Spadafora family


Spadafora is the name of an influential Sicilian aristocratic family of Italian nobles, clergy. Over the centuries it has accumulated five Principalities, a Duchy, two Marquisates, a County and twenty-five Baronies. Some of the members of the family have held leading positions in the Kingdom of Sicily and in some European states.

History

In 1230, Giovanni Spatafora was secretary to Frederick II, Emperor and King of Sicily. By the 13th century, members of the family began to spread along the Tyrrhenian coast of Sicily, between Palermo and Messina and in part of the Ionian coast. Pietro Damiano, Senator of Randazzo, Baron of Jaci from 1282 and of Troina in 1304, in June 1291, leader of the King of Aragon, was taken prisoner during the Siege of Agosta. In Messina we find traces of Matteo, Senator of the city in 1358. Then Corrado who fell in battle at Jaci in 1357. And again, another Corrado, Strategote of Messina in 1395.
From Corrado Spatafora or Spadafora Castellano of Messina, who marries Marianna Maniaci, descendant of Prince Giorgio Maniace, Prince and Catepan of the Emperor of Byzantium, the two main branches branch off: that of the Princes of Maletto and Venetico, Marquesses of San Martino, Barons of Mazzarrà, della Cavalleria, Pirago, Persinaci. The other branch were the Princes of San Pietro, Dukes of San Pietro, Marquesses of Policastrello and Carletto, Counts of Andria, Barons of the Carriaggi of San Pietro, Lords of Mortellito, Treponti, Pedalacia, Terra del Bordonaro, Fiume Cerramo, Magnavacca, Torre Spagnola.
Another branch is the Barons, then Princes of Mazzarà, created in 1673 for Don Pietro Spadafora.

Notable members

Princes of Maletto (1619)

Princes of Venetico (1629)

  • 1629–1654: Francesco Spadafora, 1st Prince of Venetico, a son of Giuseppe Antonio Spadafora, 1st Marquess of San Martino.
  • 1654–1661: Muzio Spadafora, 2nd Prince of Venetico, brother of the preceding.
  • 1661–1670: Giuseppe Domenico Spadafora, 3rd Prince of Venetico, son of the preceding.
  • 1670–1703: Domenico Giuseppe Spadafora, 4th Prince of Venetico ; cousin of the preceding.
  • 1703–1723: Muzio Spadafora, 5th Prince of Venetico
  • 1723–1754: Domenico Spadafora, 6th Prince of Venetico
  • 1754–1804: Federico Spadafora, 7th Prince of Venetico, also Prince of Maletto
  • 1754–1851: Domenico Spadafora, 8th Prince of Venetico, also Prince of Maletto
  • Salvatore Federico Monroy, 10th Prince of Venetico

Princes of Mazzarà (1673)

  • Pietro Spadafora, 1st Prince of Mazzarà

Princes of Policastrello (1710)

  • 1710–1703: Muzio Spadafora, 1st Prince of Policastrello
  • 1710–1748: Gutierre Spadafora, 2nd Prince of Policastrello
  • 1748–1779: Muzio Corrado Onofrio Spadafora, 3rd Prince of Policastrello
  • 1779–: Gaetano Spadafora, 4th Prince of Policastrello