Ferrante or  Ferdinand was quite a guy.  Known to be very ruthless he kept his enemies close by stuffing them and sitting them around a banquet table, as if at the last supper.  He had at least 18 children, and as a result many of them are my direct ancestors. [3d-flip-book id=”131416″ ][/3d-flip-book] Follow our page on Facebook Ferdinand I (2 June 1423 – 25 January 1494), also called Ferrante, was the King of Naples from 1458 to 1494. He was the son of Alfonso V of Aragon and his mistress, Giraldona Carlino. His mother was Giraldona Carlino. In order to arrange a good future for Ferdinand, King Alfonso had him married in 1444 to a feudal heiress, Isabella of Clermont, who, besides being the elder daughter of Tristan di Chiaramonte (Tristan de Clermont-Lodeve), Count of Copertino, and Catherine of Baux Orsini, was the niece and heiress presumptive of childless prince Giovanni Antonio del Balzo Orsini of Taranto. She was a granddaughter of Mary of Enghien, who had been queen consort of Naples between 1406 and 1414. Ferdinand’s wife was the heiress presumptive of remarkable feudal possessions in Southern Italy. He used the title Ferdinand I, King of Naples and Jerusalem. In accordance with his father’s will, Ferdinand succeeded Alfonso on the throne of Naples in 1458, when he was 35 years old. Pope Calixtus III, however, declared the line of Aragon extinct and the kingdom a fief of the church. Calixtus died before he could make good his claim (August 1458), and the new Pope Pius II within the year publicly recognized Ferdinand’s titles. In 1459, Ferdinand’s rule was threatened by a long revolt of the barons. Among the leaders of revolt were Giovanni Antonio Orsini, prince of Taranto and uncle of Ferdinand’s wife. The rebels joined to offer the crown to John of Anjou, a son of the former king René. With the help of the Genoese, John brought a fleet and landed, slowly taking some towns including Nocera. On July 7, 1460, Ferdinand was defeated by John in the plain beside the mouth of the Sarno River south of Mount Vesuvius. Ferdinand was nearly captured and escaped with a guard of only twenty men. The pope and the duke of Milan sent reinforcements under the count of Urbino Federico da Montefeltro and condottiero Alessandro Sforza, but these arrived after the defeat and were themselves crushed by John’s ally Piccinino at San Fabriano.[1] Despite subsequently receiving the surrender of most of the strongholds in Campania, John did not immediately march on Naples and Ferdinand and his wife Isabella were able to hold it and slowly regain their position. Isabella appears to have been responsible for dissuading Orsini from supporting John and Genoa removed its, assistance. The papacy, Milan, and the Albanian chief Skanderbeg—who came to the aid of the prince whose father had aided him—provided forces which decisively defeated John’s land forces at Troia on August 18, 1462. His fleet was finally demolished by the combined forces of Ferdinand and King Juan II of Aragon off Ischia in July 1465.[2] By 1464, Ferdinand had re-established his authority in the kingdom, although some antipathy from the barons remained. In 1478 he allied himself with Pope Sixtus IV against Lorenzo de’ Medici, but the latter journeyed alone to Naples, where he succeeded in negotiating an honorable peace with Ferdinand. The original intent of making Taranto as his and his heirs’ main principality was no longer current, but still it was a strengthening of Ferdinand’s resources and position that his wife in 1463 succeeded her uncle Giovanni Antonio del Balzo Orsini as possessor of the rich Taranto, Lecce and other fiefs in Apulia. Isabella became also the holder of Brienne‘s rights to the Kingdom of Jerusalem. Ferdinand’s wife Isabella had died in 1465, and by 1476, Ferdinand had remarried Joanna of Aragon, his first cousin. In 1480, forces of the Ottoman Empire under orders of Mehmed II captured Otranto, and massacred the majority of the inhabitants, but in the following year it was retaken by Ferdinand’s son Alphonso, duke of Calabria. In 1482, abandoning his traditional position of paladin of the Papal States, he fought alongside Ferrara and Milan against the alliance of Sixtus IV and the Republic of Venice (see War of Ferrara).  Esortazione di insorgere contro i baroni ribelli, 1486 Ferdinand’s oppressive government led in 1485 to a reinvigorated rebellion of the aristocracy, known as the Conspiracy of the Barons, which included Francesco Coppola and Antonello Sanseverino of Salerno and supported by Pope Innocent VIII. Coppola and Antonello Petrucci were arrested during a wedding at Castel Nuovo, and subsequently executed. Ultimately this uprising was crushed, and many of the nobles, notwithstanding Ferdinand’s signing of a general amnesty, were afterwards jailed and executed at his command. In December 1491 Ferdinand was visited by a group of pilgrims on their return from the Holy Land. This group was led by William I, Landgrave of Hesse. Encouraged by Ludovico Sforza of Milan, in 1493 King Charles VIII of France was preparing to invade Italy for the conquest of Naples and starting the Italian Wars, and Ferdinand realized that this was a greater danger than any he had yet faced. With almost prophetic instinct he warned the Italian princes of the calamities in store for them, but his negotiations with Pope Alexander VI and Ludovico Sforza failed. He died on 25 January 1494, worn out with anxiety; he was succeeded by his son, Alphonse, Duke of Calabria, who was soon deposed by the invasion of King Charles which his father had so feared. The cause of his death was determined in 2006 to have been colorectal cancer (mucinous adenocarcinoma type with mutation in the KRas gene), by examination of his mummy. His remains show levels of carbon 13 and nitrogen 15 consistent with historical reports of considerable consumption of meat.[3]  Contemporary bust of Ferdinand I of Naples According to the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, “Ferdinand was gifted with great courage and real political ability, but his method of government was vicious and disastrous. His financial administration was based on oppressive and dishonest monopolies, and he was mercilessly severe and utterly treacherous towards his enemies.” Ferdinand had many enemies, especially considering his kingdom’s importance to other rulers, and he was ruthless in response to any perceived slight. He even fiercely plotted against Pope Alexander VI, after he realized that the pontiff could not secure his position.