Piccolomini

Coat of arms of Piccolomini

Piccolomini (pronounced [pikkoˈlɔːmini]) is the name of an Italian noble family, which was prominent in Siena from the beginning of the 13th century onwards.^[1]

History

In 1220, Engelberto d'Ugo Piccolomini received the fief of Montertari in Val d'Orcia from the emperor Frederick II as a reward for services rendered. The family acquired houses and towers in Siena as well as castles and territory in the republic, including Montone and Castiglione; the latter sold to the commune in 1321.^[1]

They obtained great wealth through trade, and established counting-houses in Genoa, Venice, Aquileia, Trieste, and in various cities of France and Germany. Supporters of the Guelph cause in the civil broils by which Siena was torn, they were driven from the city during the time of Manfred of Sicily and their houses demolished; they returned in triumph after the Angevin victories, were expelled once more during the brief reign of Conradin, and again returned to Siena with the help of Charles of Anjou. But through their riotous political activity, the Piccolomini lost their commercial influence, which passed into the hands of the Florentines, although they retained their palaces, castles and about twenty fiefs, some of which were in the territory of Amalfi and of great extent.^[1]

Another branch of the family obtained a great success in the Kingdom of Naples, becoming one of the "seven great houses"^[2] of the kingdom.

Prominent family members

Many members of the house were distinguished ecclesiastics, generals and statesmen in Siena and elsewhere.^[1]

Two of them became popes:^[1]

• Enea Silvio Piccolomini (papal name Pius II)
• Francesco Piccolomini (papal name Pius III)

Other distinguished members include:

• Joachim Piccolomini (1258–1305), beatified Sienese
• Antonio Piccolomini, First Duke of Amalfi (d. 1493), a nephew of Pope Pius II and brother of Pope Pius III.
• Alfonso I Piccolomini, Duke of Amalfi (d. 1498), son of Antonio and duke from 1493, hapless husband of Giovanna d'Aragona, Duchess of Amalfi, granddaughter of Ferdinand I of Naples. He was murdered in 1498. The story of his widow is dramatised in John Webster's play The Duchess of Malfi.
• Alessandro Piccolomini (1508–1579), astronomer and author
• Ascanio I Piccolomini (d. 1597), Archbishop of Siena from 1588
• Francesco Piccolomini (Jesuit) (1582–1651), 8th Superior-General of the Society of Jesus
• Ascanio II Piccolomini (1590–1671), Archbishop of Siena from 1629, patron of Galileo Galilei
• Ottavio Piccolomini (1599–1656), Imperial general in the Thirty Years' War, prominent in the events leading to Albrecht von Wallenstein's assassination, and basis for a main character in Schiller's Wallenstein.
• Celio Piccolomini (1609–81), titular archbishop of Caesarea (1656), created cardinal (1664)
• Enea Silvio Piccolomini (ca. 1640-1689), Imperial general in the Great Turkish War
• Marietta Piccolomini (1834-1899), soprano

References

1. Chisholm 1911, p. 580.
2. Le "Serenissime Sette Grandi Case del Regno di Napoli" comprendevano: Acquaviva, Celano, Evoli, Marzano, Molise, Ruffo, Sanseverino; estintesi le famiglie d'Evoli, Marzano e Molise, queste furono sostituite da quelle dei d'Aquino, del Balzo e Piccolomini (in merito si vedano: Archivio di Stato di Napoli scheda famiglia Sanseverino; B. Filangieri di Candida Gonzaga, op.cit, ad voces; Spreti, op.cit, ad voces).

Attribution

•  Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Piccolomini". Encyclopædia Britannica 21 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 580. Endnotes:
  • Richter (1874), Die Piccolomini, Berlin
  • Lisini, A.; Liberati, A. (1899), Albero della famiglia Piccolomini, Siena,
  • Lisini, A., Miscellanea storica senese, 3rd series 12, and 4th series 17 and 189 Missing or empty |title= (help); |chapter= ignored (help)

External links

• Piccolomini Family Tree (till 2013)