ravanu-sa 
• Baron of San Bartolomeo
• Baron of Sommatino
   

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

The Tagliavia family, an ancient and distinguished Sicilian noble lineage, claims descent from Manfredo of Swabia, who acquired the surname Tagliavia after successfully cutting off the enemy's retreat in a military operation. This branch of the family is said to have originated in Milan before a Guido, a captain in the service of Emperor Henry VI, brought it to Sicily.

In the early 16th century, the family adopted the surname Aragona through succession, preceding it to Tagliavia.

Branches of this family also existed in Sciacca, holding the titles of Marquises of San Giacomo and Dukes of Alagona.