Anguillara
Encyclopedia
Anguillara were a baronal family of Latium
, especially powerful in Rome and in the current province of Viterbo
during the Middle Ages and the early Renaissance.
Although of unknown origins, they most likely took, or gave, their name from the city of Anguillara Sabazia
, near the Lake Bracciano
. The name itself could refer to the Italian word anguilla (eel), or, as claimed by some, to a Roman villa on a corner (Latin: angulum) of the Lake.
A first Count Ramone Anguillara is recorded as a probably legendary enemy of the Popes. In 1090 is known a Gherardo, lord of Anguillara, who was allied with the Prefetti di Vico
against the commune of Rome. His successors were John, who took Santa Severa
, and Niccolò, who conquered Tolfa
in 1146. In 1186 Pandolfo I started a long struggle with the Vicos for the control of northern Latium and met the Henry VI
at Orvieto
, also hosting him in 1191.
Pandolfo II sided with Henry's son, Frederick II, during the siege of Viterbo
(1234), but was captured by the Papal troops and imprisoned at Ronciglione
. The Anguillara fief was thus seized by Pietro di Vico, who reigned there until Pandolfo's return in 1246.
The chaotic situation caused by the move of the Papal seat
to Avignon
led the family to move their headquarters in Rome and Capranica, where Orso Anguillara, Senator of Rome, hosted the poet Petrarch
in 1336. Orso's mother was a member of the powerful Orsini, and married a member of the Colonna
s, thus establishing the Anguillara as one of the most important Roman families.
Orso was succeeded by Pietro, Dolce and Everso II
, who was a famous condottiero and conquered Vetralla
, Caprarola
and Santa Pupa. His son Francesco inherited his fame of tyranny and unloyalty: he was excommunicated and imprisoned i Castel Sant'Angelo
, while all the family's possession were acquired by the Apostolic Chamber under Pope Paul II
. Deifobo, the other Everso's son, managed to regain his lands, which he kept until his death in 1490. In that year Pope Innocent VIII
assigned the Anguillara lands to his nephew Franceschetto Cybo
.
The last notable member of the family is the condottiero Renzo di Ceri
, who fought in the defence of Rome during the Sack of 1527
. The family extinguished in the 18th century.
Latium
Lazio is one of the 20 administrative regions of Italy, situated in the central peninsular section of the country. With about 5.7 million residents and a GDP of more than 170 billion euros, Lazio is the third most populated and the second richest region of Italy...
, especially powerful in Rome and in the current province of Viterbo
Province of Viterbo
The Province of Viterbo is a province in the Lazio region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Viterbo. It is bordered to the north by the Province of Grosseto and Siena, by the north-east with the Province of Terni and Rieti, in the west by the Tyrrhenian Sea and south by the Province of Rome.It...
during the Middle Ages and the early Renaissance.
Although of unknown origins, they most likely took, or gave, their name from the city of Anguillara Sabazia
Anguillara Sabazia
Anguillara Sabazia is a town and comune in the Province of Rome, Lazio, central Italy, around 30 km northwest of Rome. It nestles on a small cape on the coast of the Lake Bracciano; its medieval center and its beach make it a popular destination for tourists.Anguillara is served by a local...
, near the Lake Bracciano
Lake Bracciano
Lake Bracciano is a lake of volcanic origin in the Italian region of Lazio, northwest of Rome. It is the second largest lake in the region and one of the major lakes of Italy...
. The name itself could refer to the Italian word anguilla (eel), or, as claimed by some, to a Roman villa on a corner (Latin: angulum) of the Lake.
A first Count Ramone Anguillara is recorded as a probably legendary enemy of the Popes. In 1090 is known a Gherardo, lord of Anguillara, who was allied with the Prefetti di Vico
Prefetti di Vico
The Prefetti di Vico were an Italian noble family, of German origin, who established in Rome from the 10th century.They obtained the title of praefect urbis by the Holy Roman Emperor. The rest of the name derived from the Lake Vico, in northern Lazio, where most of their lands were located...
against the commune of Rome. His successors were John, who took Santa Severa
Santa Severa
Santa Severa is a frazione of the comune of Santa Marinella, in the province of Rome, Lazio, Italy. It is a small sea resort on the Via Aurelia, c. south of Santa Marinella and north of Rome.It takes its name from the 2nd-century Christian martyr...
, and Niccolò, who conquered Tolfa
Tolfa
Tolfa is a town and comune of the province of Rome, in the Lazio region of central Italy; it lies to the ENE of Civitavecchia by road.It is the main center in the Monti della Tolfa, an extinct volcanic group between Civitavecchia and the Lake of Bracciano....
in 1146. In 1186 Pandolfo I started a long struggle with the Vicos for the control of northern Latium and met the Henry VI
Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry VI was King of Germany from 1190 to 1197, Holy Roman Emperor from 1191 to 1197 and King of Sicily from 1194 to 1197.-Early years:Born in Nijmegen,...
at Orvieto
Orvieto
Orvieto is a city and comune in Province of Terni, southwestern Umbria, Italy situated on the flat summit of a large butte of volcanic tuff...
