Montcada (noble family)

The coat of arms of the Montcada family is now that of the municipality of Montcada i Reixac

The house of Montcada ( Catalan casal de Montcada , Spanish casa de Moncada , Italian famiglia di Moncada , French maison de Moncade ) is a noble family of Catalan origin , which has been represented by descendants, especially in Italy , since the 11th century until today . The eponymous ancestral castle Montcada was near the present-day town of Montcada i Reixac .

history

Origins

Montcada

The first family at Montcada Castle can be traced back to the 11th century. It was close to the Count House of Barcelona , but died out in the male line in the first half of the 12th century. Guillem Ramon I. de Montcada (c. 1045-ca. 1120), the earliest recorded ancestor, was the Count's Seneschal .

Through the marriage of the last heiress Beatriu with Guillem Ramon II. "Dapífer" († 1173) Montcada passed into his possession, after which he named himself from then on and thus gave his descendants a name. Guillem Ramon II had taken over the title of Count Seneschal from his father of the same name, which had more of the character of an honorific title, which showed its owner in an exposed position in the reputation and favor of the Counts of Barcelona . In fact, Guillem Ramon II, also known as "el Gran Senecal", was an important historical figure of his time who made a decisive contribution to the unification of the Catalan county of Barcelona with the Kingdom of Aragon . He established the position of the House of Montcada as one of the first families in Catalonia.

Spanish lines

Aitona Castle

Among the sons of the great Seneschal, the Montcada family split into two main lines, of which the older one came into the possession of the Gascognischen vice-county Béarn by inheritance . It died out at the beginning of the 14th century.

The second line was established by the accumulation of a large number of estates, which were largely due to the marriage of Guillem Ramon III. de Montcada came into the family with a king's daughter, one of the largest baronies in Catalonia around the capital Aitona ( Comarca de Segrià ). The Aitona branch continued in direct line until the mid-18th century.

With Elisenda de Montcada (* 1290, † 1364), the fourth wife of King Jacob II , the Montcadas also provided a queen of Aragón.

Sicilian lines

Various other branches of the family split off from the Aitona branch, some of which gained a foothold in the Kingdom of Sicily .

Adernò and Paternò

Guglielmo Raimondo followed Peter III in 1282 . of Aragón during his conquest of Sicily. With the expulsion of the Anjou after the Sicilian Vespers of 1282, two power blocs formed in Sicily. The Latins , supported by King Louis of Naples , were led by the Palizzi and Chiaramonte families , while the Moncada, Lancia , Ventimiglia , Alagona and Peralta families supported the Catalan house of Aragon . These battles between the noble families led to the construction of numerous heavily fortified castles all over Sicily in the 14th century.

Coat of arms of Moncada, Princes of Paternò

In 1371 Matteo I became Count of Adernò, heir to the Sclafani family . In 1456 Guglielmo Raimondo V. Moncada, Count of Adernò, Centorbi and Sclafani (approx. 1415–1466), chamberlain and legal advisor to Alfonso V , acquired the rule of Paternò . His son Giovanni Tommaso (1450–1501) became Count of Augusta and Caltanissetta . Don Francesco Moncada (1518–1568) became Principe di Paternò in 1565; his wife Aloisia de Luna also brought him the Duchy of Bivona , which remained in the family until 1728. This branch provided numerous generals and statesmen. The princes of Paternò underlaid their coat of arms with that of the Duchy of Bavaria , since they claimed that Duke Tassilo III. to descend. The Principality of Paternò remained a separate administrative unit within the province of Catania of the Kingdom of Sicily until the abolition of feudal rights in the constitution of 1812. (The Princes of Paternò from the House of Moncada are not to be confused with the Sicilian dynasty Paternò , which is also flourishing to this day , the named itself after the same place in the High Middle Ages.)

The successive princes of Paternò were:

Francesco I. Moncada (1565-1568); ⚭ Caterina Pignatelli
- Cesare Moncada (1568-1571); ⚭ Aloisia de Luna
  - Francesco II Moncada (1571-1592), Duca di Bivona; ⚭ Maria d'Aragona e La Cerda, duchessa di Montalto
    - Antonio d'Aragona Moncada (1612-1627); ⚭ Giovanna de La Cerda, duchessa di Medina
      - Luigi Guglielmo I. Moncada (1627-1673); ⚭ I. Maria Afan de Ribera; ⚭ II. (1642) Caterina Moncada de Castro
        Ferdinando Moncada Aragona (1673-1713)
      - Ferdinando; ⚭ Gaetana Maria Branciforte
        Luigi Guglielmo II Moncada (1716-1747); ⚭ Giovanna Ventimiglia
        Francesco Rodrigo Moncada (1747-1764); ⚭ Giuseppina Ruffo di Scaletta
        Giovanni Luigi Moncada (1764-1812); ⚭ I. Agata Branciforti Valguarnera di Scordia; ⚭ II. Giovanna del Bosco (last ruling prince)
        