[4] As further testimony to the latter, Jacob Burckhardt described his recreational activities as follows: “Besides hunting, which he practiced regardless of all rights of property, his pleasures were of two kinds: he liked to have his opponents near him, either alive in well-guarded prisons, or dead and embalmed, dressed in the costume which they wore in their lifetime.”[5]Fearing no one, he would take great pleasure in conducting his guests on a tour of his prized “museum of mummies”. ‹ The template below (Ahnentafel) is being considered for merging. See templates for discussion to help reach a consensus. › showAncestors of Ferdinand I of Naples Ferdinand married twice. First to Isabella of Clermont in 1444. Isabel was daughter to Tristan de Clermont, Count di Copertino and Caterina Orsini. She died in 1465. They had six children: Alfonso II of Naples (4 November 1448 – 18 December 1495). Eleanor of Naples (22 June 1450 – 11 October 1493). She was consort to Ercole I d’Este, Duke of Ferrara and mother to Isabella d’Este and Beatrice d’Este. Frederick I of Naples (19 April 1452 – 9 November 1504). John of Naples (25 June 1456 – 17 October 1485). Later Archbishop of Taranto, then Cardinal, and Archbishop of Esztergom (1480–1485) until his death. Beatrice of Naples (14 September/16 November 1457 – 23 September 1508). She was Queen consort to Matthias Corvinus of Hungary and later to Vladislaus II of Bohemia and Hungary. Francis of Naples, Duke of Sant Angelo (16 December 1461 – 26 October 1486). Second to Joanna of Aragon (1454 – 9 January 1517). She was born to John II of Aragon and Juana Enríquez, his second wife. She was a full sister of King Ferdinand II of Aragon (died 1516) and a half sister of the unfortunate Prince Charles of Viana (1421–1461), John II’s son by his first marriage. Joanna and Ferdinand I were married on 14 September 1476. They had two children: Joanna of Naples (1478 –married 1496 – 27 August 1518). Queen consort to Ferdinand II of Naples (1469–1496), who, as the son of Ferdinand I’s son Alfonso II of Naples (1458 – king 1494 – 1495 in Messina), was also her half-nephew. No issue. Charles of Naples (1480–1486). Ferdinand also had a number of illegitimate children: By his concubine Diana Guardato, a member of the aristocratic Patriacian family of the Kingdom of Naples: Ferdinando d’ Aragona y Guardato, 1st Duke of Montalto, who married 1st, Anna Sanseverino, 2nd, Castellana de Cardona. Maria d’Aragona, who married Antonio Todeschini Piccolomini, Duke of Amalfi, a nephew of Pope Pius II and brother of Pope Pius III. Giovanna d’ Aragona, who married Leonardo della Rovere, Duke of Arce and Sora, a nephew of Pope Sixtus IV and brother of Pope Julius II. By his concubine Eulalia Ravignano: Maria d’Aragona, who married Gian Giordano Orsini. By his concubine Giovanna Caracciolo: Ferdinand d’Aragona, Count of Arsena. Arrigo d’Aragona, Marquess of Gerace. Cesare d’Aragona, Marquess of Santa Agata. Leonor d’Aragona. Alonso d’Aragona, bastard of Aragona (1460–1510), who married Charla of Lusignan (1468 – in prison in Padua, 1480), daughter of King James II of Cyprus. Lucrezia d’Aragona, daughter of either Giovanna Caracciola or Eulalia Ravignano, was consort to Onorato III, Prince of Altamur Isabella of Clermont She was the elder daughter of Tristan de Clermont, Count of Copertino, and Caterina Del Balzo Orsini. She was also the niece and heir of childless Giovanni Antonio del Balzo Orsini, Prince of Taranto. Her maternal grandmother Maria was queen consort of Naples from 1406 until 1414. On 30 May 1444/1445, Isabella married Ferdinand of Aragon, then Duke of Calabria (1423–1494), natural son of Alfonso V of Aragon who had recently conquered the Neapolitan kingdom from French Angevins, and thus was the new liege lord of Isabella and her family. Alfonso arranged this marriage in order to give a good future to his favorite bastard son, by giving him his own principality by marriage. Also, Alfonso wanted his loyal people (such as his own son) to have feudal fiefs in his new kingdom, which would happen in the future as soon as Ferdinand and Isabella succeeded in Taranto. The marriage also strengthened the king’s grip on the current lords of Taranto. On 27 June 1458 her husband became, by the will of king Alfonso, King in his conquered territories and as such used the title King of Naples and Jerusalem, and Isabella became Queen consort. By that point, they had several children of their own, the eldest being the 10-year-old Alphonso. They no longer wanted to make Taranto their principal holding, but it was still a strong possession, and in 1463 Isabella succeeded her uncle Giovanni Antonio in Taranto. Isabella also inherited the Brienne claim to the Kingdom of Jerusalem. Isabella died on 30 March 1465, and was buried in San Pietro Martire. Her heir was her eldest son, Alphonso, then Duke of Calabria, the future king Alfonso II of Naples and Jerusalem. Her widower King Ferdinand (born 1423, died 25 January 1494) secondly married his paternal first cousin Joanna of Aragon, daughter of his uncle John II of Aragon and Juana Enríquez.

I have seen a lot of posts with people asking about the Origins of Italian names.  There’s a lot of information and articles on the web.  I’ll sum it up and attach some links so that they are easy to find. First Names Like most European countries, Italian names consist of a First Name ( nome ) and last name ( cognome ).  In ancient Rome, they used three names a given name, a gentile name and a hereditary name.  Italians ( even to this day ) also celebrate “name day”, which is the feast day of the saint that they are named after.  I remember my dad Nicholas, always getting a card from my grandmother on Dec. 6. Now I think we all have the family with 3 cousins named Luigi, Francesco, Paulo, Pietro etc.  I am sure you are aware of this convention. There has been a strong custom in Italy that determines how children are named: The first male is named after his paternal grandfather. The second male is named after his maternal grandfather. The first female is named after her paternal grandmother. The second female is named after her maternal grandmother. For information  on this topic, especially if you are doing family research, this Italian Naming Conventions article on Italian Genealogy will help.   For Sicilian information you can go to Fonderia USA. Origin of Italian First Names — Handy for those looking for traditional names Surnames Click Here Join Our Facebook Group Italian’s have the largest number of surnames in the world, over 350,000! Pretty cool video map.  