02/97
SOME QUESTIONS ON THE
VALIDITY OF NOBILIARY TITLES PROFERRED BY UMBERTO II OF SAVOY
AND A LIST OF 193 UMBERTINE TITLES
by
James J. Algrant
It was with a great deal of interest that I recently read Guy Sainty’s excellent paper on European Nobility which appears at http://www.ChivalricOrders.org/chivalric/royal.htm.
I would however take exception with one point he makes regarding the Savoy Monarchy. Guy starts on a very contestable premise when he states "The last King of Italy, Umberto II never abdicated and was accompanied into exile…….." In the view of some Italian jurists it is not at all clear that Umberto of Savoy was ever de jure King of Italy. Let me go back into history to explain.
The new Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed in 1861 with the transfer of the capital from Turin to Florence along with the Fundamental Law or Statute which was that of the Kingdom of Sardinia and which was known as the "Albertine" because it was conceived by King Carl Albert of Savoy in 1848.
For the first time in Italy this Law expressed the concept of the "sovereignty of the people"; a concept which was to be expanded, confirmed and strengthened much later through the efforts of Minister Giovanni Giolitti (1921)so as to implement universal suffrage. This concept illustrated quite clearly that "the king reigns and does not govern" but only assumes a purely representative role, the sovereign and governing roles being sustained by the people through their representatives and deputies elected to Parliament and through the ministries of the Parliament of which they are an emanation.
Thus "the king reigns but does not govern" and any acts of State are the responsibility of the Ministers and the Council of Ministers with the unanimous or majority approval of the Parliament. Further, for the slightest expression of the King’s will to be valid it must have the approval and be countersigned by the appropriate ministry (not the Minister of the Royal Household but the Minister of Foreign Affairs) and the President of the Council of Ministers.
It was because of this fundamental and statutory concept of the "sovereignty of the people" that the conquests and annexations of the new kingdom (Venice 1866,Rome 1870) were by popular referendum . The last example of this was the institutional referendum of June 1946 which sanctioned along with the republican victory the definite end of the not yet secular Kingdom of Italy. This is why for eighty two years the statutory, legal, noble and diplomatic formula referred to the King as "King of Italy by the Will of the Nation". A further requirement was the mandatory "Presentation of the new King and any successor to the Parliament" along with all oath-taking, rites and formalities covered by the Law, with which Umberto of Savoy did not comply.
In view of this it follows that the recognition, renovation, concession of nobiliary titles, Acts or State Decrees fall under the concept of "irresponsibility" of the King and require that all royal letters patent and Decrees of recognition or renovation of nobiliary titles of whatever order or rank must have the approval and counter signature of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the President of the Council of Ministers and must be registered at the designated department of the Audit Office.
It is on the basis of the foregoing that the question, ‘was Umberto of Savoy during his exile entitled to recognize, renew or concede nobiliary titles?’ is raised.
We have to go back to 8 September 1943 date of the armistice, when Allied troops, with the exception of Russia, occupied Sicily, a good part of Southern Italy and were getting ready to land in various other parts of the Boot. King Victor Emanuel III left Rome to seek refuge in Brindisi in Allied-controlled territory. Italy found itself truncated in two parts: from Rome north and with its German ally, in the so-called Social Republic and from Rome south under the Anglo-Americans in the "Allied Government" which accepted under well specified conditions to cooperate on a consultative basis with the National Liberation Committee .
In 1944 Stalin agreed to recognize the armistice under non-negotiable conditions and King Victor Emanuel III retired from the scene naming his son Umberto Lieutenant- general of the Kingdom.(NOT KING)
This nomination had neither the consent of Parliament because there was no parliament nor that of a government "by the Will of the Nation" because the government existed only by sufferance of the Allied Occupation Forces.
