Untitled - ISTA - Società Storica e Antropologica di Valle Camonica

I.S.T.A.
I Signori
delle Alpi
Famiglie e poteri
tra le montagne d’Europa
1
Novembre 2015
I SIGNORI DELLE ALPI
Famiglie e poteri tra le montagne d’Europa
Progetto:
I.S.T.A. - Incontri per lo Studio delle Tradizioni Alpine
Revisione testi:
Valeria Gazzoli, Niccolò Orsini de Marzo.
Commissione di selezione:
Luca Giarelli, Loris Bendotti, Fausto Bonomelli, Marta Ghirardelli, Fabio Faiferri.
L’edizione di questo libro è stata curata da:
Luca Giarelli.
Immagini:
Copertina. Fronte: Castello di Tarasp (DinAFoto).
Retro: Stemma Tasso (Tarcisio Bottani), Castello di Tures (Luca Livraghi),
Castello di Fénis (Sara Corsaro), Castello di Gorzone (Luca Giarelli).
Immagini: Tarcisio Bottani (p. 196); Bruno Felice Duina (p. 147); Gianluigi Garbellini (p.
321); Luca Giarelli (pp. 43, 44, 63, 84, 116, 124, 128, 368); Gabriele Medolago,
Federico Oriani (p. 226); Guido Scaramellini (p. 291).
Stemmario: Marco Foppoli (pp. 413-422).
Profilo montuoso: Monte Concarena, Valle Camonica.
Senza il permesso scritto è vietata la riproduzione del presente lavoro sotto qualsiasi forma.
Si ringrazia Giancarlo Taboni per il sostegno e la passione fornite per il completamento di
quest’opera.
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ISBN: 978-88-93218-92-4
Prima edizione italiana, novembre 2015.
Il progetto «I Signori delle Alpi» è stato possibile grazie a:
Società Storica e Antropologica
di Valle Camonica
Comunità Montana
di Valle Camonica
www.ssavalcam.it
www.cmvallecamonica.bs.it
Cassa Padana
Area Camuna
www.eurosiderscalo.com
www.cassapadana.it
Indice
Introduzione
pag.
5
»
9
»
45
»
65
»
85
»
97
»
117
»
129
»
149
»
165
»
179
»
197
Sergio Onger
Parte I - I Signori delle Alpi
1.
Federici di Valle Camonica: potere e politica dalle origini al
tramonto dell'età moderna
Luca Giarelli
2.
Nobili di Lozio in Valle Camonica: isolamento e potere
Ivan Faiferri
3.
Beccagutti di Esine in Valle Camonica
Francesco Macario
4.
Da Iseo poi Oldofredi
Attilio Alfredo Zani
5.
Fenaroli da Tavernola sul Lago d'Iseo
Giovanni Ernesto Fenaroli
6.
Foresti, i signori di Solto
Giorgio Danesi, Paolo Formenti
7.
Capitani di Sovere, origini e diramazioni: Marenzi, Bottaini,
Nicolini, Maffetti e Lanfranchi
Bruno Felice Duina
8.
Capitanei di Scalve
Albano Bianchi
9.
Albertoni o Capitanei da Vertova
Franco Irranca
10.
Tasso di Valle Brembana: i signori delle poste d'Europa
Tarcisio Bottani
11.
Della Torre di Milano. Genealogiche chimere dalla
Valsassina alle Fiandre
Gabriele Medolago, Federico Oriani
3
»
227
»
245
»
261
»
277
»
293
»
307
»
323
Matsch: alle origini dei signori di Venosta e Valtellina
»
331
Thun: dal Trentino alla Boemia e ritorno
»
345
»
357
»
369
Bibliografia
»
383
Abstracts
»
411
Stemmario
»
417
12.
Perti, una famiglia di notai tra lago e montagna
Raffaella Bianchi Riva
13.
Luserna: origini, poteri e alcune vicende tra XII e XX secolo
Gustavo Mola di Nomaglio
14.
Challant: nobile casata nella storia e nelle tradizioni
della Valle d'Aosta
Sara Corsaro
15.
Vertemate di Piuro in Valchiavenna
Guido Scaramellini
16.
Salis, una consorteria al centro delle Alpi
Diego Zoia
17.
Piatti di Teglio: ascesa e declino di una nobile famiglia
valtellinese
Gianluigi Garbellini
18.
Venosta nel Medioevo: cadere negli artigli dell'aquila
Francesco Ruvolo
19.
Andrea Masetti
20.