Find your name and it shows you areas on a map. A large number of Italian surnames end in i, due to the medieval Italian habit of identifying families by the name of the ancestors in the plural (which have an -isuffix in Italian). For instance, Filippo from the Ormanno family (gli Ormanni) would be called “signor Filippo degli Ormanni” (“Mr. Filippo of the Ormannos”). In time, the middle possessive portion (“of the”) was dropped, but surnames became permanently pluralized and never referred to in the singular, even for a single person. Filippo Ormanno would therefore be known as Filippo Ormanni.[9]Some families, however, opted to retain the possessive portion of their surnames, for instance Lorenzo de’ Mediciliterally means “Lorenzo of the Medici” (de’is a contraction of dei, also meaning “of the”; c.f. The Medicis). Suffixes Some common suffixes indicate endearment (which may also become pluralized and receive an -iending), for example: -ello/illo/etto/ino(diminutive“little”), e.g., Bernardello, Iannuccillo, Bortoletto, Bernardino, Ravellino, Verdino -one/ne(augmentative“big”), e.g., Mangione, Bellone, Capone, Pastene, Mantone, Vallone -accio/azzo/asso(pejorative[10]), e.g., Boccaccio, Terrazzo, Varasso Other endings are characteristic of certain regions:[6] Veneto: -asso, -ato/ati, and consonants (l, n, r); -on: Bissacco, Zoccarato, Cavinato, Brombal, Meneghin, Perin, Vazzoler, Peron, Francescon, Zanon, Fanton, Pizzati Sicily: -aro, -isiand “osso”: Cavallaro, Cherisi, Rosi, Rosso (Sicily, Piedmont and Veneto) Lombardyand Piemont: -ago/ghi(of Celticderivation), -engo/enghi(of Germanicderivation): Salmoiraghi, Ornaghi, Vernengo, Martinengo, Giordanengo, Lambertenghi Lombardy: -ate/ati/atti: Lunati, Bonatti, Moratti, Orsatti Piedmont: -ero, -audi, -asco,-zzi, -anti, -ini: Ferrero, Rambaudi, Comaco, Bonazzi, Santi, Baldovini Friuli: -otti/uttiand -t: Bortolotti, Pascutti, Codutti, Rigonat, Ret Tuscany: -aiand -aci/ecci/ucci: Bollai, Balducci, Martaci Sardinia: -u, -asand -is: Pusceddu, Piccinnu, Schirru, Marras, Argiolas, Floris, Melis, Abis Calabria: -ace: Storace Campania: -iello: Borriello, Aiello, Manganiello Abruzzo: -us, -isand -iisthat stem from traditional Latin names: Fidelibus, De Sanctis, De Laurentis Origins As in most other European naming traditions, patronymicsare common. Originally they were indicated by a possessive, e.g., Francesco de Bernardo, meaning “Francis (the son) of Bernard”. De Luca(“[son] of Luke”) remains one of the most common Italian surnames. However, de(“of”) was often dropped and suffixes added, hence de Bernardoevolved to be Bernardoand eventually pluralized as Bernardi(see Suffixesabove). The origin or residence of the family gave rise to many surnames, e.g., Habitat: Della Valle(“of the valley”), Montagna(“mountain”). Specific placename: Abbruzzesi/Abbruzzi/Abruzzi/Abruzzese/Abruzzesi/D’Abbruzzo/D’Abruzzo(“Abruzzan”/”of Abruzzo“/”from Abruzzo“) Benevento/Di Benevento/Beneventano(“Beneventan”/”from Benevento“) Albanese/Albanesi(“Albanian“/”from Albania“) Bologna/Bologni/Bolognese/Bolognesi(“Bolognan”/”from Bologna“) Bresci/(De) Brescia/Bresciani/Bresciano/Brescianini(“Brescian”/”from Brescia“) Calabrese/Calabresi/Calabria(“Calabrian”/”from Calabria“) Campaniano/Campano/Campana(“Campanian”/”from Campania“) Casertano(“Casertanian”/”from Caserta“) Catalani/Catalano(“Catalan“/”from Catalonia“) Catanese/Catanesi/Catania(“Catanian”/”from Catania“/”from the province of Catania“) Emiliani/Emiliano(“Emilian“/”from Emilia“) Fiorentini/Fiorentino/Firenze/Florenzi(“Florentine”/”from Florence“) Franzese/Franzesi(“French“/”from France“) De Genova/Di Genova/Genova/Genovese/Genovesi(“Genoan”/”from Genoa“) Greco(“Greek“) De Lucca/Di Lucca/Lucca/Lucchesi/Lucchese(“Luccan”/”from Lucca“) Maltese/Maltesi(“Maltese“/”from Malta“) De Milano/Di Milano/Milano/Milanese/Milanesi(“Milanese”/”from Milan“) De Napoli/Di Napoli/Napoli/Napoletani/Napoletano/Napolitani/Napolitano(“Neapolitan“/”from Naples“) Da Padova/Di Padova/Padova/Padovani/Padovano/Patavini/Patavino/Padovan(“Paduan”/”from Padua“) (Di) Palermo/Palermitani/Palermitano(“Palermitan”/”from Palermo“) De Pisa/Di Pisa/Pisa/Pisani/Pisano(“Pisan”/”from Pisa“) Portoghese/Portoghesi(“Portuguese“/”from Portugal“) Puglisi/Pugliese(“Apulian“/”from Apulia”) Romagnoli/Romagnolo(“Romagnan”/”from Romagna“) Romana/Romani/Romano(“Roman”/”from Rome“) Salerno/Salernitani/Salernitano(“Salernitan”/”from Salerno“) Sardo(“Sardinian“/”from Sardinia“) Siciliana/Siciliani/Siciliano(“Sicilian”/”from Sicily“) Spagnola/Spagnoli/Spagnolo/Spagnuola/Spagnuoli/Spagnuolo(“Spaniard“, “Spanish“, “from Spain“) Svizzera/Svizzeri/Svizzero(“Swiss“/”from Switzerland“) Tedeschi/Tedesco/Tedisco/Todeschi/Todesco(“German“/”from Germany“) Toscani/Toscano(“Tuscan”/”from Tuscany“) Trapanese/Trapanesi(“Trapanese”/”from Trapani“/”from the province of Trapani“) Umbro(“Umbrian”/”from Umbria“) Veneziani/Veneziano(“Venetian”/”from Venice“) Veronese/Veronesi(“from Verona“) Nearby landmarks: La Porta(“the gate”), Fontana(“fountain”), Torregrossa(“big tower”). Ancestors’ occupation was also a great source of surnames. Job title: Pastore(“shepherd”), Tagliabue(“ox-cutter”), Passafiumeand Passalacqua(“waterman”). Objects (metonyms) associated with the vocation: Zappa(“hoe”, farmer), Delle Fave(“of the beans”, grocer), Martelli(“hammers”, carpenter), Tenaglia(“pincer”, smith), Farina(“flour”, baker), Garitta/Garita(“garitta di vedetta“), Forni(“ovens”, cook), Ferraro(“blacksmith”). Nicknames, referring to physical attributes or mannerism, also gave rise to some family names, e.g., Rossi(from rosso“redhead“), Basso(“short”), Caporaso(“shaved or bald head”), Pappalardo(“lard-eater”, originally an abusive nickname for one who professed himself a devout person but ate meat and fatty dishes in forbidden times),[12]and Barbagelata(“frozen beard”). A few family names are still in the original Latin, like Santorum, De Juliisand De Laurentiis, reflecting that the family name has been preserved from Medieval Latinsources as a part of their business or household documentation or church  records. For more articles on the topic you can visit. My Italian Family Italy Heritage Or our Surname Search Links  