This abnormal situation continued until 9 May 1946, date which witnessed the effort of King Victor Emanuel III to save the Monarchy by abdicating in favor of his only son and heir Umberto of Savoy, in view of the popular referendum proposed by the National Liberation Council and approved by the Allies which was scheduled to be held on 2 June. But it was too late ! Umberto, bowing to the result of the referendum (12,717,923 in favor of the Republic and 10,719,284 against) and respecting the full dictates of the Law, on 12 June departed the Kingdom which, while not born by the Grace of God was, sooner or later to become a democratic republic.
Our jurist friend (Lucciano Moricca Caputo, Marchese della Petrella) says that it is laughable to try to invoke Salic Law to recognize in Umberto of Savoy the title and prerogative of King of Italy. He says that to invoke Salic Law today would be the same as a modern court invoking a Lombardian dictate or the Napoleonic Code. What is certain, he says, is that in 1946 the Statute of the Kingdom of Italy was in vigor as was the principle of the "irresponsibility of the monarch" which would, invalidate the abdication of King Victor Emanuel III; so was the recognition of the ninety year old principle of the "sovereignty of the Nation" even though, in actual practice it was effective only through the National Liberation Council which was not truly representative of the people since its existence was transitory and courtesy of the Allied Forces of occupation. In other words the national plebiscite amply demonstrated that the "will of the Nation" to keep the monarchy was totally absent. The composition of the National Assembly and the Parliament of the Republic, made it quite clear that the Nation was unwilling to accept Umberto of Savoy as King of Italy and opted for a Republican regime instead.
"The King is dead, Long live the King" may well apply to an absolute monarchy. Much less, however, can it apply to a constitutional one, and not at all to "an irresponsible" one, subject to the "Will of the Nation"!
While it is true that one is king in one’s own house, it is perhaps more true in the case of the head of a royal house in exile. That Umberto of Savoy might have wanted to bestow in the privacy of his own house a few courtesy titles to reward persons who had proven their loyalty over the years would neither be strange nor out of place, but that he should bestow these as emanating from the fullness of his royal powers and his fons honorum is somewhat problematical and incomprehensible from the historical and juridical points of view.
Had Umberto of Savoy in fact reigned by the "will of the Nation" between May and June of 1946 our interlocutor might have conceded the continuation of his royal prerogatives in exile, but the fact that Umberto did not reign invalidates them totally in his view. He ends by saying that Umberto created more titles in his exile than were created in the 80 years of life of the Kingdom of Italy.
We are perfectly aware of the position of some, and we, in fact, share it, that the fons honorum is transmitted to the head of the former ruling house whether he has reigned or not. Using that argument Umberto of Savoy would, in either case, be doing nothing more than using his royal prerogative. What is odd though , even in our view, is Umberto of Savoy granting some Italian gentlemen the authorization to use titles originally bestowed by the Republic of San Marino and to confirm the use of other foreign titles ! (See below) To use them where? Certainly not in republican Italy. Then where?
The following is a list of Umbertine titles bestowed from 1946 to 1977:
1. ALVERA, Luigi, Count. Concession 4-10-1977
2. AMELIO (d’) Carlo. Count, Concession 3-3-1960
3. AMORE (d’) Alfredo, Count of Gualdicciolo. Don. Concession of the Serene Republic of San Marino. Authorization to use 10-11-1976
4. ANDO’, Carlo. Baron. Concession 5-16-1969
5. ANDREA(d’) Ugo, Count. Concession 5-27-1972
6. ANGELIS (de) CHARET DE LA FREMOIRE, Carlo, Noble. Concession 7-14-1975.
7. ANNA (d’) Guido, Count, Concession 7-14-1975
8. ARMANNI, Enrico. Count. Concession
9. ARTIERI, Giovanni. Count. Concession 6-24-1966. The title is transmissible to the adopted son Riccardo BOCCIA ARTIERI.