Pietro Marsilli
21
Lodron: oltre la culla della Val del Chiese
Gianni Poletti
22.
Solero: la casata ai vertici di Sappada nel bellunese
Linda Armano
Parte II - Apparati
Marco Foppoli
4
Abstracts
1. Federici domines of Valle Camonica from the origins to the end of Early
Modern Age
The Federici family was the leading noble family of Valle Camonica between the
Middle Ages and the Early Modern Age. Members of the Ghibelline party, they were able
to maintain their privileges through major political changes, thanks to a distinction in the
various branches. Originating in the area of ​​Montecchio (Darfo Boario Terme) at the end
of the 13th century, it divided into the groups of Angolo, Gorzone, Erbanno from whom
subsequently the branches of Esine and Artogne separated. Of great importance is the
branch of Edolo-Mu, descendants from the group of Erbanno, who moved in high Valle
Camonica during the 14th century and who obtained the title of count at the beginning of
the 15th century by the Visconti of Milan. After the conquest of the valley by the Republic
of Venice in 1428, Federici worked on the confirmation of their privileges so as to take part,
from the last quarter of the 15thcentury, to Valle Camonica Community Councils with a
share which was equivalent to municipalities and territorial districts.
2. Nobili of Lozio in Valle Camonica: isolation as a source and limit of the power
This paper deals with an ancient noble family called Nobiles de Locio or Nobili di Lozio
which acted in the middle Valle Camonica since 14th century. The chronological period
covered by the study starts from 14th century, when we can find the first records about the
family, until the second half of the 16th century.
3. Beccagutti of Esine in Valle Camonica
The Beccaguttis represent one of the most ancient, noble and ghibelline families in Valle
Camonica and they originated in Esine. The family was related to the Visconti party in
the 14th century and it grew in power, which declined in the early 15th century with the
conquest of Valle Camonica by the Republic of Venice.
4. Da Iseo then Oldofredi
The Da Iseo family, then called Oldofredi, originated from the town of Iseo on the
shores of Sebino (Lake Iseo). It grew in importance since the 14th century and at the beginning of the 15th century suffered severe political backlashes caused by the fighting between
Pandolfo Malatesta and the Duchy of Milan.
5. Fenaroli from Tavernola on Lake Iseo
The Fenarolis are ancient noble houses, known from the 13th century and originated
in Tavernola on Lake Iseo, appearing in the Malatesta Matricola in 1406. Ascribed to the
Noble Council of Brescia, before the “lockout” of 1488, they were decorated with the title
of Count from the Republic of Venice (1646). Other titles came from the King of Naples,
Napoleon and the Austro-Hungarian kingdom. There were many milities, among which
Girolamo, fighter in the Lombard League in the 12th century and Ventura, made even more
famous by Francesco Hayez painting.
411
Abstracts
6. Foresti, the lords of Solto
The Foresti Family, of doubtful origin, became known when Maffeo, jurisconsult from
Bergamo, received the title of Earl Palatine. The successors of Maffeo were one of the most
important Ghibelline families in the town of Bergamo and deep rooted in the territory of
Solto Collina. The Ghibelline position made conflicting the relationship with the new Masters, from Malatesta until Serenissima. In the Early Modern Age a lot of branches moved
around Brescia and its countryside. The last countess die in Solto in 1808.
7. Capitani of Sovere, roots and branches: Marenzi, Bottaini, Nicolini,
Maffetti and Lanfranchi
The Capitanei de Suare family comes from the counts of Mozzo, Lombard descendents
and part of the town upper class. Teudoldus of Mozzo is active in Sovere during the 11th
century, as a vassal of the Bishop of Bergamo and as a leader of the local community. The
family, earlier called de Suare and after Capitaneis de Suare, was ghibelline and it was the
protagonist of the political and military scene in the country of Bergamo between the 13th
and the 15th century. Among their descendents there are the Marenzis, supporters of the
Milanese dominion, proclaimed counts of Tagliuno and Telgate in 1440, the Bottainis , the
Maffettis, the Lanfranchis and the Nicolinis. In the 13th century there was the birth and
expansion of San Gregorio village in the area of the Capitanei de Suare’s castle. At a later
stage there was the appearance of the Marenzi tower and palace, the Bottaini palace, the
Maffetti palace and the church of San Gregorio in the 15th century.