I have always been a student of history, which is one of the reasons that I began researching my family.  Last year, about this time. I learned that my uncle Giovanni’s youngest son, Joe, had taped several conversations he had with his dad.  Joe and his sister Vita, were able to translate from the original Barese into English.  Here is the summary written by Joe.  With some awesome photos.  At the bottom you will find some more links to Toritto and my mom’s family. Don’t forget to explore the rest of the site for tracing Noble Roots and tips and sources to find your family roots in Italy. —- Bob The following is a personal history of my father Giovanni (John) Nicoletti (1909-1986). I made tapes with my father in 1981 when my father was 72 years old and this  history encompasses the first 40 years of his life.  We spoke in our regional italian dialect and this translation was done by my sister Vita Gabler and myself in December 2019. This is by necessity a summary, and many events, stories and anecdotes had to be eliminated.  On occasion, I’ve added some explanatory notes in brackets. Joseph Nicoletti Click here to join Italian Genealogy on Facebook The Early Years Francesco Nicoletti, Maria Carnevale and Giovanni Nicolleti c. 1914 I was born on May 29, 1909 in the house of my mother’s parents (Francesco and Maria) in Toritto, (province of Apulia) Italy.  I was the first child of Luigi and Maria Nicoletti.  My father was not there for my birth as he was serving in the Italian army during the 2nd Libyan war.  My father was a bersalgiere (front line troops who took heavy casualties during the war) and he was one of only three that returned to Toritto in 1911.  Upon his return my father worked as watchman over flocks of sheep.  In 1914 on the eve of World War 1 my father was about to be recalled into the army, and decided that he would go to America.  My mother told him that you were in the Army when we married,  you went to war for three years missing the birth of your son, and I’m not going to be left behind.  At the time a second child had been born Antonia (Ann) and my mother was pregnant with her third, Francesco (Frank).  Feeling badly for her parents who would have no family left in Toritto, (Maria’s brothers Domenico and Tomasso had already immigrated and were living in New York) my parents decided to leave me behind to stay with my grandparents.  They left with there daughter Ann and thought they would return in 4 or 5 years when they expected the war to be over.  Once in America their family began growing and it became difficult for them to return.  They would write and send money always wanting me to join them in America, but I was 5 years old when they left and I hardy knew them and I didn’t want to leave the only family I knew, my grandparents. School and Work Iwent to school for about 3 years but I wasn’t very interested.  Since school was not obligatory I told my grandparents I didn’t want to go anymore, they said “good now you can go to work”.  So, I began my working life at the age of 7.  I did small jobs for people in town and they would pay me with small amounts of food.  Also, My grandfather had a cow and we would go through the town selling milk directly from the cow’s udder.  Around that time I also began doing small jobs at the local olive oil mill.  In those days the stone mill wheels were turned by mules, and I would groom them and hitch and unhitch them.  For this work I would be paid a small amount of money ( Work was seasonal in Toritto.  olive season was usually December, January and February.  Olives were picked, pressed for oil, and then the trees were pruned.  The other season was almonds, usually September, they were picked, shelled and dried in the sun).  In between olive and almond season my grandfather and I would do day labor for people in town who had land.  We would work in the fields, plowing, sewing, weeding, and reaping.  I also maintained horses, mules and cleaned and drove carriages for the people who were better off in our town.  Eventually my grandfather became too old to do field work, and I became the only breadwinner.  As I grew older I continued  working at the olive mill during the season.  Eventually the owner trusted me enough to make me the foreman of the place.  Even though I was basically illiterate I could keep simple accounts and handle payments (during olive season workers ate and slept at the mill as the work started at 4 a.m and ended at 11 p.m).   This was my life in Toritto and even though we weren’t rich we were better off than many in town. At about the age of 18 I became interested in a 15 year old local girl named Giuseppina (Josephine) Lisi.  She was well known in Toritto for her lovely singing voice.  In those days men and women connected with each other indirectly. They would use hand gestures, intermediaries, and perhaps exchange a few words at someone’s house.  Josephine let me know that she was interested in me,  but her parents were against it.  They felt that I was of a lower class than they were and wanted her to get engaged to her second cousin who had more assets than me and my grandparents ( people married class to class and finances were more important than love).  Finally I got frustrated with the whole thing and I called the relationship off. It was at that time that began to think that I should go to America to see my parents and meet my brothers and sisters.  My parents were very happy about my going over and began organize things on there end.  I got my papers together and went to the town hall to get a passport.  I was shocked when they told me that I couldn’t go anywhere as I had reached draft age and was obligated to serve 18 months in the Italian army (this was in 1928).  Before I left for my service I had reconciled with Josephine and her family.  Even though we were now engaged we could not be alone with each other. I would go to her house for dinner but I couldn’t sit next to her.  If we went someplace in town we always had a chaperone, usually Josephine’s mother. Toritto Army Life Giovanni Nicoletti Giovanni Nicoletti 1929 I was 20 years old when I went into the army and I was stationed in Sulmona (in the Abruzzi region of Italy).  During my service I reached the rank of Corporal Major.  I first saw Rome when we were assigned to guard the procession celebrating the marriage of Umberto son of King Vittorio Emanuele.  We also were sent to Florence to march when Benito Mussolini visited there.  I was 1930 when I returned from my service and in 1931 I married Josephine.  We lived with my grandparents, and inherited this house when my grandparents died ( It was in this house that Josephine gave birth to all of her 10 children, 3 of whom died at a very young age).  The Great Depression had started and the times were very difficult.  I continued working at the olive mill and doing day labor the rest of the time.  We had our first child Maria (Mary) in 1931, I was 22 and Josephine 19.  By the time I reached the age of 30 we already had 5 children. Giovanni center standing   Marriage and Family In 1938 World War II was about to breakout, but fortunately for me, I was exempt from being called up because of the number of children I had.  