The beginning of the Colonna Family goes back to the late 800’s to the Counts of Toscolo. This link will take you to that tree. Toscolo.
This link will take you to the beginning of the Colonna branch. Colonna.
This Link will bring you to all the Colonna branches. Colonna Total.
In total, there were five Colonna Popes.
- St. Pope Adrian I– Hadrianus Columna (ca. 700/712–795)
- Pope Stephen IV– Stefano Colonna (ca. 770–817)
- Pope Sergius II– Sergio Colonna (ca. 790–847)
- St. Nicholas I– Niccolò Colonna (ca. 800–867)
- Pope Martin V– Oddone Colonna (1359–1431) elected Popein 1417, his election signified the end of the Western Schism.
And a large array of other famous people throughout Italian history.
- Blessed Margherita Colonna(c. 1255 – 1280).
- Stefano Colonna(1265 – c. 1348), an influential noble in Medieval Rome and Imperial vicar in the early 14th century.
- Giacomo Colonna(1270–1329), who took part in the Outrage of Anagni against Pope Boniface VIII.
- Giovanni Colonna(1295–1348), influential cardinalduring the Avignon papacy.
- Fabrizio Colonna(c. 1450 – 1520), who was the father of Vittoria Colonna, and a general in the Holy League.
- Prospero Colonna(1452–1523), who fought alongside his cousin Fabrizio Colonna.
- Francesco Colonna(1453? – 1517?) [La “Pugna d’amore in sogno” di Francesco Colonna Romano, 1996, Maurizio Calvesi], who was credited, along with the monk Francesco Colonna, with the authorship of the Hypnerotomachia Poliphiliby an acrostic in the text. Also believed to have written the story.
- Marcantonio I Colonna(1478–1522), condottieroof the 15th-16th century.
- Pompeo Colonna(1479–1532), cardinal. A nephew of Prospero Colonna, mentioned above. Viceroy of Naplesfrom 1530 to 1532.
- Vittoria Colonna(1490–1547), friend of Michelangelo. Married in 1507 the Spanish-Italian Fernando d’Avalos, marquis of Pescara, deceased 1525, adopting on becoming a widow, Alfonso d’Avalos, also marquis del Vasto, a nephew of her former husband.
- Pirro Colonna(1500–1552), 16th century captain under Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
- Marcantonio II Colonnathe Younger (1535–1584), Duke of Tagliacozzo. Son of Ascanio Colonnaand Juana de Aragón. He participated in the naval Battle of Lepantoagainst the Turks, 7 October 1571 and was Viceroy of Sicilyin 1577-1584. Prince of Paliano.
- Ascanio Colonna(1560–1608) Cardinal
- Federico Colonna y Tomacelli, Prince of Butera(1601–1641), Viceroy of Valencia, in Spain, 1640–1641, Viceroy of Catalonia, 1641. He was Great Constable of the kingdom of Naples(1639-1641) as had been his father Filippo I Colonna, (1578 – 11 April 1639).
- Marcantonio V Colonna(1606/1610–1659), Prince of Paliano.
- Lorenzo Onofrio Colonna, Viceroy of Aragon, 1678–1681, in Spain.
- Carlo Colonna(1665–1739), created cardinal by Clement XIin 1706.
Colonna Family, noble Roman family of great antiquity and importance, descended from the 10th-century counts of Tusculum. The first to take the name Colonna (“de Columna”) was Piero, the son of Gregorio, Count of Tusculum, who on Gregorio’s death (c.1064) received the castle of Colonna in the Alban Hills, together with Palestrina and other places, as his share of the inheritance. Like other Roman families, the Colonna gained power and wealth through papal favour and by the 13th century were already providing cardinals and senators of Rome. Thereafter, the Colonna were consistently prominent in the politics of the church and the city of Rome.
Throughout the Middle Ages, they figured among the most unruly and potent of the Roman baronial dynasties; their feuds with the Caetani and Orsini dominated the local history of a region where feudal power long remained unsubdued. Of more than local importance, however, was their bitter quarrel with the Caetani pope, Boniface VIII, who tried to extirpate the family and drove them into alliance with his enemy, the French king Philip IV the Fair; Sciarra Colonna (d. 1329) led the armed attack on Boniface at Anagni on Sept. 7, 1303. On the pope’s death the Colonna recovered their lands and influence, and for many years subsequently Rome was harassed by their struggle for power with the Orsini, which divided the nobility into two contending factions. These conditions gave rise to Cola di Rienzo’s popular dictatorship, which was a check to all the Roman magnates and notably the Colonna, over whom the tribune won a bloody victory at Porta San Lorenzo in Rome on Nov. 20, 1347. The check, however, was temporary; Colonna power was undiminished and soon after was signally increased by the election at Constance of Cardinal Oddone Colonna as Pope Martin V. During his pontificate (1417–31), Martin obtained the grant of fiefs for his family in southern Italy and enriched them with vast estates in papal territory, including Frascati, Paliano, Genazzano, and many other places.