8. Capitanei of Val di Scalve
In 1222 the Bishop of Bergamo enoffed Val di Scalve to Capitanei family. The inhabitants of Val di Scalve opposed to this grant, forcing Capitanei to give up most of their
privileges losing power in the valley. In the course of centuries, there are many prominent
figures in the ecclesiastical, civil, political and military field. In the course of time some of
its members established home in Brescia, Bergamo, Milan, Meda and Concorezzo, where
Pyrrhus of Capitanei of Scalve in 1691 received the title of count by Charles II of Spain. In
the late 19thcentury numerous legends, ranging from the origin to the decline of the family, appeared.
9. Albertoni or Capitanei from Vertova
The Albertoni family from Vertova had an important role from the 12th to the 18th century. Several of its members excelled in different fields: from politics and administration
to clergy, from diplomacy and army to economy. The origins of the family are legendary.
The first member cited in documents is Albertone (1168), his son was known as Albertone
dei Capitanei di Vertova because he settled in Vertova, a village in Val Seriana. Some of his
descendants continued living in Vertova whether some others settled in Bergamo where
they held high roles in the government of the city. Alberto Albertoni, consul of Bergamo,
was one among the promoters of the Lombard League. He was one of the signatories of
the peace treaty of the Congress of Costanza (1183) that followed the victory of Legnano
where the confederation of the free cities defeated Frederick Barbarossa. During the centuries the Albertoni family used no longer the appellative “Capitanei” maintaining only
the name da Vertova, the place where they had lived and owned goods and a castle. The Albertonis administrated the goods (with the role of gastaldi) of the bishop of Bergamo in the
territories of Vertova, Semonte, Colzate, Fiorano and Gazzaniga. The descendants of the
Albertoni were two families: the Pezzoli Albertoni from Leffe and the Camozzi-Vertova,
originated from the union of the Camozzi and the Vertova families.
412
Abstracts
10. Tasso of Val Brembana: the european postal services lords
The Tasso Family is mainly known for the great poets Torquato Tasso, author of the Jerusalem Delivered, and his father Bernardo Tasso, author of the Amadigi, but just few know that
this family has other great members that became popular as entrepreneurs: they are considered the founders of the modern postal communications. Originally hailing from Cornello
dei Tasso, a lovely hamlet situated in the Val Brembana (in the Province of Bergamo), the
various branches of the family played an important role in the Compagnia dei Corrieri della
Serenissima (the Courier Company of the Signoria of Venice), the postal service of the Venetian Republic, which served the Venice-Milan and Venice-Rome routes. They became then
couriers for the Papal States for almost a hundred years, before becoming the postmasters
generals of the Habsburg Empire in 16th century, creating a comprehensive network that
served hundreds of European cities and establishing a great business that quickly reached
the pinnacles of financial success, thus guaranteeing honours, privileges and coat of arms
for the family. Known overseas also as Thurn und Taxis, the members of the main branch of
the family received their princely title from the emperors and in the 19th century they were
among the first to issue stamps in the states served by their postal service.
11. Della Torre of Milan, genealogical chimeras from Valsassina to Flanders
Della Torre family (also known as Torriani) dominated Milan and almost all of northern Italy in the second half of the 13th century. Although from 12th century documentary
references to the family are numerous, historians who have studied them have, until recently, relied almost exclusively on a single historical work, the fourteenth-century Manipulus Florum written by Galvano Fiamma and showing a legendary origin linked to the
royal family of France and to a hypothesized Valsassina County. The present study, which
is based on a broad survey of family documents from the State Archives of Udine and
Trieste as well as other unpublished documents and an extensive bibliography, is a first
step towards a more general review of family genealogy and history, as well as a contribution to the history of the Milanese Renaissance historiography. The presence of the family
in the centuries before the 13th is documented on a geographical basis demonstrating the
absence of links with Valsassina and the relationships among Della Torre family of Milan
and other families (such as Della Torre of Gorizia, Thurn of Bohemia, Cattaneo Della Torre
of Primaluna, Tassis of Bergamo, Thurn-und-Taxis of Flanders and de la Tour of France)
are clarified. These families, between the 16th and 19th centuries, maintained mutual relations coming to build, without historical foundation, a common origin.
12. Perti: a family of notaries between the lake and the mountain
Natives of Rovenna, a village in the Prealps of Como, the Pertis had ties with the notarial profession since the 15th century. Important landowners who belonged to the local
élite, they were also in possession of a coat of arms. During the 17th century, the Perti family settled in Como and,thanks to their profession, firmly established themselves within
the upper class echelons of the city: they became leaders of the association of notaries and
prosecutors of Como and played an important role in the long story of the establishment
of the notarial archive. When guilds were deprived of authority by the Habsburgs, they
were appointed by the state and city as administrators. The Perti family maintained professional and economic relations with their place of origin, as demonstrated by the role
they played in the feoffment of Rovenna in the first half of the 18th century. Interestingly
enough, the most famous member of the family is Tomaso. He joined the process of the
Italian unification and took part in the 1848 rising in Como.