Luckily, the war basically passed Toritto by, but things were very difficult.  I continued to work at anything I could find to support my family.  During the war correspondence with my parents was not possible (Italy was part of Axis) and I didn’t know that 3 of my brothers were serving in the Pacific.  At wars end Italy was in ruins and life was more difficult than ever, especially since my family continued to grow.  A few years after wars end,  my mother wanted to come to Italy to see me.  Her children said that they wanted to know me too and convinced her that it would be best if I went to America to visit them.  They started talking to lawyers and immigration brokers but they all wanted money up front with no guarantee that they could succeed.  By a strange coincidence my sister Mary overheard a conversation in a butcher shop in Corona, Queens (N.Y.C.), and introduced herself to a man named Manerino, who told her that he could get me to America.  Manerino visited with my parents and said that he could get me to America for $500.00 payable on my arrival ( It’s likely that that Manerino was a immigration broker who had political contacts.  The idea was to get John over on a visa and then stay as an immigrant allowing him to call his wife and children over).  I was overjoyed when my American family informed me about their plan.  They told me that Manerino would be coming to Naples on personal business,  and I went there to meet with him to discuss how to proceed.  He eventually came to visit me in Toritto and met Josephine and the children.  After that things became complicated and confused and it became clear that I couldn’t go to America directly (all this took several years).  Manerino finally said that the only way was for me to go to Canada ( At the time it was almost impossible for Italians to get to America.  Canada was much easier to enter because it needed agricultural workers).  I would be contracted to work on a mushroom farm outside of Toronto for a year after which I would be free.  After some time passed and more complications I was able to arrange passage on a freighter leaving from Naples and bound for Montreal.  The freighter picked up cargo in Palermo and Messina Sicily and then Tarragona and Seville Spain before crossing the Atlantic.  28 days later we arrived in Quebec where immigration authorities came aboard to check our documents.  There were 8 passengers aboard, and when the authorities asked us if we had money (through a translator), I said I didn’t, thinking that if I told them I had money they would think I was trying to get to America.  The Canadian authorities, who spoke no Italian, motioned me and another passenger, who was also Italian, to get our stuff and follow them off the boat.  We were interred in a building (probably an immigration facility) given cots to sleep on, and fed. Since we didn’t speak english we were confused and scared thinking that we were either in a prison or maybe an insane asylum.   After two days we were brought to an office and given some Canadian money,  our documents were returned, and we were escorted to a train bound for Toronto. Giovanni Nicoletti and Giusppina Lisi C. 1931 C. 1946 C. 1950 Canada When I got off the train in Toronto no one was there to meet me.  All I had was the address of the man who was my contact to the mushroom farmer .  With the help of a couple I met on the train, who spoke Italian, I got a taxi to the address I had been given.  When I arrived the man was packed and just about to leave for Niagara Falls.  He was angry, saying that he wanted nothing to do workers from Toritto,  as those who had come before had caused a great deal of trouble for him and the farm owner.  He eventually took pity on me and gave me the address of a boarding house (on Clinton Street) where some of my townspeople were boarding.  When I got there I called my mother,  she had no idea where I was or what had happened to me.  Two days later my mother my sister Ann and brother Frank arrived in Toronto.  I was waiting at the station and recognized my mother as she got off the train.  I was 40 years old and I hadn’t seen my mother in 35 years. 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Have you ever been curious about your Italian heritage and the fascinating stories hidden within your family tree? Join us as we have a captivating interview by Shawn Murphy the host of “The Above the Bar Podcast”, with Bob Sorrentino. Discover how Bob embarked on his journey to explore his Italian roots,  and how he turned his passion into a successful blog, podcast, and YouTube channel. Get ready to be transported to Naples and other Italian towns as Bob shares his remarkable experiences of uncovering his family’s history during his ancestry tour in Italy. Learn about the vibrant Neapolitan culture he encountered and how he was treated like royalty during his travels. Bob also offers invaluable advice on researching your own Italian heritage, from speaking with the oldest members of your family to finding Facebook pages and groups related to your ancestral hometown. Finally, dive into the world of family traditions and their significance in Italian culture. Hear about Bob’s great grandmother’s secret to making Sunday sauce, his own eggplant parmesan recipe, and the importance of food in Italian households. Don’t miss this enchanting episode as we journey through Italian genealogy and identity in America together with Bob Sorrentino. The Above The Bar Podcast Is a interview style show done by a 20 year Marine Corps Veteran, where we talk to people from all walks of life to find out how they are great at what they do. They will show you how to do what they do what gave them the passion for what they do and all around entertain. Be sure to like and subscribe so you know what is happening at the bar each week. https://theabovethebarpodcast.podbean.com/ https://www.facebook.com/theabovethebarpodcast https://www.youtube.com/@theabovethebarpodcast Podcast Click here to join our group on Facebook Video

