Stampa (family)


The Stampa are a well-know family of old Italian nobility that rose to prominence in the 15th century. They were Grandees of Spain, members the Order of the Golden Fleece and owned many estates throughout the Italian Peninsula, including a Castle in Soncino, a Palace in Milan, and countless others in Muggiò, Melzo, Gorgonzola, Rivolta d'Adda, Ferentino and Rome. They are related to some of the most important Italian noble houses, such as the Doria, Sforza, Gonzaga, Borromeo and Visconti.

Early history

The Stampa trace their ancestry back to Carlo Lanfranco of the dukes of Étampes, later governor of Milan under Charles the Great. His descendants settled in Milan and Gravedona, and ruled over the Val Bregaglia. The best evidence for this is the city of Stampa, named so by the family in honour of its ancestors.
However, historians such as the Count Pompeo Litta do not believe these sources, arguing that it was very common for aristocratic families to trace their ancestry back to France. One of the earliest documents Litta could find dates to 1277, when the Archbishop Ottone Visconti became Lord of Milan: it consists in a register compiled by Ottone himself, granting several privileges to the most influential families of the city, including Arrigo Stampa and his progeny.
The Stampa decided the destiny of Milan on more than one occasion. The first time was in 1450, when they helped Francesco I Sforza become Duke of Milan. In February the Venetians had sent an ambassador, Leonardo Venieri, to negotiate the city's surrender and help them defeat Sforza. Giovanni Stampa marched onto Milan with his army and killed Venieri on the stairs of Palazzo Reale, forcing the Milanese to surrender. The Duke was naturally obliged to the family, and rewarded them with many honours.

Stampa di Soncino

In 1536 Massimiliano Stampa was created 1st Marquess of Soncino by Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. The family ruled over Milan until 1876, and the city flourished immensely under their guidance. Massimiliano Cesare Stampa, the last Marquess of Soncino, died without children and donated his castle to the municipality. His assets passed to the Casati family, thus creating a new branch called Casati Stampa di Soncino.

Marquises of Soncino Stampa (1536–1876)

In the early years of the 18th century Monsignor Carlo Gaetano Stampa moved to central Italy and acquired a beautiful palace near the Vatican, Palazzo Capponi Stampa. His cousin Pietro Antonio Stampa also settled in Rome and married a noblewoman from Frosinone, who had a dowry of estates in Ferentino and Alatri.
In 1779, with the consent of Pope Pius VI, Pietro Antonio's youngest son Angelo joined the council of the 15 noble families of Ferentino. The titles of Count and Nobile of Ferentino were recognised in the Libro d'Oro della Nobiltà Italiana. He and his older brother Filippo were loyal servants of the papacy and had been since Pope Clement XIV appointed them state administrators of the Duchy of Castro in 1770.
At the entrance of Palazzo Stampa, now seat of the municipality of Ferentino, there is a plaque in his memory:
"Count Filippo Stampa, scholar and administrator, lived here. A.D. 2001"
Among their many properties the Stampa had Elba, an island in the Mediterranean, which they administered since the Pope granted them the concession on the mine caves. After Napoleon conquered Elba and seized the mines, Pope Pius VII offered Angelo's first born Pietro an important job within the Papal States, to compensate him for the financial damage he suffered.
Cardinal Mastai Ferretti, later Pope Pius IX, also ensured that Domenico Stampa contracted a good marriage with Paolina Vinciguerra, last heir of the counts Antonini di Alatri.
The family continues to exist in Rome and Milan.

Notable members