The Simonetti family is an Italian noble family with origins in

Tuscany Tuscany ( ; ) is a Regions of Italy, region in central Italy with an area of about and a population of 3,660,834 inhabitants as of 2025. The capital city is Florence. Tuscany is known for its landscapes, history, artistic legacy, and its in ...

. During the 12th century different branches in

Florence Florence ( ; ) is the capital city of the Italy, Italian region of Tuscany. It is also the most populated city in Tuscany, with 362,353 inhabitants, and 989,460 in Metropolitan City of Florence, its metropolitan province as of 2025. Florence ...

Terni Terni ( ; ; ) is a city in the southern portion of the region of Umbria, in Central Italy. It is near the border with Lazio. The city is the capital of the province of Terni, located in the plain of the Nera (Tiber), River Nera. It is northeast ...

Lucca Città di Lucca ( ; ) is a city and ''comune'' in Tuscany, Central Italy, on the Serchio River, in a fertile plain near the Ligurian Sea. The city has a population of about 89,000, while its Province of Lucca, province has a population of 383,9 ...

Pistoia Pistoia (; ) is a city and ''comune'' in the Italian region of Tuscany, the capital of a province of the same name, located about north-west of Florence and is crossed by the Ombrone Pistoiese, a tributary of the River Arno. It is a typic ...

and

Pescia Pescia () is an Italian city in the province of Pistoia, Tuscany, central Italy. It is located in a central zone between the cities Lucca and Florence, on the banks of the river of the same name. History Archaeological excavations have suggest ...

developed. Other famous branches of this family were established in

Jesi Jesi () is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the province of Ancona, in the Italian region of Marche. It is an important industrial and artistic center in the floodplain on the left (north) bank of the Esino river, before its mouth on the Adria ...

Palermo Palermo ( ; ; , locally also or ) is a city in southern Italy, the capital (political), capital of both the autonomous area, autonomous region of Sicily and the Metropolitan City of Palermo, the city's surrounding metropolitan province. The ...

Milan Milan ( , , ; ) is a city in northern Italy, regional capital of Lombardy, the largest city in Italy by urban area and the List of cities in Italy, second-most-populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of nea ...

and

Bologna Bologna ( , , ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the Emilia-Romagna region in northern Italy. It is the List of cities in Italy, seventh most populous city in Italy, with about 400,000 inhabitants and 150 different nationalities. Its M ...

. Members of this family have held different titles since the Middle Ages, among them: ''Lords of Jesi'', ''Princes of Musone'', ''marquis'', ''Barons'' in the kingdom of Naples and Rome, ''counts'' in the kingdom of Italy and Bologna, senators and Consuls of Rome and the Kingdom of Italy. The Simonetti also held positions in the

Republic of Florence The Republic of Florence (; Old Italian: ), known officially as the Florentine Republic, was a medieval and early modern state that was centered on the Italian city of Florence in Tuscany, Italy. The republic originated in 1115, when the Flor ...

and the

Republic of Lucca The Republic of Lucca () was a medieval and early modern state that was centered on the Italian city of Lucca in Tuscany, which lasted from 1160 to 1805. Its territory extended beyond the city of Lucca, reaching the surrounding countryside in th ...

, among them priori of the

signoria A ''signoria'' () was the governing authority in many of the Italian city-states during the Medieval and Renaissance periods. The word ''signoria'' comes from ''signore'' (), or "lord", an abstract noun meaning (roughly) "government", "governi ...

gonfaloniere The Gonfalonier (Italian: ''Gonfaloniere'') was the holder of a highly prestigious communal office in medieval and Renaissance Italy, notably in Florence and the Papal States. The name derives from '' gonfalone'' (English: "gonfalon"), the term ...

, captains, members of the council of the elders and the leadership of the Guelph party.

Origin of the family

According to Eugenio Gamurrini and Ludovico Jacobilli the Simonetti from

Osimo Osimo is a town and ''comune'' of the Marche region of Italy, in the province of Ancona. The municipality covers a hilly area located approximately south of the port city of Ancona and the Adriatic Sea. History The oldest archaeological evide ...

Cingoli Cingoli is a town and ''comune'' of the Marches, Italy, in the province of Macerata, about by road from the town of Macerata. It is the birthplace of Pope Pius VIII. It is one of I Borghi più belli d'Italia ("The most beautiful villages of I ...