I never expected to find Sardian DNA or ancestry when I began my research.  However, my fatherline shows 12% Sardinia and my autosomal DNA shows 1.2%.  I was also able to trace back to the “Judges” of Arborea to Comita I in 1075 who is my 26th great grandfather on my paternal grandmother’s side.  I also have a connection through the Aragonese.  Specifically James II, my 20th great grandfather King of Aragon in 1297 and Alfonso IV and Peter IV my 19th and 18th GG. History of Sardinia Italy SardiniaSardinia, Italy.Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. CagliariCagliari, Sardinia, Italy.© NATALE MattÃ?â??Ã?Â?Ã?â©o/Shutterstock.com Sardinia, Italian Sardegna, island and regione(region) of Italy, second in size only to Sicily among the islands of the western Mediterranean. It lies 120 miles (200 km) west of the mainland of Italy, 7.5 miles (12 km) south of the neighbouring French island of Corsica, and 120 miles (200 km) north of the coast of Africa. The capital is Cagliari. Area 9,301 square miles (24,090 square km). Pop. (2015 est.) 1,658,138. History Prehistoric and Phoenician settlement The dominating feature of the island (some 7,000 examples of which are said to exist) is the nuraghi: truncated conic structures of huge blocks of basalt taken from extinct volcanoes, built in prehistoric times without any bonding. Most nuraghi are quite small, but a few are obviously fortresses. There is also a nuraghic village near Dorgali with traces of about 80 buildings identified. Expert opinion now dates the nuraghi to about 1500 to 400 bce. The civilization that built the nuraghi probably had its roots in the prehistoric population of the island, but its origins and affinities are uncertain, and it left no written records. It is possible that the Sherden, one of the Sea People who fought in Egypt in the 13th and 12th centuries bce, either came from or settled in Sardinia, and they gave the island its name. Archaeological evidence from the nuraghi culture suggests a strongly organized power of tribal states. The working of metal from local mines was presumably the chief source of wealth. However, the presence of Phoenician trade settlements along the Sardinian coasts from the 9th or 8th century bcemust have vigorously contributed to Proto-Sardinian prosperity. Phoenician shippers and traders were naturally interested in Sardinian mines, and they founded trading posts at such sites as Caralis (now Cagliari), Sulcis (on Sant’Antioco Island), and Tharros. Attempts at colonization by the Greeks in the early 6th century (at Olbiain northeastern Sardinia) were unsuccessful because of opposition by the Phoenicians. After Carthage had attained leadership over the western Phoenicians, the struggle for supremacy in the west caused a more direct control to be exercised over the colonists on the island. After a long period of peaceful coexistence with the indigenous peoples, the Carthaginians began, about 500 bce, the military conquest of the most-productive parts of Sardinia, driving the Proto-Sardinians into the mountains. Roman rule During the First Punic War (264–241 bce) the Romans tried to capture Sardinia, but it was not until 238 bcethat they were able to take advantage of a revolt by Carthaginian mercenaries to demand the surrender of the island. Native tribes opposed the Romans but were conquered after several bloody campaigns. The island became a province under a praetor or propraetor, to whose jurisdiction Corsica was added soon afterward (227). A rebellion in 215 bce, fostered by the Carthaginians, was quelled by Titus Manlius Torquatus. After the failure of that uprising, the island was treated as a conquered territory. It did not contain a single free city, and its inhabitants were obliged to pay a sizable tithe in grain. Insurrections of the mountain tribes in 181 and 114 bcewere crushed by the Romans, but even in the time of Strabo(c.64 bce–21 ce) there was considerable brigandage. SardiniaRuins of the Roman city of Nora in Sardinia, Italy.© Ron Gatepain When Augustus reorganized the provinces, administration of Sardinia and Corsica fell to the Senate, a designation that implied a degree of stability on the islands. In 6 ce, however, frequent disturbances led Augustus to assert imperial control and to appoint a prefect to oversee the restoration of order. In 67 ceNeroreturned Sardinia (but not Corsica) to the Senate in exchange for Achaea, and the former was then governed by a legatus pro praetore. Vespasian took Sardinia back sometime before 78 ceand placed it under an imperial procurator. It was returned to the Senate sometime before the reign of Marcus Aurelius, when the island was governed by a proconsul. Either Commodusor Septimius Severus took it over again and placed it under a procurator. The frequent changes in administrative authority speak to the difficulty that the Romans experienced while governing the island. In Pliny’s time Caralis (Cagliari) was the only city with Roman civic rights in Sardinia (when it received the privilege is unknown). A Roman colony was founded at Turris Libisonis (now Porto Torres), but little was reported about the island under the empire, except for its role as a granary and for the prevalence of banditry there. It was often used as a place of exile Vandal and Byzantine rule The Vandals crossed into Africa from Spain in 429 ceand occupied Sardinia about 456. The Roman general Marcellinus reoccupied the island in advance of an ambitious expedition against the Vandals organized by the Eastern Roman emperor Leo Iand Western Roman emperor Anthemius. A massive armada embarked against the Vandals in 468, but command of the operation was given to Leo’s inept brother-in-law Basiliscus, and, upon the destruction of the Roman fleet, the Vandals returned. Vandal rule marked a period of cultural revival, largely because of the enforced residence at Cagliari of scores of North African bishops who had been banished by the Vandal king Thrasamund for their opposition to Arianism. Among them were St. Fulgentiusand the bishop of Hippo, the latter of whom had brought with him the relics of St. Augustine. The remains of the monastery built by Fulgentius near the Basilica of San Saturnino in Cagliari date from that African cultural renaissance. In 533–534, following the defeat of the Vandals, Sardinia was recovered by the Byzantine duke Cyril. Under the Byzantine Empireit was one of the seven provinces of the praetorian prefecture of Africa. In 550–551 Sardinia was occupied by the Goths under Totila, but after his death in 552 it was reclaimed by Constantinople. Letters from Pope Gregory I written at the end of the 6th century denounce Byzantine misgovernment and mention attacks by the Lombardson the Sardinian coast. Between 663 and 668 Sardinia was heavily taxed by the Byzantine emperor Constans II Pogonatus, but the date of its separation from the Byzantine Empire is unknown. Arab incursions In the 720s the Lombard king Liutprand acquired St. Augustine’s relics and removed them to Pavia, but the Lombards did not occupy Sardinia as they did Corsica. The