Pierleoni family
Encyclopedia
The family of the Pierleoni, meaning "sons of Peter Leo", was a great Roma
n patrician clan of the Middle Ages
, headquartered in a tower house
in the Jewish quarter, Trastevere
. The heads of the family often bore the title consul Romanorum, or "Consul of the Romans," in the early days.
The family's rise was quick, for they were very rich before they were very powerful. The family descended from the eleventh-century Jewish convert Leo de Benedicto, whose baptismal name comes from the fact that he was baptised by Pope Leo IX
himself. While the Pierleoni during their greatness spuriously claimed to be descended from the ancient Roman noble family of the Anicii
, their enemies in Rome made much of their Jewish extraction and levelled the usual charges of usury
. Leo's son was the Peter Leo
(Pierleone) of the name and it is his sons that garnered for the family such fame as protectors of the popes: Pope Urban II
died in one of the Pierleoni's castelli, July 1099. The family's territory was expanded to include the Isola Tiberina and a further tower house near the Theater of Marcellus. When Emperor Henry V
came to Rome (1111), Petrus Leonis headed the papal legation that effected a reconciliation between the pope and the emperor. Pierleone's attempt to install one of his sons as Prefect of Rome in 1116, though favoured by Pope Paschal II
, was resisted by the opposite party with riot and bloodshed. Another son, Peter, became Antipope Anacletus II
(1131), and another, Giordano Pierleoni
, with the revival of the Commune of Rome
, became the head of the Republic as Patricius in 1144. The family generally supported the papacy and represented the Guelf faction of the city against the Ghibellines, often under the leadership of the Frangipani
.
Two branches of the Pierleoni are still in existence. The first is that of Matelica
and Pesaro
in the Marche
and the second is that of Città di Castello
in Umbria
. Both are still members of the Italian nobility.
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
n patrician clan of the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, headquartered in a tower house
Tower house
A tower house is a particular type of stone structure, built for defensive purposes as well as habitation.-History:Tower houses began to appear in the Middle Ages, especially in mountain or limited access areas, in order to command and defend strategic points with reduced forces...
in the Jewish quarter, Trastevere
Trastevere
Trastevere is rione XIII of Rome, on the west bank of the Tiber, south of Vatican City. Its name comes from the Latin trans Tiberim, meaning literally "beyond the Tiber". The correct pronunciation is "tras-TEH-ve-ray", with the accent on the second syllable. Its logo is a golden head of a lion on a...
. The heads of the family often bore the title consul Romanorum, or "Consul of the Romans," in the early days.
The family's rise was quick, for they were very rich before they were very powerful. The family descended from the eleventh-century Jewish convert Leo de Benedicto, whose baptismal name comes from the fact that he was baptised by Pope Leo IX
Pope Leo IX
Pope Saint Leo IX , born Bruno of Eguisheim-Dagsburg, was Pope from February 12, 1049 to his death. He was a German aristocrat and as well as being Pope was a powerful secular ruler of central Italy. He is regarded as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church, with the feast day of April 19...
himself. While the Pierleoni during their greatness spuriously claimed to be descended from the ancient Roman noble family of the Anicii
Anicia (gens)
The gens Anicia was a plebeian family at Rome, mentioned first towards the end of the 4th century BC The first of the Anicii under to achieve prominence under the Republic was Lucius Anicius Gallus, who conducted the war against the Illyrii during the Third Macedonian War, in 168 BC.A noble family...
, their enemies in Rome made much of their Jewish extraction and levelled the usual charges of usury
Usury
Usury Originally, when the charging of interest was still banned by Christian churches, usury simply meant the charging of interest at any rate . In countries where the charging of interest became acceptable, the term came to be used for interest above the rate allowed by law...
. Leo's son was the Peter Leo
Pier Leoni
Pier Leoni was the son of the Jewish convert Leo de Benedicto and founder of the great and important medieval Roman family of the Pierleoni. He was called the Jewish Crassus by Gregorovius....
(Pierleone) of the name and it is his sons that garnered for the family such fame as protectors of the popes: Pope Urban II
Pope Urban II
Pope Urban II , born Otho de Lagery , was Pope from 12 March 1088 until his death on July 29 1099...
died in one of the Pierleoni's castelli, July 1099. The family's territory was expanded to include the Isola Tiberina and a further tower house near the Theater of Marcellus. When Emperor Henry V
Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry V was King of Germany and Holy Roman Emperor , the fourth and last ruler of the Salian dynasty. Henry's reign coincided with the final phase of the great Investiture Controversy, which had pitted pope against emperor...
came to Rome (1111), Petrus Leonis headed the papal legation that effected a reconciliation between the pope and the emperor. Pierleone's attempt to install one of his sons as Prefect of Rome in 1116, though favoured by Pope Paschal II
Pope Paschal II
Pope Paschal II , born Ranierius, was Pope from August 13, 1099, until his death. A monk of the Cluniac order, he was created cardinal priest of the Titulus S...
, was resisted by the opposite party with riot and bloodshed. Another son, Peter, became Antipope Anacletus II
Antipope Anacletus II
Anacletus II , born Pietro Pierleoni, was an Antipope who ruled from 1130 to his death, in a schism against the contested, hasty election of Pope Innocent II....
(1131), and another, Giordano Pierleoni
Giordano Pierleoni
Giordano Pierleoni was the son of the Consul Pier Leoni and therefore brother of Antipope Anacletus II and leader of the Commune of Rome which the people set up in 1143...
, with the revival of the Commune of Rome
Commune of Rome
The Commune of Rome was an attempt to establish a government like the old Roman Republic in opposition to the temporal power of the higher nobles and the popes beginning in 1144...
, became the head of the Republic as Patricius in 1144. The family generally supported the papacy and represented the Guelf faction of the city against the Ghibellines, often under the leadership of the Frangipani
Frangipani family
The Frangipani or Frangipane is a princely family with roots in Ancient Rome. The family was powerful as a Roman patrician clan in the Middle Ages. The family was typically Guelff in sympathy and thus often bravely supported the papacy...
.
Two branches of the Pierleoni are still in existence. The first is that of Matelica
Matelica
Matelica is a comune of the Province of Macerata in the Italian region of Marche. Located about 60 km southwest of Ancona and 35 km west of Macerata, it extends over an area of 81.0 km² and has a population of 10,316 .The municipality of Matelica comprises the hamlets of Balzani,...
and Pesaro
Pesaro
Pesaro is a town and comune in the Italian region of the Marche, capital of the Pesaro e Urbino province, on the Adriatic. According to the 2007 census, its population was 92,206....
in the Marche
Marche
The population density in the region is below the national average. In 2008, it was 161.5 inhabitants per km2, compared to the national figure of 198.8. It is highest in the province of Ancona , and lowest in the province of Macerata...
and the second is that of Città di Castello
Città di Castello
Città di Castello is a city and comune in the province of Perugia, in the northern part of the Umbria region of Italy. It is situated on a slope of the Apennines, on the flood plain of the river Tiber. The city is north of Perugia and south of Cesena on the S3bis. It is connected to the A1...
in Umbria
Umbria
Umbria is a region of modern central Italy. It is one of the smallest Italian regions and the only peninsular region that is landlocked.Its capital is Perugia.Assisi and Norcia are historical towns associated with St. Francis of Assisi, and St...
. Both are still members of the Italian nobility.
External links
- "Torre dei Pierleoni": Much restored and picturesquely rebuilt under Mussolini.