- Piccolomini
Piccolomini (pronounced [pikkoˡlɔːmini] ) is the name of an Italian noble family, which was prominent in
Siena from the beginning of the13th century onwards. In1220 , Engelberto d'Ugo Piccolomini received the fief of Montertari inVal d'Orcia from the emperor Frederick II as a reward for services rendered. The family acquired houses and towers in Siena and castles in the republic: territory, includingMontone andCastiglione ; the latter they sold to the commune in1321 .The Piccolomini's also managed to gain two popes during the initiating renaissance: Pius II and Pius III. They obtained great wealth through trade, and established counting-houses in
Genoa ,Venice ,Aquileia ,Trieste , and in various cities ofFrance andGermany . Supporters of the Guelph cause in the civil broils by which Siena was torn, they were driven from the city during the time ofManfred of Sicily and their houses demolished; they returned in triumph after theAngevin victories, were expelled once more during the brief reign ofConradin , and again returned to Siena with the help ofCharles of Anjou . But through their riotous political activity, the Piccolomini lost their commercial influence, which passed into the hands of theFlorentine s, although they retained their palaces, castles and about twenty fiefs, some of which were in the territory ofAmalfi and of great extent.Prominent family members
Many members of he house were distinguished ecclesiastics, generals and statesmen in Siena and elsewhere.
Two of them became popes:
*Aeneas Silvius Piccolomini (papal name
Pius II )
*Francesco Piccolomini (papal namePius III )Other distinguished members include:
*
Prince Octavio Piccolomini, Duke of Amalfi , soldier
*Alessandro Piccolomini , astronomer and author
*Jan Gabriel Stanislav Piccolomini-Pieri- Macak , poet, musician and Christian philosopher
*Joachim Piccolomini , Sienese blessed
*Ascanio Piccolomini , Archbishop 1621-1671
*Antonio Piccolomini, First Duke of Amalfi d 1493, Antonio Todeschini Piccolomini, Duke of Amalfi, a nephew of Pope Pius II and brother of Pope Pius III.
*Alfonso Piccolomini, Duke of Amalfi 1493-1499. Son of Antonio and hapless husband of Joan (Giovanna) of Aragon, daughter of Ferdinand I, King of Naples. The story of their marriage is dramatised in Webster's infamous "Duchess of Malfi".References
*Richter, "Die Piccolomini" (Berlin, 1874)
*A. Lisini and A. Liberati, "Albero della famiglia Piccolomini" (Siena, 1899)
*Articles by A. Lisini in the "Miscellanea storica senese", 3rd series 12, and 4th series, 17 and 189.External links
*Piccolomini family tree at [http://www.geocities.com/piccolomini_pieri/familytree.html]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.