House of Torlonia

The princes Torlonia are a Roman family, with origins in a huge fortune gained during the 18th and 19th centuries by its administration of the finances of the Vatican.

The first influential member of the Torlonia family was Marino Torlonia (Tourlonias) (Augerolles 1725 – Rome March 21, 1785), a very rich businessman and banker.

He was the father of Giovanni Torlonia, who in return for his administration of the Vatican finances, with the blessing of Pope Pius VI was created in 1794 duke of Bracciano and count of Pisciarelli. in 1803 Pius VII made him marques of Romavecchia e Turrita and the first prince of Civitella Cesi (Princeps Romanus). He was made, among other titles, a Roman Patrician in 1809, with confirmation from the Pope on January 19 1813) and the duke of Poli e Guadagnolo in 1820. He was the builder of the Villa Torlonia in Rome, among other Torlonia villas.

Leopoldo Torlonia, a grandson of Giovanni, was the Mayor of Rome from May 1882 to May 1887. [ [http://jcrao.freeshell.org/Italy-1900 Secular Italy and Catholicism: 1848-1915] , Dr John Rao]

In 1907, his great-grandson, Marino Torlonia succeeded to the title as 4th prínce of Civitella-Cesi, a title he inherited from his older brother, Augusto, in 1926. The title had been passed to Augusto from their paternal great-uncle, Alessandro, younger brother of Augusto's and Marino's grandfather, Giulio. Marino married the rich and stylish American, Mary Elsie Moore (New York October 22 1889 – Rome December 21, 1941) and they were the parents of Don Alessandro Torlonia, 5th Prince di Civitella-Cesi (Rome February 7, 1911 – Rome April 11 1986)— who married the Infante Beatriz of Spain, the daughter of King Alfonso XIII— and also of Princess Donna Marina Torlonia di Civitella-Cesi, wife of American tennis player Francis Xavier Shields and grandmother of the well-known American actress Brooke Shields.

In Rome, the outstanding Torlonia properties are Palazzo Torlonia in Via Condotti, near Piazza di Spagna, Palazzo Torlonia in Via della Conciliazione (rione of Borgo), Palazzo Torlonia in Via della Lungara (rione of Trastevere) and Villa Albani outside Porta Salaria.

The Torlonia family is one of the few Italian aristocratic families to have survived the reconstruction of the Papal Court in 1969 by the motu proprio " [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/motu_proprio/documents/hf_p-vi_motu-proprio_19680328_pontificalis-domus_it.html Pontificalis Domus] ".

Today the only hereditary honours still in use at the Vatican are that of hereditary Prince Assistants to the Papal Throne. This honour is today held by Don Alessandro Torlonia, Prince of Fucino, Prince of Canino and Musignano, and Prince Don Marcantonio Colonna, Prince and Duke of Paliano. The Torlonia family was appointed in 1958 (its title dates from 1854 also), in succession to the Prince Orsini, who had been Prince Assistant from circa 1735 to 1958.

Bibliography

* _fr. Henri Ponchon, "l'Incroyable Saga des Torlonia : des monts du Forez aux palais romains". – Olliergues (Puy-de-Dôme) : les Éditions de la Montmarie, 2005. – 349 pages, 24 cm. – ISBN 2-915841-08-X.

References

External links

* [http://pages.prodigy.net/ptheroff/gotha/torlonia.html Torlonia genealogy]
* [http://www.chivalricorders.org/vatican/pplcourt.htm Almanach de la Cour - The Hereditary Officers of the Papal Court]