Carrara Family

Carrara, or Carraresi, a powerful family of Longobard origin which ruled Padua in the 14th century. They take their name from the village of Carrara near Padua, and the first recorded member of the house is Gamberto (d. before 970). In the wars between Guelphs and Ghibellines the Carraresi at first took the latter side, but they subsequently went over to the Guelphs. This brought them into conflict with Ezzelino da Romano; Jacopo da Carrara was besieged by Ezzelino in his castle of Agna, and while trying to escape was drowned. Another Jacopo led the Paduans in 1312 against Cangrande della Scala, lord of Verona, and though taken prisoner managed to negotiate a peace in 1318. To put an end to the perpetual civil strife the Paduans elected him their lord, and he seems to have governed well, leaving the city at his death (1324) to his nephew Marsiglio, a man famed for his cunning. But Cangrande was bent on acquiring Padua, and Marsiglio, unable to resist, gave it over to him and was appointed its governor.

Cangrande died in 1319, being succeeded by his nephew Martino, and Marsiglio soon began to meditate treachery; he negotiated with the Venetians in 1336, and in the following year he secretly introduced Venetian troops into Padua, arrested Alberto della Scala, Martino's brother, then in charge of the town, and thus regained the lordship. He died in 1338, and was succeeded by his relative Ubertino, a typical medieval tyrant, who earned an unenviable notoriety for his murders and acts of treachery, but was also a patron of the arts; he built the Palazzo dei Principi, the castle of Este, constructed a number of roads and canals, and protected commerce. He died in 1345. ..... continued


Francesco da Carrara's wife, Fina Buzzacarini comissioned the fresco "The birth of the Baptist", which contains portraits of Fina and her three daughters Caterina, Gigliola and Lieta.
  • A1 = Gumberto da Carrara;
    • B1 = Luitolfo da Carrara, lvd_1027;
      • C1 = Artiuccio da Carrara. lvd:1068;
        • D1 = Milone da Carrara;
          • E1 = Marsilio da Carrara;
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    • F1 = Jacopino I da Carrara, m. Speronella Dallesmanini;
      • G1 ~ Jacopa da Carrara;
        • H1 ~ Marsilio IV da Carrara, m. N. di Carturo;
          • I1 ~ Jacopo III da Carrara, Signore di Padua, d:1324, m. Elisabetta Gradenigo;
      • G2 = Marsilio II da Carrara;
        • H1 = Obizzio da Carrara, d:1300, m. Agnese del Vo;
          • I1 = Umbertino da Carrara, d:1319;
            • J1 = Niccolo da Carrara;
              • K1 = Jacopo II da Carrara, Podesta di Padova, d:1356, m. Lieta da Montemerlo;
                • L1 = Francesco da Carrara, Duca di Padua, lvd:1325/1393, m. Fina Buzzacarini;

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