10. AVALOS (d’) Francesco. Marchese of Pescara. Marchese del Vasto, Renewal 5-12-1971
11. BALLERINI, Ugo. Count. Concession 12-28-1967
12. BAULINA PALEOTTI LANZONI, Augusto. Marchese Renewal 10-31-1959
13. BERLIRI ZOPPI, Gaetano. Noble. Predicate di Zolasco. Concession 6-18-1951
14. BINI, Bino. Count. Concession 1977
15. BOETI, Antonio. Count. Consignore di Cavallerleone. Concession of the title of Count and renewal of the Consignoria 12-18-1968.
16. BOLASCO, Giuseppe. Noble. Concession 1-9-1969
17. BOLLA, Guglielmo. Count. Concession 3-12-1962
18. BONFIGLIO, Emanuele. Barone. Concession. 1-22-1966
19. BONIS (de) Antonio Maria. Baron. Concession 4-26-1974
20. BONORA, Francesco. Count. Concession 12-28-1962
21. BOTTA, Pier Carlo. Noble. 1-22-1966
22. BOZZONI, Aurelio. Count. Concession 12-14-1966
23. BRINATTI, Lorenzo.Conte.Concession 9-15-1961
24. BRIVIO SFORZA, Annibale. Marchese. Concession 5-27-1961
25. BRUNO, Delio. Noble. Concession 5-3-1961
26. BRUNO DI CLARAFOND, Franco. Count. Concession 2-20-1965
27. BUCCINO GRIMALDI, Luigi. Marchese. Renewal 5-21-1961
28. BUFALO (del) Edmondo. Count. Concession 6-7-1967
29. BUSIRI VICI, Andrea. Count. Concession 3-8-1972
30. CAFIERO DEAHO, Angelo. Noble. Concession 1-26-1970
31. CAMERA, Salvatore. Baron. Concession
32. CANSACCHI, Giorgio, Barone di Sant’Angelo di Castel nuovo. Concession 4-15-1963
33. CAPASSO, Enzo. Don. Recognition 10-29-1977
34. CAPASSO, Enzo. Count of Caprara. Renewal 10-29-1977
35. CARLI (de) Ferruccio. Noble, Concession
36. CASTELLANI, Aldo. Marchese. Concession 9-15-1961
37. CASTELLI, Leonardo. Count. Concession
38. CATALANO GONZAGA, Marcantonio. Duke of Majerà. Succession 9-15-1963
39. CAVAJONI, Vittorio, Baron. Concession 11-6-1976
40. CAVALLERI, Attilio. Noble. Concession 10-7-1961
41. CERAMELLI PAPIANI, Enrico, Count. Concession 3-15-1971
42. CIECHANOWIECKI, Andrea. Count. Concession 12-29- 1975
43. COBIANCHI, Luigi. Noble. Concession 5-27-1972
44. CODA, Mario. Concession of arms 5-27-1972
45. COLLI, Giovanni. Count. Concession 9-15-1961
46. COLONNA, Don Prospero. Prince of Avella. Renewal 12-12-1973
47. COLONNA, Don Carlo. Duke. Concession 11-4-1976
48. CONDORELLI, Luigi. Baron. Conmcession 10-16-1971
49. CONTINI BONACOSSI, Augusto.Marchese. Concession 5-12-1974
50. CORBI, Loris, Count. Concession 8-2-1972
51. CORDERO LANZA DI MONTEZEMOLO, Manfredi. Marchese. Concession 3-3-1975.
52. CORNIANI, Giovanni, Count. Concession
53. CORNO (del) Francesco. Count. Concession 7-14-1973
54. CORRADI DELL’ACQUA, Corrado, Count. Concession 3-15-1974
55. CORSI, Giuseppina. Barone di Torre Montanara. Renewal9-15-1963