, had a single origin. Gamurrini linked the Florentine branch of the family to medieval Lucca but could not find the common ancestor that linked the Simonetti from Tuscany to the Simonetti from Jesi. He pointed to other facts that indicated the connection and the earlier research done by Jacobilli. According to Jacobilli the Simonetti branches were all descendants of a single line of Lombard barons that held

fiefs A fief (; ) was a central element in medieval contracts based on feudal law. It consisted of a form of property holding or other rights granted by an overlord to a vassal, who held it in fealty or "in fee" in return for a form of feudal allegi ...

in central Italy. Gamurrini in his ''Istoria genealogica delle famiglie nobili Toscane et Umbre'' studied manuscripts that linked the Simonetti of Milan, Lucca and Florence to Teuprando, a Lombard lord living in Lucca and a descendant of

Aripert I Aripert I (also spelled ''Aribert'') was king of the Lombards (653–661) in Italy. He was the son of Gundoald, Duke of Asti, who had crossed the Alps from Bavaria with his sister Theodelinda. As a relative of the Bavarian ducal house, his was ...

, King of the Lombards (see

Bavarian dynasty The Bavarian dynasty was those kings of the Lombards who were descended from Garibald I, the Agilolfing duke of Bavaria. They came to rule the Lombards through Garibald's daughter Theodelinda, who married the Lombard king Authari in 588. The B ...

). Other noble families from Lucca also recognized Teuprando as their ancestor, including the Rolandinghi, Soffredinghi, and Opezinghi. All these families held control of vast areas in the

Garfagnana The Garfagnana () is a historical and geographical region of central Italy, today part of the province of Lucca, in Tuscany. It is the upper valley or basin of the river Serchio, and thus lies between the main ridge of the Northern Apennines ...

region and held castles around the Lombard city of Barga. Other historians such as Lord Vernon were more conservative in their studies and researched documentation up to the beginning of the 13th century, still older documentation survived including documents related to ''Ranerio Simonecti'' (Raniero Simonetti), a wealthy nobleman who was alive in 1188 and who was also mentioned by E. Gamurrini. Vernon also studied the family's lordship of parts of the Val d’ Elsa and the castle of Colle.''U.Bosco'' - Encyclopedia Dantesca - see ''Sannella'' p. 6 and p. 7 According to Villani the family was forced to renounce all its titles in

and was reduced to ''popolani'' (common citizens) for a short time. The same happened in Lucca, by the beginning of the 15th century they had temporarily lost all prerogatives of

nobility Nobility is a social class found in many societies that have an aristocracy. It is normally appointed by and ranked immediately below royalty. Nobility has often been an estate of the realm with many exclusive functions and characteristics. T ...

in Lucca and Florence, however were still recognized as

patricians The patricians (from ) were originally a group of ruling class families in ancient Rome. The distinction was highly significant in the Roman Kingdom and the early Republic, but its relevance waned after the Conflict of the Orders (494 BC to 287 B ...

Dante Dante Alighieri (; most likely baptized Durante di Alighiero degli Alighieri; – September 14, 1321), widely known mononymously as Dante, was an Italian Italian poetry, poet, writer, and philosopher. His ''Divine Comedy'', originally called ...

mentions the family by ''della Sannella'', one of the ancient names of the family.

placed the Simonetti family in Paradiso XVI, among the ancient noble families of

and

Cacciaguida Cacciaguida degli Elisei (c. 1098 – c. 1148) was an Italian crusader and the great-great-grandfather of Dante Alighieri. Little is known about his life. He was born in Florence, and two documents from 1189 and 1201 mention his existence. T ...

. In ''Canto'' XVI of ''Paradiso'', Dante says:

''Therefore should not appear a marvellous thing''
''What I shall say of the great Florentines''
''Of whom the fame is hidden in the Past.''

''I saw the Ughi, saw the Catellini,''
''Filippi, Greci, Ormanni, and Alberichi,''
''Even in their fall illustrious citizens;''

''And saw, as mighty as they ancient were,''
''With him of La Sannella, him of Arca,''
''And Soldanier, Ardinghi, and Bostichi.''

Simonetti of Lucca

The

branch of the family became private

bankers A bank is a financial institution that accepts Deposit account, deposits from the public and creates a demand deposit while simultaneously making loans. Lending activities can be directly performed by the bank or indirectly through capital m ...

