Notarbartolo
Notarbartolo is one of the main aristocratic families of the Sicilian nobility. Originated in the Middle-age, it gave to the island numerous personalities who have made a significant contribution to its social, political, intellectual and artistic life. The different branches of the family collected, over the centuries, numerous fiefdoms and noble titles.[1]
History
The name of the family derives from Bartolo, a descendant of Gerlach, Lord of "Andermacco in Alsace" (Andernach). Bartolo descended into Italy in 951 a.D. as "signifer" (assistant) of Emperor Otto I. Returning to Germany, the Emperor appointed Bartolo as governor ("gubernator") of the nascent Republic of Pisa. At his death, he was succeeded by his son Lucchino, called by the local population Lucchin di Noterbartolo, "Lucchino son of Notarius Bartolo". His descendants lived in Pisa, Siena, Perugia and other cities of medieval Italy, where they were known as knights and men of letters, intermarrying with numerous illustrious families.[2]
As a consequence of the war between the Guelphs and Ghibellines, a descendant belonging to the latter faction, Pier Notarbartolo Farfaglia, moved in the late 13th century to Catania. In Sicily, the family flourished - especially in Palermo - and subdivided in the 16th century in the two main branches of the Princes of Sciara[3] and of the Dukes of Villarosa.[4]
Throughout the centuries, the family established tight relationships of blood and affairs with many of the most important Italian families. Just to mention a few, Alliata, Filangeri, Gravina, Grimaldi, Lancia, Moncada, Paternò, Spucches, Stagno, Tomasi di Lampedusa, Valguarnera, Ventimiglia.
A distinguished representative of the family was the Marquis Emanuele Notarbartolo (1834 - 1893), mayor of Palermo and Director General of the Banco di Sicilia, Mafia's first eminent victim in 1893.[5] One of the most important streets of Palermo is dedicated to him, as well as the Notarbartolo Railway Station.
The Notarbartolo family had as residence in Palermo the palace of la Zisa, later expropriated by the Italian state in 1955 and appointed World Heritage Site (UNESCO) in July 2015.[6]
Both the main branches of the family are still proceeding.
Sources
- A. Mango di Casalgerardo, Il nobiliario di Sicilia, Palermo, 1915 (it.)
- F. San Martino de Spucches, La storia dei feudi e dei titoli nobiliari di Sicilia, Palermo, 1924 (it.)
- M. Ganci, I grandi titoli del Regno di Sicilia, Palermo - Syracuse, 1988 (it.)
- V. Palizzolo Gravina, Dizionario storico-araldico della Sicilia, II. Ed., Palermo, 1991 (it.)
- A. Bisceglia, Signori, patrizi e cavalieri nell'età moderna, Laterza, Rome - Bari, 1992 (it.)
References
- ↑ "Nobiliario di Sicilia (it.)".
- ↑ "The main noble families from Sicily: Notarbartolo (it.)".
- ↑ "The Heirs of Europe - Notarbartolo di Sciara".
- ↑ "The Heirs of Europe - Notarbartolo di Villarosa".
- ↑ Dickie, John (2015). Cosa Nostra: a History of the Sicilian Mafia. True Crime. pp. 112: The Notarbartolo murder.
- ↑ "UNESCO World Heritage Properties: Zisa Palace, Palermo".