Their power was challenged by Martin’s successor, Eugenius IV, and for well over a century the fortunes of the Colonna continued to be disturbed by conflict with the popes; but from the later years of the 16th century they lived in unbroken peace with the papacy, and many members of the family rose to eminence as prelates, soldiers, and statesmen in the service of the church as well as other powers, particularly Spain.
The surviving branches of the family comprise the Colonna di Paliano, the Colonna di Stigliano, and the Barberini-Colonna di Palestrina.
Prominent Colonna Grandfathers
Fabrizio 14th GG
Fabrizio Colonna(c. 1450 – 18 March 1520) was an Italian condottiero, a member of the powerful Colonna family. He was the son of Edoardo Colonnaand Filippa Conti.
Fabrizio was born sometime before 1452. He was married to Agnese da Montefeltrodaughter of Federico da Montefeltro, 1st Duke of Urbino, and Battista Sforza. Fabrizio was known as count of Tagliacozzoand grand constable of the kingdom of Naples. During the Italian War of 1499-1504, he played a notable part in the Battle of Cerignolain 1503. He was a general in the Holy Leaguethat fought against Louis XII of Francefrom 1509 to 1515, and at the Battle of Ravenna, he commanded the army of the Papal Statesagainst France.
His daughter was Vittoria Colonna, who was an Italian poet, and a close friend of Michelangelo. His nephew Marcantoniowas also a successful general.
Fabrizio is the main speaker in Machiavelli‘s The Art of Warand is referenced throughout the book as an authority on both Classical and current military structure, strategy, and tactics.
Marcantonio II 12th GG
Marcantonio Colonna, born in 1535 at Civita Lavinia, was a member of the noble Colonna familyof the Lazio, then one of the most powerful feudal dynasties of the Papal Statesand the Kingdom of Sicily, which was under Spanish rule. His parents were Ascanio Colonna, Duke of Tagliacozzo, and Giovanna d’Aragona.
Due to acts of rebellion, he was disinherited by his father; but in 1562 Colonna was able to regain the family fiefs for himself, largely thanks to the support of Pope Pius IV. However, he had to forfeit several possessions, such as Nemi, Ardea, and Civita Lavinia, due his father, Ascanio, having left little money.
In 1553–1554, during the war against Siena, Colonna was made commander of the Spanish cavalry. At the Battle of Lepanto(7 October 1571), he commanded the papal Capitana(flagship) as part of the Centre division, where he rescued the flagship of commander Don John of Austria, the Real. When the Realwas almost taken by the Ottoman janissaries, Colonna came alongside with the bow of his galley and mounted a counter-attack. With the help of Colonna, the Turks were pushed off the Realand the Ottoman flagship of Ali Pashawas boarded and swept. The entire crew of Ali Pasha’s flagship was killed, including the commander himself. The banner of the Holy League was hoisted on the captured ship, breaking the morale of the Turkish galleys nearby.
In 1577 King Philip IInamed Colonna as Viceroy of Sicily. He was also Lord of Marino, then a village a few miles south of Rome, where the inhabitants honoured him with a great annual feast which still takes place today, under the name of “Sagra dell’uva”.
Marcantonio V 9th GG
Marcantonio V Colonna(1606/10 – 1659) was an Italian noblemanof the Colonna familyand Prince of Paliano.
Colonna was the son of Don Filippo I Colonna, Prince of Paliano and his wife, Lucrezia Tomacelli. He was the brother of Anna Colonnawho married Taddeo Barberini(Prince of Palestrina) and Cardinal Girolamo Colonna.[1]
Colonna married Isabella Gioeni Cardona, Princess of Castiglione and had issue including:
- Lorenzo Onofrio Colonnawho married Maria Mancini(a niece of Cardinal Mazarin) and inherited Colonna’s titles.
- Anna Colonna, who married Paolo Spinola, 3rd Marquis of the Balbasesand had issue including Carlo Antonio Spinola.
When Colonna’s father died, it was revealed he had appointed his Cardinal son, Girolamo, as heir instead of his eldest son Frederico. The decision started a significant succession conflict upon his death. In the interim, while his older brothers fought over control of the duchy, Marcantonio Colonna served as Prince of Paliano. When Frederico died in 1641, (without issue) and Girolamo died (also without issue as was always likely considering he was a Cardinal), Marcantonio Colonna’s son succeeded him as Prince and assumed the title of Dukeas well.
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