Valguarnera

Valguarnera

Alias: nan

Blazon: argent, two bars gules.

Origins: Catalonia

Seat: Palermo, Messina

Notable people: 

• Simone (1333–34): Served as the Pretor of Palermo.

• Vitale (1409): Armourer to King Martin, Baron of Asaro, and Captain of Justice in Nicosia.

• Giovanni (1414–16): Captain of Justice in Palermo.

• Giovanni, Baron of Asaro (1474–86): A dominant figure who served as Strategoto of Messina, President of the Kingdom (Acting Governor), and Captain General of the Cavalry under King Ferdinand the Catholic.

• Giaimo (1495): Served as the Bishop of Malta.

• Giovanni, Baron of Siculiana (1511–12): Captain of Justice in Palermo.

• Antonio, Baron of Godrano (1535–36): Held the same office in Palermo.

• Giovanni, Baron of Asaro (1542–43): Strategoto of Messina; elevated to Count of Asaro by a privilege given in Mainz.

• Simone, Baron of Godrano (1546–47): Captain of Justice in Palermo.

• Fabrizio, Baron of Godrano (1583–90): Pretor of Palermo for two terms.

• Annibale, Baron of Godrano (1593–1608): Senator and Captain of Justice of Palermo.

• Francesco Valguarnera e Del Carretto (1626–31): Granted the title of Prince of Valguarnera; served as Pretor of Palermo.

• Francesco (1645–46): Captain of Justice in Castrogiovanni (modern-day Enna).

• Vitale, of the Princes of Valguarnera (1645–69): Granted the title Duke of Arenella; in 1661, he acquired the title of Prince of Niscemi. He was both Captain of Justice and Pretor of Palermo.

• Giuseppe Valguarnera e Lanza (1647–51): Prince of Valguarnera; Vicar General in San Filippo d'Argirò and Pretor of Palermo.

• Francesco Valguarnera e Arrighetti (1652–86): Prince of Valguarnera. Through his wife Antonia Graffeo, he became Prince of Gangi. He was a Knight of the Order of Saint James of the Sword, Gentleman of the Chamber to King Charles II, and Vicar General of the Val Demone.

• Giovanni (1669–74): Baron of Pozzo and Senator in Palermo.

• Ponzio (1686–1700): Of the Princes of Valguarnera; Senator of Palermo and granted the title of Marquis of Santa Lucia.

• Giuseppe, Count of Asaro (1687–1700): Captain of Justice and Pretor of Palermo.

• Giuseppe, Prince of Niscemi (1696–1714): Pretor of Palermo, Master Rational of the Royal Property Tribunal, and Deputy of the Kingdom.

• Francesco Saverio, Prince of Valguarnera: A highly distinguished diplomat and soldier. He was Viceroy of Sardinia, Ambassador to Madrid, Generalissimo of the Cavalry, and Grand Chamberlain to King Charles Emmanuel III. He received the Order of the Most Holy Annunciation (the highest Savoyard honour).

• Pietro Valguarnera e Gravina: Prince of Valguarnera; Deputy of the Kingdom, General, and Knight of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus.

• Emmanuele (1759–60): Marquis of Santa Lucia; Governor of the Monte di Pietà of Palermo.

• Salvatore Valguarnera e La Grua (1762–78): Prince of Niscemi and Senator of Palermo. Through marriage, he acquired the territory of Giardinello.

• Giuseppe Emmanuele (1782–97): Prince of Valguarnera and Gangi; Pretor of Palermo, Knight of the Order of St. Januarius, and Gentleman of the Chamber.

• Corrado (1812): Prince of Niscemi; appointed Master Rational of "Cloak and Sword" (cappa e spada) of the Royal Property Tribunal.

• Giuseppe Valguarnera e Ruffo: Prince of Niscemi; Lord-in-waiting (Maggiordomo di settimana) to Kings Ferdinand II and Francis II of Bourbon; he sat as a Peer of the Realm in the Parliament of 1848.

• Corrado Valguarnera and Tomasi, son of the former Prince of Niscemi, etc., was Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Italy, Senator of the Kingdom, etc.

• Giuseppe, Member of Parliament, recognised by Ministerial Decree of 27 May 1903 in titles of Prince of Niscemi and Duke of Arenella, and by Ministerial Decree of 16 November 1909 in the title of Prince of Castelnuovo

Titles: 

• Prince of Valguarnera
• Prince of Niscemi
• Prince of Gangi 
• Prince of Belmontino
• Prince of Gravina
• Prince of Castelnuovo
• Duke of Arenella
• Marquess of Regiovanni
• Marquess of Santa Lucia 
• Count of Asaro
• Baron of Bonifato
• Baron of Buzzetta 
• Baron of Caropipi, 
• Baron of Fiume di Mendola 
• Baron of Giardinello, 
• Baron of Godrano
• Baron of Iamcaruso, 
• Baron of Mercatobianco
• Baron of Pozzo
• Baron of Rapi e Piano del Comune, 
• Baron of San Giovanni di Galermo, 
• Baron of Siculiana
• Baron of the Tonnara di San Giorgio, 
• Baron of Vicaretto

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

The Valguarnera family claims descent from the Counts of Ampurias in Catalonia, who in turn asserted Gothic royal lineage. They are believed to have made two passages to Sicily, first under King Peter of Aragon and then under the Martini. 

The family enjoyed nobility in Palermo and Messina, holding numerous principalities including Belmontino, Gangi, Gravina, Niscemi, and Valguarnera, as well as the Duchy of Arenella, the Marquisates of Regiovanni and Santa Lucia, the County of Asaro, and various baronies. 

Notable members include Simone, who was praetor of Palermo in 1333-34; Vitale, armourer to King Martin and Baron of Asaro, captain of justice in Nicosia in 1409; and several Giovanni, who held positions such as captain of justice in Palermo and strategoto of Messina, with one Giovanni being granted the title of Count of Asaro in 1543. 

The family continued to hold significant political and ecclesiastical roles, with members serving as praetors, senators, viceroys, ambassadors, and high-ranking military and court officials. In later centuries, they acquired additional titles such as Duke of Arenella and Prince of Castelnuovo, with members like Giuseppe Valguarnera e Ruffo serving as chamberlains to Bourbon kings and Corrado Valguarnera e Tomasi becoming a senator of the kingdom.