Edward I of England Edward I (17/18 June 1239 – 7 July 1307), also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots (Latin: Malleus Scotorum), was King of England from 1272 to 1307. Concurrently, he was Lord of Ireland, and from 1254 ...

and the

Pope The pope is the bishop of Rome and the Head of the Church#Catholic Church, visible head of the worldwide Catholic Church. He is also known as the supreme pontiff, Roman pontiff, or sovereign pontiff. From the 8th century until 1870, the po ...

. The family was also one of the three major banking family dynasties controlling the Riccardi Banks of Lucca. In the year 1308 the Simonetti, Quartigiani and other noble families were banned from holding public offices in Lucca. In 1317 the Quartigiani clan regained power and placed

Castruccio Castracani Castruccio Castracani degli Antelminelli (; 1281 – 3 September 1328) was an Italian condottiero and duke of Lucca. Biography Castruccio was born in Lucca, a member of the noble family of Antelminelli, of the Ghibelline party. In 1300, he w ...

in the office of captain-general of the Republic. After a few months in office Castruccio Castracani turned against his protectors and plotted against the Quartigiani clan, including the Simonetti branch of the family. Many members of the family were killed by

and the Simonetti family was banned from Lucca for the second time in a period of a few years. The Simonetti family returned to Lucca after the death of Castracani. Francisco Simonetti dei Quartigiani was pro

and influenced in the acquisition of Lucca by Florence in 134

The Quartigiani and Simonetti were banned from holding office in Lucca for a third time after the reestablishment of the Republic in 1370. The palace and tower of the Simonetti and Quartigiani families were located in the center of Lucca, today called Quartigiani Tower or Torre delle ore (Clock Tower

Simonetti of Jesi

The Simonetti first arrived in

in the 12th century. According to Gamurrini, they were sent by emperor Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor, Barbarossa to govern Jesi as vicars. The first member of this family to appear in a document from Jesi was Raniero son of Capthio in 1201. Raniero was elected

podestà (), also potestate or podesta in English, was the name given to the holder of the highest civil office in the government of the cities of central and northern Italy during the Late Middle Ages. Sometimes, it meant the chief magistrate of a c ...

of Jesi in 1216. He had four sons, named: Simonetto, Capthio, Gualtiero and Bartolo. The last three became lords of the castle of Castriccione around

. Bartolo later joined the

Sylvestrines The Sylvestrines are a Religious congregation, congregation of monks of the Order of St Benedict who form the Sylvestrine Congregation. The Sylvestrines use the post-nominal initials O.S.B. Silv.. The congregation was founded in 1231 by Sylvester ...

and became leader of the order. Simonetto was elected

of Cerlongo and was the ambassador of Jesi to the government of the

Marche Marche ( ; ), in English sometimes referred to as the Marches ( ) from the Italian name of the region (Le Marche), is one of the Regions of Italy, twenty regions of Italy. The region is located in the Central Italy, central area of the country, ...

. Simonetto had seven sons; among them were Mercenario Simonetti, a famous

condottiero Condottieri (; singular: ''condottiero'' or ''condottiere'') were Italian military leaders active during the Middle Ages and the early modern period. The term originally referred specifically to commanders of mercenary companies, derived from the ...

, Muzzolo and Oddone Simonetti, the last two became Lords of Donazzano. By 1286 the family was very powerful. As a result, they attracted the attention of the Pope and other lords. They were at this time Lords of Castriccione, the castle of Sasso, near

Serra San Quirico Serra San Quirico is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Ancona in the Italian region Marche, located about southwest of Ancona Ancona (, also ; ) is a city and a seaport in the Marche region of central Italy, with a population of ...

, the castle of

Santa Maria Nuova Santa Maria Nova or Santa Maria Nuova may refer to: Churches in Italy * Santa Maria Nuova, Cortona * Santa Francesca Romana, Rome * Santa Maria Nuova, Fano, a church in Fano * Monreale Cathedral (), Palermo * Santa Maria Nuova, Pistoia * Santa Mar ...

and other possessions in the Marche. Some members of the family joined the

ghibellines The Guelphs and Ghibellines ( , ; ) were factions supporting the Pope (Guelphs) and the Holy Roman Emperor (Ghibellines) in the Italian city-states of Central Italy and Northern Italy during the Middle Ages. During the 12th and 13th centurie ...

during the 13th century and caused a struggle with Rome. The

guelphs The Guelphs and Ghibellines ( , ; ) were Political faction, factions supporting the Pope (Guelphs) and the Holy Roman Emperor (Ghibellines) in the Italian city-states of Central Italy and Northern Italy during the Middle Ages. During the 12th ...

took Jesi and confiscated the property of the Simonetti and expelled the family from Jesi. In 1298 Rinaldo Simonetti signed a treaty with other nobles swearing allegiance to pope

Boniface VIII Pope Boniface VIII (; born Benedetto Caetani; – 11 October 1303) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 24 December 1294 until his death in 1303. The Caetani family was of baronial origin with connections to the p ...

