History

The Princes of Ottaiano (or Ottajano) are a cadet branch of the ducal dynasty of Tuscany. Along with the Veronese Medici Counts of Caprara, and Gavardo, they make up the last and closest descendants to the main line of the House of Medici

Medici

The House of Medici or Famiglia de' Medici was a political dynasty, banking family and later royal house that first began to gather prominence under Cosimo de' Medici in the Republic of Florence during the late 14th century. The family originated in the Mugello region of the Tuscan countryside,...

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The founder of the Ottajano line was Ottaviano de 'Medici, who married Bartholomea Giugni and gave issue to Bernardetto and Constance, Countess of Donoratico. Bernardetto instead married Giulia de 'Medici, daughter of the Duke of Florence Alexander, then down the branch of Cosimo the Elder and Lorenzo the Magnificent. It was Bernardetto who bought from Gonzaga in 1567 the fief of Ottajano located near Naples

Naples

Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...

. Over the centuries the remaining House of Medici has reached a leading position in the aristocracy of the Kingdom of Two Sicilies. Among the members of the dynasty are leaders of the Roman Catholic Church, ambassadors, cardinals (Francesco de 'Medici Ottaiano), a pope, and Don Luigi de' Medici, representative of the Kingdom of Naples at the Congress of Vienna

Congress of Vienna

The Congress of Vienna was a conference of ambassadors of European states chaired by Klemens Wenzel von Metternich, and held in Vienna from September, 1814 to June, 1815. The objective of the Congress was to settle the many issues arising from the French Revolutionary Wars, the Napoleonic Wars,...

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The branch is still in existence under the current head Giovanni Battista, who holds the titles of Prince of Ottajano and Duke of Sarno. Most significantly, Ottaviano de' Medici draws attention to Vatican law (at the time), which suggests that either the line of Ottaiano or the Veronese Medici should have inherited the grand duchy of Tuscany. instead of the Habsburg-Lorraine line since both Medici branches were closer descendants than Francis I

Francis I

Francis I may refer to:* Francesco I Gonzaga * Francis I, Duke of Brittany * Francis I, Duke of Lorraine * Francis I of France...

, who was a great-great-great-grandson of Francesco I de' Medici, on the female line. However, due to the Habsburg-Lorraine influence they were able to secure Florence

Florence

Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....

 for themselves. Thus, the Princes of Ottaiano, and the Veronese Counts have common ancestry with most royal monarchies, and the branches are the collateral branch of the House of Medici. Additionally, in the modern day, the resulting House of Medici has still maintained close ties with the remains of the House of Bonaparte.

See also

• Republic of Florence
  Republic of Florence
  The Republic of Florence , or the Florentine Republic, was a city-state that was centered on the city of Florence, located in modern Tuscany, Italy. The republic was founded in 1115, when the Florentine people rebelled against the Margraviate of Tuscany upon Margravine Matilda's death. The...
  
  
• Medici
  Medici
  The House of Medici or Famiglia de' Medici was a political dynasty, banking family and later royal house that first began to gather prominence under Cosimo de' Medici in the Republic of Florence during the late 14th century. The family originated in the Mugello region of the Tuscan countryside,...
  
  
• Albizzi
  Albizzi
  The Albizzi family was a Florentine family originally based in Arezzo, who were rivals of the Medici and Alberti families. They were at the centre of Florentine oligarchy from 1382, in the reaction that followed the Ciompi revolt, to the rise of the Medici in 1434...
  
  
• Duchy of Florence
  Duchy of Florence
  The Duchy of Florence was an Italian monarchy that was centred on the city of Florence, in modern Tuscany, Italy. The duchy was founded in 1532 when Clement VII appointed his illegitimate son Alessandro de' Medici Duke of the Florentine Republic,...
  
  
• Alberti
  Alberti (surname)
  Alberti is a common surname in Italian language and derives from given name Alberto, Latin translation of Germanic Albert.Alberti may refer to:-People:*Alberti, Florentine family.*Leon Battista Alberti ; Italian polymath, active in many fields...
  
  

• Italian Renaissance
  Italian Renaissance
  The Italian Renaissance began the opening phase of the Renaissance, a period of great cultural change and achievement in Europe that spanned the period from the end of the 13th century to about 1600, marking the transition between Medieval and Early Modern Europe...
  
  
• Medici family tree
  Medici family tree
  -Medici family tree :...
  
  
• Grand Duchy of Tuscany
  Grand Duchy of Tuscany
  The Grand Duchy of Tuscany was a central Italian monarchy that existed, with interruptions, from 1569 to 1859, replacing the Duchy of Florence. The grand duchy's capital was Florence...
  
  
• Pazzi
  Pazzi
  The Pazzi family were an ancient, noble Tuscan family who had given up their titles so that members could be elected to public office. Their main trade, during the 15th century was banking. They are linked to the "Pazzi conspiracy"—to assassinate Giuliano de' Medici and simultaneously attempt...