Muslim conquest of North Africa was well under way in the early 8th century, and Arab raiders first attacked Sardinia in 711. Such assaults recurred throughout the 8th and 9th centuries. In 815 the Sardinians sent ambassadors to the Frankish emperor Louis I, and they cooperated with Leo IVand subsequent popes in campaigns against the Saracens. The need for the Sardinians to organize their own defense probably led to the formation of four self-governing giudicati(“judiciary circuits”), though the history of this period is obscure. The 10th century was comparatively peaceful, but in 1015 Mujāhid al-ʿĀmirī, ruler of the taifastate of Denia in southeastern Spain, attacked Sardinia from his base in the Balearic Islands. Although that would not be the last attack by Moorishcorsairs, it was the most serious, being a real attempt at conquest. Al-ʿĀmirī’s forces overran much of the island, but the occupation was short-lived. Pope Benedict VIIIspurred the Christian states to act, and the combined navies of Genoaand Pisadestroyed al-ʿĀmirī’s fleet and liberated the island. The Giudicati and Italian influence The four Sardinian giudicatiof Cagliari, Arborea, Torres, and Gallura were clearly defined territorially and politically only in the 11th century. These self-governing divisions gradually became hereditary principalities under lifelong giudici(“judges”). After the defeat of al-ʿĀmirī, Sardinia became a field for expansion for Pisa and Genoa, as well as for Marseille. It was opened to monastic immigration that was encouraged by the papacy, which now claimed sovereignty over the island. Pisa and Genoa, through alliances with the giudici, secured political and economic zones of influence: Genoa mostly in the north and west, Pisa in the south and east. The archbishop of Pisa was appointed apostolic legate and primate of Sardinia by Innocent II in 1133. Genoa, to counteract its rival, loaned Barisone I, giudiceof Arborea, the price of his coronation by the emperor Frederick I as king of Sardinia (1164), but he could neither subdue the other giudicatinor repay the loan. The peace of 1169 brought about a temporary truce between Pisa and Genoa, but it was soon broken by dissensions among the giudici. The giudicatiof Cagliari and Gallura passed through marriage to a succession of Pisan families and finally to the republic itself. The giudicatoof Torres passed from the protection of Pisa to that of Genoa until the marriage (1238) of Adelasia, heiress of Gallura and Torres, to Enzio, natural son of the emperor Frederick II. Enzio took the title of king of Sardinia, but he was seldom there, and his rule was carried on by vicars. As the struggle between the Guelf and Ghibelline (papal and imperial) factions intensified in Italy, in 1249 Enzio led a Ghibelline army against a joint Lombard–Bolognese force at Fossalta. The Ghibellines were crushed and Enzio was captured; he would spend the rest of his life in captivity in Bologna. In the wars that followed Enzio’s imprisonment, Pisa prevailed, but after the Battle of Meloria (1284) Pisan influence was limited to the districts of Cagliari and Gallura. Genoa controlled the other districts through its noble families (chiefly the Spinola, Malaspina, and Doria families). Throughout the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries, however, Pisan influence predominated in the arts. This can be seen in the many churches built at the time, especially the basilica of San Gavino in Porto Torres and the church of Santa Maria del Regno in Ardara. Aragonese domination In 1297 Boniface VIII invested James II of Aragon as king of Sardinia and Corsica. The Aragonese were not able to exert actual power over the island until 1323–24, however, when the infante Alfonso (later Alfonso IV) conquered Sardinia. He did so with the help of the giudicatoof Arborea, which kept its independence and defended itself strenuously against the same Aragonese throughout the 14th century. A war that broke out about 1350 between the Arborean giudiceMariano IV and King Peter IV of Aragon was won by the latter, and peace was made at a meeting of the Sardinian stamenti(“estates”) in 1355. A few years later Mariano resumed hostilities against Aragon. After his death in 1376, the war was carried on by his son, Hugo, and his daughter, Eleonora of Arborea. Hugo was killed in an uprising in 1383, and, after the death of Eleonora in 1404, the giudicatowas reduced to a fief of Aragon in 1410. After a final revolt had been suppressed at the Battle of Macomer (1478), Arborea was brought wholly under the Aragonese crown. The Aragonese unified the administration of Sardinia and placed it under a viceroy residing at Cagliari. Subsequently the three orders—military, ecclesiastical, and royal—of the Sardinian stamentibegan to meet at regular intervals. Alfonso V of Aragon extended to the whole island the Carta de Logu, a law code promulgated by Mariano IV of Arborea and perfected by Eleonora in 1392. The centralization of authority crippled growth, however, and the island’s economy, which had flourished under the giudici, declined. The population, oppressed by taxation, decreased, and the island fell into a state of lethargy. Sardinia, which passed with Aragon to the unified Spanish monarchy, suffered in the 16th century from raids by Barbary pirates. In 1527 a French fleet under Andrea Doriainvaded the island and took Sassari but was driven off. Another French fleet, under Henri de Lorraine, was also repulsed, after taking Oristano in 1637. Austria and Savoy During the War of the Spanish Succession, Cagliari was bombarded by an English fleet and capitulated. Sardinia became an Austrian territory in 1708, a claim that was affirmed by the Treaty of Utrechtin 1713. Spanish statesman Giulio Alberoni had hoped to make Sardinia a jumping-off point for the recapture of Spain’s former Italian possessions, and in 1717 he dispatched a squadron from Barcelona which recaptured the island. In 1718 the Treaty of London compensated Victor Amadeus II of Savoy for his loss of Sicily by entitling him king of Sardinia. He took possession in 1720, and, from that time until 1861, he and his successors were known as kings of Sardinia. The house of Savoy, which maintained its seat of power in Piedmont, sought to establish its authority over the feudal nobles (of mostly Spanish descent) and over the church. In 1726 Pope Benedict XIII confirmed the king in the right of presentation to bishoprics. Under Victor Amadeus II and Charles Emmanuel III, some efforts were made to improve the social and economic conditions of Sardinia. In 1793, during