Savelli family

The Savelli (de Sabellis in documents) were a rich and influential Roman family who rose to prominence in the twelfth century and were extinct in the male line in 1712. [Borengässer 1994.]

The family, who held the lordship of Palombara Sabina, took their name from the "rocca" (castle) of Sabellum, [Reversus Albam postera die ad nemora inferiora descendit spectatu digna sub castello, quod Sabellum vocant, unde Sabellae familiae nomen inditum." Flavio Biondo, "Commentarii" XI.22] near Albano, which had belonged to the counts of Tusculum before it passed to the Savelli. Early modern genealogies of the Savelli, such as the unpublished manuscript "eulogistic treatise" [So described by Charles T. Davis in "Roman Patriotism and Republican Propaganda: Ptolemy of Lucca and Pope Nicholas III" "Speculum" 50.3 (July 1975:411-433) p. 424. ] compiled by Onofrio Panvinio, [Onofrio Panvinio, "De gente Sabella", edited by Enrico Celani, in: "Studi e documenti di storia e diritto" 12 (1891:271-309).] drew connections to Pope Benedict II, a possible but undocumentable connection, and even to the cognomen Sabellius of Antiquity.

They provided two popes, Cencio Savelli, Honorius III (1216–1227), who confirmed the Savelli's standing, and his great-nephew Giacomo, Honorius IV (1285–1281). [Four popes are claimed in the [http://www.company.savellireligious.com/savelli-family-history.html Website of Savelli Family Stores] : "The Savelli name belongs to an old Roman family that has given the church four Popes: Benedict II, Gregory II, Honorius III and Honorius IV." A more judicious source, [http://www.fiu.edu/~mirandas/bios1647.htm Salvador Miranda,"The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church"] , mentions the Savelli, "...an aristocratic family which included Popes Honorius III (1216-1227) and Honorius IV (1285-1287)."] The latter's father, Luca Savelli, was Roman senator and sacked the Lateran in 1234. Luca's choice to side for emperor Frederick II against Honorius III's successor, Gregory, gained the family large possessions in the Lazio.

Later members include the condottieri Silvio and Antonello Savelli. Savelli Cardinals include Bertrand Savelli (1212); Giacomo Savelli (1539) Silvio Savelli (1596); Giulio Savelli (1615); Fabrizio Savelli (1647); Paolo Savelli (1664); and Domenico Savelli (1853). [ [http://www.fiu.edu/~mirandas/bios1480.htm Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church] ] The last member of the family left in Rome was Giulio Savelli, who died in 1712. A collateral line, the Giannuzzi Savelli ('Giannuzzi' adopted later on) represent descendants of Antonio Savelli of Rignano who moved to the Kingdom of Naples in 1421 to fight as a condottiero. [ [http://www.bautz.de/bbkl/s/s1/savelli.shtml (Norbert M. Borengässer), "Biografisch-Bibliographische Kirchenlexikon" (1994) vol. VIII: "Savelli"] ] The title principe di Cerenzia has been held in that family since Ercole Giannuzzi Savelli dei baroni di Pietramala inherited it in 1769 from his mother Ippolita Rota, last of her house. The republican patriot Luigi Giannuzzi Savelli prince of Cerenzia was shot 3 April 1799 by orders of Cardinal Ruffo, and the feudal lands of Prince Tommaso Giannuzzi Savelli of Cerenzia were confiscated: Cerenzia, Casino (Castelsilano) Montespinello (Spinello) Belvedere Malapezza, and Zinga. [Giuseppe Aragona, "Cerenzia, Historical Notes on the Antiquity of the City and the Modern Town", translated by Tom Lucente [http://www.circolocalabrese.org/library/history/bourbon_era1.asp on line text] ]

Notes

References

* Norbert M. Borengässer, "Savelli", "Biographisch-Bibliografisches Kirchenlexikon" 8 (1994).( [http://www.bautz.de/bbkl/s/s1/savelli.shtml on-line text] )

Further reading

*Litta, P. "Le famiglie celebri italiane", Vol. X: "I Savelli di Roma" (Turin: Liverani) 1872.