56. CORTINA DI FAVRIA, Flamninio. Noble. Recognition 4-3-1973
57. COSSU, Sebastiano. Count.Concession 2-25-1974
58. COSSU, Sebastiano, Predicate di Saccargia. Concession 10-11-1976
59. COVA, Fedele. Baron. Concession 2-2-1972
60. DELCROIX, Carlo. Count. Concession 9-15-1961
61. DUGNANI, Renato. Count. Concession 7-18-1963
62. EHRENSTEIN ROUVROY, Pietro.Baron. Concession 5-2-1962
63. FANELLI, Fanello. Count. Concession 1957
64. FANI, Amedeo. Count. Concession 9-15-1963
65. FERNEX (de) Carlo Alberto. Noble. Recognition 12-28-1967
66. FERRI, Guido. Noble. Concession 9-15-1963
67. FINELLI, Lamberto Arturo, Baron. Concession, 5-14-1966
68. FOLCHI, Guglielmo. Count. Concession 3-8-1972
69. FORCADE (de) DE BIAIX, Maria Concetta née DE MATTEIS. Count. Concession 5-24-1969. Title transmissible to son Gaston
70. FRAGHY, Andrea. Count. Concession 5-15-1970
71. FRAGHY, Andrea di Giuseppe. On this date 2-25-1970 he is declared entitled to succeed to the countal title of his uncle Andrea 5-15-1970
72. FRAGHY, Antonio and Filippo. Noble of the Counts. Concession 2-25-1971
73. FRAJA (de) Giovanni. Marchese. Concession 6-24-1958
74. FRANCESCHI (de) Giulia. Baron. Renewal 10-14-1969
75. FRIOLI,Guido. Count of Rezzano. Concession 2-23-1977
76. FURITANO,Marcello. Baron. Concession 6-18-1963
77. GALIMBERTI, Carlo. Count.Noble. Concession 4-15-1963
78. GALLO ORSI, Gustavo, Gianfranco, and Alessandro-Maria, Noble. Concession 9-16-1959
79. GASPARI,Camillo. Count. Concession 10-29-1966
80. GAYRE OF GAYRE, Robert. Augmentation of Arms. Concession. 5-27-61
81. GENTILE, Panfilo. Baron. Concession 5-24-1970
82. GIOVANNINI GIBERTI, Pietro. Count of San Felice. Concession 1-26-1958
83. GIOVANNINI GIBERTI, Matteo. Count of San Felice Concession 10-9-65
84. GIURA (di) Giovanni. Marchese della Polla e di Battifarano. Concession 6-24-1978
85. GRAZIA (de), Marzio Filippo. Baron. Concession 6-16-1968
86. GRAZIANI BANDIERA, Vittoria. Baron. Concession with rights of succession to the title to the cousin and adopted son of the grantee Paolo VILLA GRAZIANI BANDIERA.
87. GRIMALDI, Andre. Baron di delia. Renewal 3-3-1960
88. GUERRI DALL’ORO, Aldo. Count. Concession
89. GUERRINI MARALDI, Guglielmo. Count. Concession
90. GUILLET, Giuseppe. Baron. Concession 10-15-1964
91. HALL MOORE, Caterina widow of Agostini GUERRINI MARALDI. Concession of the personal title of Count.
92. INTRONA, Ferruccio. Noble. Concession 7-14-1975
93. LALIA MORRA, Pietro. Noble. Concession 7-4-1977
94. LANZA Gabriella née TORNIELLI DI CRESTVOLANT. Count. Concession 10-7-1961 with right of succession for her son Aleramo LANZA.