the French revolutionary wars, the French attacked Sardinia and bombarded Cagliari but were attacked by the islanders and withdrew. The stamentithen presented a memorandum to the king asking for a measure of local autonomy and the opening of all posts, except that of viceroy, to all citizens. Their request was rejected, but the movement that it represented found support in a popular revolt arising out of the economic discontent of the people. The revolt, however, faded out when its leader, Gian Maria Angioj, fled to France in 1796. For several months in 1799 Charles Emmanuel IV took refuge in Sardinia after his expulsion from Piedmont by the French. His successor, Victor Emmanuel I, lived in Cagliari from 1806 to 1814. Victor Emmanuel’s brother, Charles Felix, served as viceroy and, from 1821, as king, and he embarked on various reforms affecting agriculture, taxation, public health, and the administration of justice. However, it was his successor, Charles Albert, who took real account of Sardinia’s needs. In 1836 he largely abolished the ancient seignorial rights, and the ensuing division of lands among private owners and communes formed the basis of the 19th- and 20th-century agrarian economy of Sardinia. In 1847 Sardinia was united with the other provinces of Piedmont with the same standing in the kingdom. That position was confirmed by the constitution of 1848, and Sardinians sat in the Piedmontese parliament. Sardinia in a united Italy In 1861 Victor Emmanuel II was proclaimed king of Italy, and the island became part of the unified Italian state. Sardinia’s distinct language and culture as well as its geographic isolation from the Italian mainland, made it something of a forgotten province, however. After World War I the Sardinian Action Party was formed to press for autonomy for the island, but the rise of Benito Mussolini’s Fascists obliged it to cease its activities. When Italy entered World War II on the side of the Axis powers in 1940, the island’s airfields were used as bases for attacks in the Mediterranean. In 1943 Allied air attacks on the island began and increased in intensity as the time for the invasion of Sicily drew near. The Germans had increased the number of air squadrons in Sardinia, but in July Allied air attacks made many airfields unusable. On September 18, 1943, Italian forces expelled the last of the German troops from the island. It was occupied by a small number of Allied troops. The movement for autonomy revived after the war, and in February 1948 Sardinia finally became a self-governing regioneof Italy. The unification of Italy. The dates are those of annexation, first to Sardinia-Piedmont and after 1861 to the Kingdom of Italy.Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. [adrotatebanner=”91″] The contemporary island Although Italian (including the Genoese and Tuscan dialects) is the lingua franca, Sardinian, Catalan, and Arabic are spoken in various regions. Loyalty and hospitality to strangers characterize the Sardinian code of honour. Folklore and craftwork abound on the island. Towns and villages hold annual festivals. Most involve feats of horsemanship, exquisitely embroidered costumes, singing, and dancing, often to the accompaniment of the launeddas, a triple clarinet. Sardinia is among the least densely populated of Italy’s regions. Sassari: Piazza d’ItaliaPiazza d’Italia, Sassari, Sardinia, Italy.Vincenzo Falchi Agriculture remains an important branch of the economy. Natural pastures cover more than half the area of Sardinia. Sheep and goats are widely raised. Wheat, barley, grapes, olives, cork, and tobacco are produced. Fishing for tuna, lobster, and sardines is important. Sardinia is rich in minerals, but the island’s traditional mining industry suffered in the 21st century. Processing industries include the smelting of lead and zinc and the production of aluminum and alumina. There are petroleum refineries and petrochemical complexes. Among other industries are food processing, textile and leather production, woodworking, and electrical engineering. Services and government administration became increasingly important economic sectors in the 21st century. Tourism is essentially concentrated on the coast, though the road network has been extended and much improved. The island is connected with continental Italy by both air and sea, but the relative isolation of the island has preserved many traditions. CagliariCagliari, Sardinia, Italy.© Natale Matteo/Shutterstock.com This article was most recently revised and updated by Michael Ray, Associate Editor. Citation InformationArticle Title:SardiniaWebsite Name:Encyclopaedia BritannicaPublisher:Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.Date Published:19 February 2019URL:https://www.britannica.com/place/Sardinia-island-ItalyAccess Date:May 26, 2019 Follow Italian Genealogy on Facebook he meaning of the flag of Sardiniahave its deep roots in an ancient past soaked in legend and confirmed by the historical facts: the origin of the standard of the four Moors, symbol of Sardinia, is shrouded in mystery still today. Originally, the meaning of the flag of Sardinia was related to the war events of the Kingdom of Aragon, that ruled the Sardinia from 1324 AD to 1479 AD. The historical tradition has it that the four heads represent four victories achieved by the Kingdom of Aragon against the invading Moors: Zaragoza, Valencia, Murciaand the Balearics. Instead the legendgives another meaning to the flag of Sardinia: the standard is the celebration of the victory that king Pietro I of Aragonachieved at Alcoraz in 1096 AD, city defended by the Moors; the army of the Kingdom of Aragon won the victory only through the agency of Saint Georgewho, appeared in the battlefield as a white knight with a red cross on his chest, picked the heads of four great and brave Moors princes. Then, when it became possession of the dukes of the House of Savoyin 1718 AD, the Sardinia held the flag of the four Moors as its Symbol. Even though its origin is from Aragon, this flag has a very more ancient meaning for the Sardinian people, previous to the domination by the Kingdom of Aragon: indeed the standard represents the four Giudicati of Sardinia, four little and independent states that governed the Sardinia between IX and XV century and strenuously defended their island just against the continuous invasions of the Moors. The meaning of the flag of Sardinia is deep, symbolical, viscerally related to the historical events of the island. And a journey in Sardinia is an itinerary exploring this fascinating and ancient past. From Sardegna.com