, also hosting him in 1191.
Pandolfo II sided with Henry's son, Frederick II, during the siege of Viterbo
Siege of Viterbo
The Siege of Viterbo was fought in 1243 between the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II and the rebellious city of Viterbo, 50 km north to Rome. Frederick intervened when the Guelph party in the city expelled his garrison. The siege did not go well for the Imperial troops...
(1234), but was captured by the Papal troops and imprisoned at Ronciglione
Ronciglione
Ronciglione is a city and comune in the province of Viterbo, Lazio , c. 20 km from Viterbo. The city is located in the Cimini mountains, over two tuff scarps, on the SE slope of the former volcano crater now housing the Vico's Lake....
. The Anguillara fief was thus seized by Pietro di Vico, who reigned there until Pandolfo's return in 1246.
The chaotic situation caused by the move of the Papal seat
Avignon Papacy
The Avignon Papacy was the period from 1309 to 1376 during which seven Popes resided in Avignon, in modern-day France. This arose from the conflict between the Papacy and the French crown....
to Avignon
Avignon
Avignon is a French commune in southeastern France in the départment of the Vaucluse bordered by the left bank of the Rhône river. Of the 94,787 inhabitants of the city on 1 January 2010, 12 000 live in the ancient town centre surrounded by its medieval ramparts.Often referred to as the...
led the family to move their headquarters in Rome and Capranica, where Orso Anguillara, Senator of Rome, hosted the poet Petrarch
Petrarch
Francesco Petrarca , known in English as Petrarch, was an Italian scholar, poet and one of the earliest humanists. Petrarch is often called the "Father of Humanism"...
in 1336. Orso's mother was a member of the powerful Orsini, and married a member of the Colonna
Colonna family
The Colonna family is an Italian noble family; it was powerful in medieval and Renaissance Rome, supplying one Pope and many other Church and political leaders...
s, thus establishing the Anguillara as one of the most important Roman families.
Orso was succeeded by Pietro, Dolce and Everso II
Everso II degli Anguillara
Everso II degli Anguillara was an Italian condottiero, a member of the Anguillara family.He was born in the late 14th century, the son of Dolce I and Battista Orsini, and in the early 15th century inherited large possessions in the northern Latium. In 1431 he entered the service of Pope Eugene IV,...
, who was a famous condottiero and conquered Vetralla
Vetralla
Vetralla is a town and comune in the Province of Viterbo, in central Italy, 11 km to the south of that city, located on a shoulder of Monte Fogliano.-History:...
, Caprarola
Caprarola
Caprarola is a town and comune in the province of Viterbo, in the Lazio region of central Italy. The village is situated in a range of volcanic hills known as the Cimini Mounts....
and Santa Pupa. His son Francesco inherited his fame of tyranny and unloyalty: he was excommunicated and imprisoned i Castel Sant'Angelo
Castel Sant'Angelo
The Mausoleum of Hadrian, usually known as the Castel Sant'Angelo, is a towering cylindrical building in Parco Adriano, Rome, Italy. It was initially commissioned by the Roman Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself and his family...
, while all the family's possession were acquired by the Apostolic Chamber under Pope Paul II
Pope Paul II
Pope Paul II , born Pietro Barbo, was pope from 1464 until his death in 1471.- Early life :He was born in Venice, and was a nephew of Pope Eugene IV , through his mother. His adoption of the spiritual career, after having been trained as a merchant, was prompted by his uncle's election as pope...
. Deifobo, the other Everso's son, managed to regain his lands, which he kept until his death in 1490. In that year Pope Innocent VIII
Pope Innocent VIII
Pope Innocent VIII , born Giovanni Battista Cybo , was Pope from 1484 until his death.-Early years:Giovanni Battista Cybo was born at Genoa of Greek extraction...
assigned the Anguillara lands to his nephew Franceschetto Cybo
Franceschetto Cybo
Franceschetto Cybo was an Italian nobleman, the illegitimate son of Pope Innocent VIII ....
.
The last notable member of the family is the condottiero Renzo di Ceri
Renzo di Ceri
Renzo di Ceri, true name Lorenzo dell'Anguillara was as an Italian condottiero. He was a member of the Anguillara family.Born in Ceri, he was the son of Giovanni degli Anguillara....
, who fought in the defence of Rome during the Sack of 1527
Sack of Rome (1527)
The Sack of Rome on 6 May 1527 was a military event carried out by the mutinous troops of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor in Rome, then part of the Papal States...
. The family extinguished in the 18th century.