        Salvatore
        
        Francesco Roderico; ⚭ Giovanna Beccadelli
        Pietro; ⚭ Giuseppina Bajada
        Corrado; ⚭ Stefania Starrabba
        Pietro (1862-1920); ⚭ Caterina Valguarnera
        Ugo Gastone (1890-); ⚭ Giovanna Lanza Branciforte
        
        Pietro Moncada, 14th Principe di Paternò (* 1920)
        
        Francesco Rodrigo (born 1925); ⚭ Maria Concetta Verde
        
        Giovanni (* 1951)
        
        Ugo (* 1952)

Monforte et al

The younger branch became Princes of Monforte . As a result, descendants of the family are still present in Italy today (as Principi di Paternò and Principi di Monforte ).

Younger branches were the Moncada di Calvaruso (expired at the end of the 18th century), Moncada di Cammarata (until 1812), Moncada di Larderia (1684–1727 Prince of Larderia near Messina) and to this day the Moncada Paternò-Castello (as heir to a branch the Paternò current owner of Palazzo Biscari in Catania).

Trunk list (simplified)

First dynasty

Seniofred
1. Guillem († 1039/40), Lord of Vacarisses, Muntanyola and Montcada
  1. Ramon Guillem († around 1080), Lord of Vacarisses, Muntanyola and Montcada
    1. NN (son, † before 1085), lord of Montcada
    2. Berenguer († 1134), lord of Montcada; ⚭ with discretion
      1. Beatriu († around 1163), mistress of Montcada; ⚭ 1117 with Guillem Ramon II († 1173), Seneschal of Catalonia - for descendants see below: second dynasty
      2. Guillem, monk in Santa María de l'Estany
  2. Berenguer Guillem; Archdeacon of Barcelona and Koherr on Vacarisses and La Roca
  3. Renard Guillem, Lord of La Roca, executor of Count Raimund Berengars I of Barcelona
  4. Riambau
  5. Guillem
  6. Bernat Guillem, Archdeacon of Barcelona
2. Ramon, Archdeacon of Barcelona
3. Bernat Senofred; Executor of the will of Count Raimund Borrell I of Barcelona

Second dynasty

Guillem Ramon I († 1120), Seneschal of Catalonia
1. Guillem Ramon II. De Montcada († 1173), Seneschal of Catalonia; ⚭ with Beatriu de Montcada
  1. Wilhelm I († 1172), iure uxoris Vice Count of Béarn; with Maria von Béarn
    1. Gaston VI. († 1214), Vice Count of Béarn
    2. Wilhelm Raimund († 1224), Vice Count of Béarn
      1. Wilhelm II († 1229), Vice Count of Béarn
        
        Constanze; ⚭ with Diego López, Señor Soberano de Vizcaya
        
        Gaston VII (* 1225, † 1290), Vice Count of Béarn
        
        Constanze († 1310); 1. ⚭ 1260 with Infant Alfons of Aragón (* 1228; † 1260), 2. ⚭ 1269 (divorce 1270) with Henry of Almain (* 1235; † 1271), 3. ⚭ 1279 with Count Aymon II of Geneva († 1280)
        
        Margaret , Vice Countess of Béarn; ⚭ 1252 with Count Roger Bernard III. by Foix († 1303)
        