. After struggles with the

Malatesta family The House of Malatesta was an Italian family that ruled over Rimini from 1295 until 1500, as well as (in different periods) other lands and towns in Romagna and holding high positions in the government of cities in present-day Tuscany, Lombardy a ...

, Tano di Baligano, and Rome, the family returned to Jesi in the 14th century where Filippo Simonetti and Lomo Simonetti were De facto Lords of Jesi. The Church later recognized the lordship of Jesi by the Simonetti and declared the family vicars of the

Holy See The Holy See (, ; ), also called the See of Rome, the Petrine See or the Apostolic See, is the central governing body of the Catholic Church and Vatican City. It encompasses the office of the pope as the Bishops in the Catholic Church, bishop ...

. The lordship was confirmed a second time by

Pope Boniface IX Pope Boniface IX (; ; c. 1350 – 1 October 1404, born Pietro Tomacelli) was head of the Catholic Church from 2 November 1389 to his death, in October 1404. He was the second Roman pope during the Western Schism.Richard P. McBrien, ''Lives of t ...

in a papal bull from May 6, 1397. The family was banished from Jesi for a second time in the 15th century. From this branch of the Simonetti originated the Simonetti from

Ancona Ancona (, also ; ) is a city and a seaport in the Marche region of central Italy, with a population of around 101,997 . Ancona is the capital of the province of Ancona, homonymous province and of the region. The city is located northeast of Ro ...

and

. Some members of the Simonetti of Jesi migrated to

Calabria Calabria is a Regions of Italy, region in Southern Italy. It is a peninsula bordered by the region Basilicata to the north, the Ionian Sea to the east, the Strait of Messina to the southwest, which separates it from Sicily, and the Tyrrhenian S ...

, a famous member of this branch was

Cicco Simonetta Francesco (Cicco) Simonetta (1410 – 30 October 1480) was an Italian Renaissance statesman who composed an early treatise on cryptography. Biography Francesco, nicknamed Cicco, was born in Caccuri, Calabria, and received a fine educatio ...

, secretary of

Francesco Sforza Francesco I Sforza (; 23 July 1401 – 8 March 1466) was an Italian condottiero who founded the Sforza dynasty in the duchy of Milan, ruling as its (fourth) duke from 1450 until his death. In the 1420s, he participated in the War of L'Aqui ...

.Annuario della nobiltà italiana 188
Available online - Google books
/ref> According to Crollalanza the name was modified to Simonetta in Calabria.

Princes of Musone

In a papal bull of August 9, 1805

Pope Pius VII Pope Pius VII (; born Barnaba Niccolò Maria Luigi Chiaramonti; 14 August 1742 – 20 August 1823) was head of the Catholic Church from 14 March 1800 to his death in August 1823. He ruled the Papal States from June 1800 to 17 May 1809 and again ...

created the title of Prince of Musone for Count Don Raniero Simonetti from

and his descendants. From this branch was also Cardinal Raniero Simonetti, governor of

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

in the 18th century.

People

Generic list of people named Simonetti: From Tuscany: *Dom Bindo Simonetti (Lucca) *Francesco Simonetti dei Quartigiani (Lucca) - Nobleman from the house of Simonetti and Quartigiani. (14th century) *Ser Azzolino Simonetti (Lucca) - Nobleman and banker of the English crown. (14th century) *Ser Guido Simonetti (Lucca) - He was

Podestà (), also potestate or podesta in English, was the name given to the holder of the highest civil office in the government of the cities of central and northern Italy during the Late Middle Ages. Sometimes, it meant the chief magistrate of a c ...