413
Abstracts
13. Luserna: origins, powers, and some of the events between the 12th and 20th
century
The name of Luserna (or Lucerne) family appears in the history of the subalpine region
of Italy at the dawn of the 11th century. The oldest news lead back, in the male line, to the
ancient lords of Sommariva del Bosco and a derivation in the female line from Arduino.
This genealogical origin, although probable, cannot be proven with indisputable documents. In the 12th century the family was already divided into three main branches of
the Manfredi, Bigliori and Rorengo, who shared a vast domain in the valleys by the same
name, in the Pinerolo area, and several other surrounding places, gradually dotted with
castles and fortified houses. Several representatives of the family were in the Middle Ages
at the head of the powerful male and female monastic foundations. The family of the
Counts of Luserna were among the first in Piedmont to swear allegiance to the House of
Savoy and remained alongside them until extinction always at the top of military, civil
and religious hierarchies of the Savoy states, as it is narrated briefly in this study, after an
investigation a little more in-depth on the origins.
14. Challants: noble family in the history and traditions of Valle d’Aosta
The origin of the well-known Valdostan Challant’s family is very old but we have only
information concerning this dynasty starting from the 12th century. The main and ancient
location of this noble family was situated in the lower part of the Ayas Valley, the lateral
part of the region that from the italian border leads to the Monte Rosa glaciers. Many
members of the family built and renovated lots of castles: Fénis, Aymavilles, Verrès, Ussel, Issogne. They also did notable renovating works at the collegiate church of Saint Orso
in Aosta. Through a series of arranged marriages and coalitions the family conquered the
domination of the main manors of Val d’Aosta and in a few centuries they became Savoy
ministers. Some members of this family were very bold and audacious even Catherina,
who lived during the 15th century. She convinced her father to give the inheritance to
her and her sister Margherita going against the law that established that the patrimony
was destined only to male heirs. The history of the family reached its higher power and
magnificence between the 14th and the half of the 16th century but many conflicts for the
inheritance damaged its power. The Challant’s family disappeared at the beginning of the
19th century.
15. Vertemate of Piuro in Val Chiavenna
Just up the valley from Chiavenna and a few kilometres from the current Swiss border
there is the village of Piuro, which was buried by a landslide on the 4th September 1618, a
time when the Vertemate family were amongst the most prominent in the locality. Della
Porta da Vertemate family arrived in Val Bregaglia in the 13th century from the near city of
Como and assumed the surname of their native region. Settled in Piuro, the family quickly
prospered thanks to commerce moving from the Italian plains via the Engadin, Coira,
through the Maloja Pass and in particular the Settimo Pass, hence by no means limited to
local trading. In fact the activity expanded to a number of European states whilst locally
the family adopted various government positions. A significant step occurred in the first
century of Grison domination (16th century) when the brothers Guglielmo e Luigi, part of
the Vertemate Franchi branch of the family in Piuro, were responsible for the construction
of a magnificent renaissance mansion, the palazzo Vertemate Franchi which survived the
landslide due to its position a little downstream at Prosto. It’s one of the most striking
and stately homes in upper Lombardy, with rooms superbly decorated with mythological frescoes and splendidly carved and inlaid ceilings. The mansion was inhabited by the
Vertemate family until the extinction of the Piuro line at the end of the 19th century after
which it had four separate owners, the last of whom donated the entire property to the
town of Chiavenna which created the current museum.
414
Abstracts
16. Salis, a noble family in the heart of the Alps
The Salis had top positions for several centuries in the territories of Valtellina and Chiavenna, which since 1512 had been annexed to the Grisons. Hundreds of the Salis members were officers, who played all the highest positions, including dozens of Governors of
Valtellina, Commissioners of Chiavenna, Mayors of the various jurisdictions, Vicari, Presidents of Sindacature.They consolidated their position with marriages between members of
different branches of the lineage and with other illustrious central Alps families. On the
economic front they have been for centuries the collectors of customs duties and became
the owners of vast territories in the Alps.