        Maths; ⚭ 1260 with Count Géraud VI. by Armagnac
        
        Guillelme († 1309); ⚭ 1291 with Infant Peter of Aragón († 1296)
  2. Ramon I. de Montcada († 1190/91), Seneschal of Catalonia, Senyor de Tortosa; ⚭ with Ramona de Tornamira
    1. Ramon II. De Montcada († 1229), Senyor de Tortosa; ⚭ with Galbors
      1. Guillem I. de Montcada († around 1278), Senyor de Tortosa, Baró de Fraga; ⚭ with Margarida de Narbona
        Ramon III de Montcada († 1286/90), Baró de Fraga; ⚭ with Teresa
        Guillem II. De Montcada (1328/29), Baró de Fraga; 1. ⚭ with Beatriu de Ventimiglia, 2. ⚭ with Teresa d'Ayerbe
        (II) Teresa de Montcada; ⚭ with Ot II. El Jove de Montcada († around 1334)
      2. Aurembiaix de Montcada, ⚭ with Count Ponç von Urgell († 1243)
    2. Guillem Ramon III. de Montcada († 1228); ⚭ 1212 with Constança d'Aragó († around 1250), Senyora d'Aitona, Seròs, Soses, Mequinensa i Albalat de Cina, natural daughter of King Peter II of Aragón - descendants see below: Lords of Aitona
  3. Berenguer de Montcada
2. Ot Ramon
3. Ferrana, ⚭ with Vice Count Udalard II of Besalu
4. Lambarda
Bernat Ramon
Arbert Ramon

Barons of Aitona

Guillem Ramon III. de Montcada († 1228); ⚭ 1212 with Constança d'Aragó († around 1250), Senyora d'Aitona, Seròs, Soses, Mequinensa i Albalat de Cina, natural daughter of King Peter II of Aragón - ancestors see above
1. Pere I. de Montcada († 1266/67), Senyor d'Aitona, Seròs, Soses i Mequinensa; ⚭ with Sibil • la d'Abarca
  1. Guillem Ramon de Montcada († around 1275), Senyor de Seròs Faió, Almatret i Mequinensa; ⚭ with Elisenda de Querait
    1. Berenguera de Montcada († 1340), Senyora de Seròs, Faió, Almatret i Mequinensa; 1. ⚭ with Guillem d'Entença; 2. ⚭ with Bernard Jourdain IV. De l'Ile-de-Jourdain
  2. Pere II. De Montcada († 1300), Senyor d'Aitona i Soses; ⚭ with Elisenda de Pinós
    1. Ot I. el Vell de Montcada († 1341), Senyor d'Aitona i Soses; ⚭ with Jofredina de Llòria
      1. Ot II. El Jove de Montcada († around 1334); ⚭ with Teresa de Montcada, Senyora de Fraga
        Guillem Ramon II. De Montcada († 1371), Senyor d'Aitona i Soses; ⚭ with Elvira Maça
        Ot III. de Montcada († 1413), Baró d'Aitona; ⚭ with Elfa de Luna
        
        Guillem Ramon III. de Montcada († 1455), Baró d'Aitona; 1. ⚭ with Constança d'Anglesola, 2. ⚭ with Margarida de Ribelles
        
        Llorenç Ramon de Montcada († 1465), Baró d'Aitona
        
        Orfresina de Montcada († 1483), Baronessa d'Aitona, ⚭ with Mateu Florimon de Montcada († 1485), Baró de Vilamarxant
        
        Joan Florimon de Montcada († 1461), Baró de Xiva i Castellnou; ⚭ with Marquesa de Vilaragut
        
        Pere III. de Montcada († 1510), Baró d'Aitona; ⚭ with Beatriu de Cardona
        
        Joan I. de Montcada († 1527), Baró d'Aitona
        
        Gastó I. de Montcada († 1532), Baró d'Aitona; ⚭ with Marièngela Beneta Tolsà
        Joan II. De Montcada († 1527), Baró d'Aitona; ⚭ with Anna de Cardona - descendants see below
        
        Guillem Ramon de Montcada († around 1539), Baró de Vilamarxant; ⚭ with Lluisa Bou
        Caterina de Montcada († around 1624), Baronessa de Vilamarxant; ⚭ with Gastó II. De Montcada († 1626), 2nd Marques d'Aitona
        
        Guillem Ramon de Montcada († 1521), Bishop of Vic, Mallorca and Tarragona
        
        Pere de Montcada († 1436/43), Baró de Vilamarxant; ⚭ with Joana de Vilaragut
        Mateu Florimon de Montcada († 1485), Baró de Vilamarxant, ⚭ with Orfresina de Montcada, Baronessa d'Aitona
        
        Ot de Montcada († 1473), Bishop of Tortosa
    2. Guillem Ramon de Montcada († around 1325); ⚭ with Luquina d'Alagó, Senyora de Malta i Gozzo - descendants in Italy
    3. Gastó de Montcada († 1334), Archdeacon of Barcelona, Bishop of Osona and Girona
    4. Tomb of Elisenda de Montcada (* 1292, † 1364), Queen of Aragón (in the monastery of Pedralbes )
      