Modena Modena (, ; ; ; ; ) is a city and ''comune'' (municipality) on the south side of the Po Valley, in the Province of Modena, in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. It has 184,739 inhabitants as of 2025. A town, and seat of an archbis ...

in 1299. *Dr. Francesco Simonetti (Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, Lucca) - Italian patriot jailed for 3 years in 1835, he was accused of being a member of Giovine Italia. *Count Luigi Simonetti - Consul of Lucca to Russia from 1834 to 1836. *Antonio Simonetti (Lucca)- Master goldsmith from the 18th century. He was known for his fine work using the baroque style. *Bartolo Simonetti (Florence) - Patrician and chief of the Guelph party in Florence. He was executed by the Florentine people. (14th century) *Raniero Simonetti - Podestà of

San Gimignano San Gimignano (; named after St. Geminianus) is a small walled medieval hill town in the province of Siena, Tuscany, north-central Italy. Known as the Town of Five Towers, San Gimignano is famous for its medieval architecture, unique in the pr ...

and

(c. 1199–1200), was also council of Florence. From Jesi, Osimo, Ancona and Bologna (same branch): *Manetto Simonetti (Jesi) - Condotierro and medieval

. *Ranieri Simonetti (Jesi) - Podestà and Captain of

in 1381. *Sciarra Simonetti (Jesi) - Podestà of

Siena Siena ( , ; traditionally spelled Sienna in English; ) is a city in Tuscany, in central Italy, and the capital of the province of Siena. It is the twelfth most populated city in the region by number of inhabitants, with a population of 52,991 ...

in 1381.Archivio di Stato di Siena
N. 191 1381 gennaio 3 - 1382 luglio 24 n.a 194 Deliberazioni del Consiglio Generale *Cardinal Raniero Simonetti (Governor of Rome, Noble of Cingoli) *Captain-General Simonetto Simonetti (Jesi) - Commanded the papal troops and died in battle. *Princess Isotta Simonetti (Bologna) - Princess of Musone *Prince D. Raniero Simonetti (Bologna) - Italian senator and Prince of Musone, he was an important figure in the

Italian unification The unification of Italy ( ), also known as the Risorgimento (; ), was the 19th century political and social movement that in 1861 ended in the annexation of various states of the Italian peninsula and its outlying isles to the Kingdom of ...

. * Prince Annibale Simonetti (

) *Antonio Hercolani-Fava-Simonetti (Bologna) - Lieutenant Grand Master of the

Order of Malta The Sovereign Military Order of Malta (SMOM), officially the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta, and commonly known as the Order of Malta or the Knights of Malta, is a Catholic Church, Cathol ...

(1951–1955) * Fra' Gherardo Hercolani Fava Simonetti (b. 1941, Bologna) - He is the former Grand Commander of the

From Modena: *Count Lorenzo Simonetti *Cardinal Lorenzo Simonetti From Rome: *Marquis Alessandro Simonetti (1966-//) and daughter Valentina Simonetti (1999-//) *Michelangelo Simonetti (1724–1781) - Papal architect, he designed numerous neoclassical buildings in Rome and the Vatican. *Cardinal Giuseppe Simonetti (Rome) *Marquis Filippo Simonetti (Sabina, Rome) *Giacinta Simonetti (daughter of Marquis Simonetti, Rome. Mother of explorer

Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza Pierre Paul François Camille Savorgnan de Brazza (born Pietro Paolo Savorgnan di Brazzà; 26 January 1852 – 14 September 1905) was an Italian-French explorer. With his family's financial help, he explored the Ogooué region of Central Africa, ...

br>
From Naples: *

Antonio Sanseverino Antonio Sanseverino (died 1543) was an Italian Roman Catholic cardinal and bishop. Biography Antonio Sanseverino was born in Naples ca. 1477, the son of Giovanni Antonio Sanseverino, a Neapolitan patrician, and Enrichetta Carafa. Early in ...

, (ca. 1477–1543), Neapolitan branch; Cardinal Priest (1527-1537), Cardinal Bishop (1537–1543); Archbishop of Taranto (1528–1543). *Marquis Saverio Simonetti (Napoli, Secretary of State - Sicily)

Gallery

File:FamigliaDellaSannella.jpg, Simonetti della Sanella File:Cover Vol II Istoria genealogica delle famiglie nobili Toscane et Umbre Eugenio Gamurrini (Firenze 1671).jpg, Gamurrini File:Simonetti de Cingoli e Jesi.jpg, Simonetti of Jesi File:StemmaSimonettiDellaSannella 2.jpg, Simonetti of Florence File:Tower in Lucca.jpg, Quartigiani Tower - Lucca File:Sercambi lucca.jpg, Sercambi - Medieval Lucca

Footnotes

{{DEFAULTSORT:House Of Simonetti Families of Florence Families of Lucca Simonetti Political families of Italy