The House of Gabrielli (sometimes known as "Gabrielli di Gubbio") is the name of an old and influential feudal Italian noble family from Gubbio, a town in Umbria.

Coat of arms of the Gabrielli de Gubbio family

History

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Some historians trace their origins back to the Roman age and claim they descend from the emperor Caracalla, however the first historical documents mentioning the family appear in the 10th century only when Cante Gabrielli was awarded by Pope Stephen VII (according to some genealogists a family member himself), a few castles in central Italy and especially the castle at Luceoli which was renamed Cantiano (i.e. belonging to Cante) after him.

 
The Gabrielli Madonna, by Mello da Gubbio, ca. 1350, Pinacoteca Civica, Gubbio. Giovanni Gabrielli, lord of Gubbio, is introduced to the Blessed Virgin Mary by a group of Saints.

Notable members

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The family divided over the centuries in many branches, the most famous of which was the one that settled in Rome and obtained the title of Prince of Prossedi. Two members of this branch married two princesses of the Bonaparte family. In 1749 the counts of Carpegna extinguished in the male line and the marquesses Gabrielli inherited their fief, with the principality of Carpegna-Gattara-Scavolino following in 1817. The line is currently continuing in the family of the princes di Carpegna-Falconieri-Gabrielli.

A branch that settled in Fano was styled Gabrielli-Wiseman, and was related to Cardinal Nicholas Wiseman. Another branch settled in Fano was styled Gabrielli di Montevecchio, and bears the titles of Duke and Count. The branch that settled in the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies bears the title of Count Gabrielli and Baron of Quercita.

A branch bears the title of Count of Baccaresca and Corraduccio since 1581. It settled in Comtat Venaissin at the end of the 16th century when Bartolomeo de' Gabrielli di Gubbio became Governor of Cavaillon then Carpentras. The line is continuing today in France.

All the branches bear the title of Patrizio di Gubbio (Patrician of Gubbio).

References

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  • Francesco Sansovino, Della origine et de' fatti delle famiglie illustri di Italia. Venezia, Salicato, 1609
  • G. B. di Crollalanza, Dizionario Storico-Blasonico, Pisa, 1886
  • Vittorio Spreti, Enciclopedia Storico Nobiliare Italiana, Milano, 1928-35
  • Libro d'Oro della Nobiltà Italiana, XXII edizione, Roma, 2000
  • Annuario della Nobiltà Italiana, XXX edizione, 2006
  • Rinaldo Reposati, Della zecca di Gubbio e delle geste de' conti, e duchi di Urbino, 1773