Belmonte
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Belmonte
The Belmonte Princes and Princesses
The Belmonte Princes and Princesses are heads of the family of a branch of the Pignatelli family.
The full family name, reflecting each of the key alliances through which the Belmonte title has descended would be Granito Pignatelli Aymerich Pinelli Ravaschieri Fieschi.
Granito
Pignatelli
Aymerich
Pinelli
Ravaschieri
Fieschi
This powerful dynasty from Campania, Puglia and Calabria (Italy) produced many celebrated members, among whom are His Holiness Pope Innocent XII (Antonio Pignatelli), St Joseph Pignatelli [1] SJ, HSH Prince Antonio Pignatelli 6th Prince Belmonte (maritali nomini) and Cardinal Gennaro Granito Pignatelli di Belmonte who was Dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals as well as Grand Prior of Rome of the Sovereign Military and Hospitaller Order of St John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta.
The current seat of the Belmonte princes is the Palazzo Belmonte, originally built by the family to entertain members of the Habsburg imperial family and the Bourbon kings of Spain.
Other historic seats of the family include the Palazzo Pignatelli in Rome and the Villa Pignatelli in Naples, as well as the Castles of Belmonte, Galatone and Copertino in southern Italy.
The family's senior title of 'Principe di Belmonte' (Prince Belmonte) was created in 1619 by HRH King Felipe III of Spain. In recognition of the family's growing power, the Belmonte princes were granted the additional rank, style and precedence of hereditary princes of the Holy Roman Empire (Vienna, September 9th, 1726). In addition to the family's right to show the papal keys and ombrellino above their arms as a papal family (Pignatelli), the Belmonte hereditary princes are entitled to place behind their arms: 'or, a double-headed eagle sable displayed armed crowned and maintaining an orb and sceptre or'.
The current Prince and Head of the House, His Excellency Don Angelo, is the 13th successor to the Belmonte princely titles, which have passed thrice through heiresses in the absence of male heirs, following the terms of the original grant by the Habsburg monarchy in Spain. Each of these three heraldic heiresses was the last of her direct line (shown in brackets the dates of each line's combination with a new house): Ravaschieri (1685), Pinelli (1779), and Pignatelli (1911).
The Belmonte princes and princesses have the right to the name, arms, rights and interests of each of these families, via their last heiresses. In consequence, the family's full achievement of arms (and name) would recognize each of these heraldic heiresses, together with their additions to the rank of the family. In practice, however, the family has usually simplified this achievement and shortened the normal usage of its full name. Along with their Belmonte princely title, family members are also Grandees of Spain (First Class) and may hold the junior courtesy titles of the Dukedom of Acerenza, the Marquessate of Castellabate, the Marquessate of Galatone, the County or Earldom of Copertino and numerous lesser titles.
Titles in the possession of, but junior to, the Head of the House (Prince or Princess Belmonte), are therefore used in the manner of courtesy titles for the first direct male heir to the succession (and eldest female heir on reaching her majority in the absence of direct male heirs). According to this practice, the heir to the current Prince Belmonte is accorded the courtesy title of the Duke or Duchess of Acerenza, with the next in line to succession known as the Marquess or Marchioness of Galatone, and the next in line, in turn, known as the Count or Countess of Copertino. The family also formerly held the Marquessate of San Vincenzo (Spain), to which they are rightful (but non-claiming) heirs.