      Elisenda de Montcada (* 1292, † 1364); ⚭ 1322 with King James II of Aragón (* 1267; † 1327)
  3. Constança de Montcada, ⚭ with Count Álvaro von Urgell († 1267)
  4. Sibil • la de Montcada, ⚭ with Count Ermengol X. von Urgell († 1314)
2. Ramon de Montcada, Senyor d'Albalat de Cina
3. Guillem de Montcada († 1282), Bishop of Lleida

Marquis of Aitona

Joan II. De Montcada († 1527), Baró d'Aitona; ⚭ with Anna de Cardona - ancestors see above
1. Francesc I. de Montcada († 1594), Comte d'Aitona, 1st Marques d'Aitona; ⚭ with Lucrécia de Gralla, Senyora de Subirats
  1. Gastó II. De Montcada († 1626), 2nd Marques d'Aitona; ⚭ with Caterina de Montcada († around 1624), Baronessa de Vilamarxant
    1. Francesc II. De Montcada († 1635), 3rd Marques d'Aitona (painting by Anthony van Dyck , 1632)
      
      Francesc II. De Montcada († 1635), 3rd Marques d'Aitona; ⚭ with Margarida d'Algó
      1. Guillem Ramon IV. De Montcada († 1670), 4th Marques d'Aitona; ⚭ with Ana de Silv-Portugal
        Miquel de Montcada († 1674), 5th Marques d'Aitona; ⚭ with Luisa Feliciana de Portocarrero-Meneses
        Guillem Ramon V. de Montcada († 1727), 6th Marques d'Aitona; ⚭ with Ana María de Benavides
        Maria Teresa de Montcada († 1756), Marquesa d'Aitona; ⚭ with Luís Antonio Fernández de Cordona-Figueroa de la Cerda, Marques de Cogolludo
      2. Maria Magdalena de Montcada, Abbess of Pedralbes
    2. Pere de Montcada († 1621), Bishop of Girona
  2. Lluís de Montcada († 1632)
  3. (illegitimate) Angela de Montcada († 1676), Abbess of Pedralbes
2. Joan de Montcada († 1622), Bishop of Barcelona, Archbishop of Tarragona

literature

Joaquim Miret y Sans: La casa de Montcada en el vizcondado de Béarn , In: Boletín de la Real Academia de Buenas Letras de Barcelona , Vol. 1 (1901), pp. 49-55, 130-142, 186-199, 230 -245, 280-303.
John C. Shideler: A Medieval Catalan Family: The Montcadas, 1000-1230 (1983).
Marta Monjo: Sarraïns sota el domini feudal. La Baronia d'Aitona al sail XV. Edicions de la Universitat de Lleida, 2004.

Notes and individual references

↑ At that time it was fashionable among the southern Italian nobility to take names or coats of arms of ruling houses from which one actually or supposedly descended; the Lanza di Brolo also added Bavarian diamonds , as they allegedly (but not proven) go back to an Ernst von Wittelsbach , a Gaetani line called itself Gaetani Dell'Aquila d'Aragona after Onorato Gaetani, Duke of Traetto († 1529), with Lucrezia of Aragon, a natural daughter of King Ferdinand I of Naples from the house of Aragon , and a branch of the Counts of Ventimiglia adopted the name Lascaris after they had married a daughter from the dethroned Byzantine imperial house of the Laskarids . Such genealogical clutter was not limited to the Italian nobility; This is how a branch of the Austrian noble family Graben von Stein was renamed Orsini-Rosenberg , because - without documentary evidence - a descent from the Roman prince Orsini was constructed.

Web links

Commons : Coats of arms of the House of Montcada - Collection of images, videos and audio files

[1] At that time it was fashionable among the southern Italian nobility to take names or coats of arms of ruling houses from which one actually or supposedly descended; the Lanza di Brolo also added Bavarian diamonds , as they allegedly (but not proven) go back to an Ernst von Wittelsbach , a Gaetani line called itself Gaetani Dell'Aquila d'Aragona after Onorato Gaetani, Duke of Traetto († 1529), with Lucrezia of Aragon, a natural daughter of King Ferdinand I of Naples from the house of Aragon , and a branch of the Counts of Ventimiglia adopted the name Lascaris after they had married a daughter from the dethroned Byzantine imperial house of the Laskarids . Such genealogical clutter was not limited to the Italian nobility; This is how a branch of the Austrian noble family Graben von Stein was renamed Orsini-Rosenberg , because - without documentary evidence - a descent from the Roman prince Orsini was constructed.