17. Piatti of Teglio: the rise and decline of a noble Valtellina family
The origin of this family, documented in Teglio since the second half of 12th century, is
unknown. The 15th and 16th centuries register Piatti social rise. Many of them are notaries,
they administer various property of the Milan Church in Teglio and they play a leading
part in the public life. Sometimes in competition with the rich Besta family, they have a
strong desire to make themselves known as the construction of the renaissance Palace in
the main square of the village testifies. An emerging personage of the late 1400 is Marsilio
Piatti, enterprising and ambitious priest and typical exponent of the clergy of the period.
The contrasts between Catholics and Protestants began round about the half of the 16th
century in a delicate historical context. The main branch of the Piatti family was among
those who support the Catholicism. In 1618 Orazio and his son Biagio are involved in
a riot against Protestants. The father is arrested and then, once dead, sentenced to pay
a considerable fine. His son is taken to Thusis, where on trial was sentenced to capital
punishment. During the tragic days of Sacro Macello (the Holy Slaughter) Antonio Piatti,
Orazio’s son and parish priest of Teglio, took his revenge and killed the person who has
reported his father and his brother. The Piatti’s decline begins in 1639 with the coming
back of the Grisons in Valtellina. In the 16th century the Piattis are destined to disappear
from the historical scene and their beautiful palace is in part sold and in part demolished.
18. Venosta in the Middle Ages: fall into the claws of the eagle
The article illustrates the noble family of the Visconti Venosta, originating from Valtellina and residing in the Grosio castle during the Early Modern Age. In particular, in the
early decades of the 17th century when the Lord of Grosio was Marco Antonio Venosta
(1568-1627). Outlining an historical, social and religious analysis of the Grosio territory,
the personality of Marco Antonio Venosta is described among matrimonial alliances and
economic affairs. The personality is illustrated with unpublished documents noting its importance in the social and religious political events of the Early Modern Age in a large alpine territory between Engadine and Upper Valtellina, with a central landmark in Grosio.
19. Matsch: the origins of the Lords of Valtellina and Val Venosta
This essay brings up the history of the Matsch family. Between the 12th and 14th centuries their influence was extended, in terms of advocacy and authority, over the territories of Venosta, Valtellina and Engadine. The research is largely based on newly re-edited
sources and focuses on the question about the origin and early genealogy of the Matsch
family: the search for their ancestry in the ranks of the Swiss family named Tarasp, the
identification of the documented members of its first generation who lived in Valtellina in
order to update the information published in the past by other historians.
415
Abstracts
20. Thun from Trentino to Bohemia and the coming back
The family Thun is the oldest family of the Habsburg Empire, documented by 1050.
Their cradle is in Val di Non. Already ministerial officials for Flavon and Appiano families and then for the prince-bishops of Trent, they had also assignments and goods from
the counts of the Tyrol. An essential way for stabilizing their positions was the marriage
policy which determined the acquisition of more and more castles and properties. In 1516
they became barons. At the beginning of the 17th century there was the decisive moment:
acquiring many possessions in Bohemia, they were honoured with the title of “ von Hohenstein”, obtained the title of counts and a definite change in the coat of arms. In order to
manage the new properties a branch of the House settled in Prague.
21. Lodron: over the cradle of Val del Chiese
The origins of Lodrons are humble. They were settled in the south-western Trentino,
in the northern area of Lake Idro. Members of the gentry of the Bishop of Trent, in the
first decades of the 15th century Paris, called the Great, after securing full control of Valle
del Chiese, laid the foundations for the development of a broad political design, fighting
as a mercenary at the service of the prince-bishop of Trento and Venice. Following the
defeat of Venice in the Veneto-Tyrolean War of 1487, the Lodrons began to look more
towards the north, closer to the positions of the Empire and finally adhering to the policy
of the Habsburgs. This position found reflection in the marital choices, in the customs and
language, but especially in the possibility of a military, political and ecclesiastical career.
22. Solero: the leading dinasty of Sappada in Belluno area
The aim of this study is to analyze the Solero family in the 17th and 18th centuries in
Sappada, a German speaking village located in province of Belluno. The Solero evolution
is closely linked to Sappada story. We can almost surely outline their economic and social
development thanks to different sources dating back to the 14th century, in particular to
1308, as we can see in a document listing 13 masi belonging to 27 families, and the Soleros
are among them. All over the centuries the Solero succeeded in gaining a fortune, thanks
to their capability to combine sheep farming together with different and more lucrative
business. In addition to foreign trading, lumber industry, a cautious management of their
real estate and of their human resources, they also lent money to their fellow- citizens or
to other communities. A vicious cycle let them reach high social offices: thanks to their
skillful management of their fortune, every generation sent some members of the family
to monastic life, and the others could enjoy their worldly life
416