The Prince of Leonforte (

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, a Romance ethnic group related to or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance languag ...

: ''Principe di Leonforte'') is a

noble A noble is a member of the nobility. Noble may also refer to: Places Antarctica * Noble Glacier, King George Island * Noble Nunatak, Marie Byrd Land * Noble Peak, Wiencke Island * Noble Rocks, Graham Land Australia * Noble Island, Gr ...

title in Italy held by the

House of Borghese The House of Borghese ( , ) is a family of Italian noble and papal background, originating as the Borghese or Borghesi in Siena, where they came to prominence in the 13th century and held offices under the '' commune''. During the 16th century, t ...

, and previously by the families

Branciforte Branciforte, originally named Villa de Branciforte, was the last of only three secular ''pueblos'' founded by the Spanish colonial government of Alta California. The pueblo was established in 1797 on the eastern bluff of the San Lorenzo River, ...

and

Lanza Lanza may refer to: means "spear" or "lance" People Surname * Adam Lanza (1992–2012), perpetrator of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting * Alcides Lanza (1929–2024), Canadian composer * Andrew Lanza (born 1964), New York State senator * ...

. The title derives its name from

Leonforte Leonforte () is an Italian ''comune'' with a population of 14,046 in the Province of Enna, Sicily. The town is situated 22 km from Enna, in the centre of the Erean Mountains at 600 metres a.s.l. History The ancient settlement of Tabas ...

, a town in

Sicily Sicily (Italian language, Italian and ), officially the Sicilian Region (), is an island in the central Mediterranean Sea, south of the Italian Peninsula in continental Europe and is one of the 20 regions of Italy, regions of Italy. With 4. ...

. Indeed, the town gained its name from the coat of arms of the Branciforte, depicting a strong lion (

: ''Leone Forte''). It was originally created in 1614, during

Philip III of Spain Philip III (; 14 April 1578 – 31 March 1621) was King of Spain and King of Portugal, Portugal (where he is known as Philip II of Portugal) during the Iberian Union. His reign lasted from 1598 until his death in 1621. He held dominion over the S ...

's reign as

King of Naples The following is a list of rulers of the Kingdom of Naples, from its first Sicilian Vespers, separation from the Kingdom of Sicily to its merger with the same into the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. Kingdom of Naples (1282–1501) House of Anjou ...

for Nicolò Placido Branciforte. The title remained in the family until 1812, when Stefania Branciforte married Giuseppe Lanza Prince of Trabia. The family was thereafter known as Lanza Branciforte. The title was recognized by the

Kingdom of Italy The Kingdom of Italy (, ) was a unitary state that existed from 17 March 1861, when Victor Emmanuel II of Kingdom of Sardinia, Sardinia was proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy, proclaimed King of Italy, until 10 June 1946, when the monarchy wa ...

after the unification of Italy. In 1927, Sofia Lanza-Branciforte, who was married to ''Don''

Giangiacomo Borghese Giangiacomo Borghese (25 July 1889 – 28 September 1954) was an Italian politician who at the height of his career served as the 6th fascist governor of Rome (1939–1944). Giangiacomo Borghese was born in Lastra a Signa, Kingdom of Italy, th ...

, later Governor of Rome, was granted the title by Ministerial Decree. The title was thereafter used by her descendants, who are members of the

House of Branciforte, 1614–1812

House of Lanza Branciforte, 1812–1927

House of Borghese The House of Borghese ( , ) is a family of Italian noble and papal background, originating as the Borghese or Borghesi in Siena, where they came to prominence in the 13th century and held offices under the '' commune''. During the 16th century, t ...
, 1927–present

References

{{Reflist House of Branciforte Lanza family House of Borghese Italian noble titles

House of Branciforte, 1614–1812

House of Lanza Branciforte, 1812–1927

House of Borghese The House of Borghese ( , ) is a family of Italian noble and papal background, originating as the Borghese or Borghesi in Siena, where they came to prominence in the 13th century and held offices under the '' commune''. During the 16th century, t ..., 1927–present

References

House of Borghese The House of Borghese ( , ) is a family of Italian noble and papal background, originating as the Borghese or Borghesi in Siena, where they came to prominence in the 13th century and held offices under the '' commune''. During the 16th century, t ...
, 1927–present