Orsini familyThe Orsini family was one of the most celebrated princely families in medieval Italy and renaissance Rome, and which, in former times, had large possessions in Hungary. Members of the Orsini include popes Celestine III (1191-1198), Nicholas III (1277-1280), and Benedict XIII (1724-1730), numerous condottieri and other relevant political and religious figures. According to their family lore, the Orsini are descended from the Julio-Claudian family of ancient Rome. The Orsini were related to the Boboni family existing in Rome in the 11th century. The first members had in fact always doubled surname of Boboni-Orsini. This first known members is one Bobone, in the early 11th century, father of Pietro, in turn father of Giacinto dei Boboni (1110-1198), who in 1191 became pope as Celestine III. One of the first great nepotist popes, he created cardinals two of his nephews and allowed his cousin Giovanni Gaetano (Giangaetano, died 1232) to buy the fiefs of Vicovaro, Licenza, Roccagiovine and Nettuno, who formed the nucleus of the future territorial power of the family. ... more |
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