95. LANNE (de la) MIRRLEES, Robin. Count and Patrician of San Marino. Concession of the Serene Republic of San Marino 6-12-64. Authorization for the use of said titles 6-10-1968
96. LARCHER DELLA SPALLIERA, Marco. Count. Concession 2-23-1966
97. LATTANZI, Bernardino. Count. Concession
98. LEMMERMANN, Basilio. Baron of the Imperial Russian Empire. Authorization for its use 1-22-1966.
99. LEQUIO DI ASSABA, Clemente. Count. Concession 4-14-1963
100. LESSONA, Alessandro. Count. Concession 6-9-1960
101. LISI, Alfredo. Count. Concession
102. LORD (de) RINALDI, Rinaldo. Count. Concession 6-18-1963
103. LUCA, Arrigo e Pitro. Count. Concession 1-11-1971
104. LUPIS, Filippo Neri. Baron. Concession 1-26-1970
105. MACCHI CACHETRANO DI BRICHERASIO, Giuseppe. Count. Concession
106. MALAVASI, Lodovico. Noble. Concession 11-4-1961 and 3-12-1962
107. MANFREDI, Goffredo. Count. Concession 9-15-1960
108. MANUEL GISMONDI, Marco. Baron. Concession
109. MARAINI, Carlo. Count. Concession 3-28-1960
110. MARIANO, Adalberto. Count. Concession 9-15-1962
111. MARINUCCI DE’ REGUARDATI, Fausto. Count. Concession 1-14-1974
112. MARTINEZ TAGLIAVIA, Nino. Baron. Concession 4-26-1976
113. MARTINI (de) Umberto Nicola. Count. Concession 1-10-1973
114. MARULLO, Carlo. Predicate di Condojanni. Renewal 2-20-1965
115. MARULLO, Vittorio. Count. Concession 10-16-1971
116. MARULLO, Vittorio. Baron of Casalnuovo. Renewal 4-27-1977
117. MARULLO, Vittorio, Prince of Casalnuovo. Concession 4-27-1977
118.MASSANGIOLI, Guido. Count. Concession 3-8-1972
119. MATTEI (de) Rodolfo. Baron. Concession
120 MELOTTI, Franco. Baron. Concession 12-18-1968
121. MERLINI, Dino. Count. Concession 11-4-1972
122. MIDANA, Arturo. Noble. Concession 1-25-1958
123. MOJANA (d) Pietro. Count. Concession 5-14-1966
124. MONZINO, Guido. Count. Concession
125. MORTARINO, Alberto. Count. Concession 4-8-1967
126. OCCI (degli) Cesare. Count. Concession 10-15-1967
127. ODDO, Francesco Paolo. Baron Concession 10-29-1966
128. OLIVIERI, Raimondo. Count. Concession 9-15-1961
129. OLIVIERI, Leonida Carlo. Count. Personal no right of succession. Concession 11-14-1972
130. ORSETTI, Stefano. Count. Conmcession
131. ORTOLANI, Gabriele. Prince of Torremuzza. Marchese of Affermo. Count of Galgliano. Renewal 4-14-1974
132. OTTAVIANO (d’) Simonetta née CHIRAMONTI. Count. Concession 1-9-1969
133. PALAZZINI FINETTI, Luigi and Giovanni. Noble. Concession 2-26-1965
134. PAPASOGLI PIZZOTTI, Girogio. Noble. Concession 1-26-1970
135. PASOLINI ZANELLI, Giuseppe. Count. Concession 5-27-1961
136. PELLIZARI, Camillo. Count. Concession 10-15-1964
137. PESTALOZZA, Alessandro. Count. Concession
138. PEZZANA, Adelaide née CAPRANICA DEL GRILLO. Marchese. Concession 5-12-1974
139. PEZZANA, Aldo. Marchese (maritali nomine) Concession 5-12-1974
140. PEZZANA, Alfredo. Baron. Concession 5-24-1969
141. PIECHE, Giuseppe. Baron. Concession 10-14-1969
142. PILO FLORES, Gavino. Count. Concession 7-4-1977
143. PIRONI, Luigi. Count. Concession. 3-4-1968
144. PISA, Marcello. Baron. Concession
145. PLACA (La) Gaetano. Noble. Conession 11-19-1967
146. POCCIANTI, Pasquale, Cesare, Ranieri e GianCarlo.Count. Concession 9-8-1966
147. POGGIO, Alfredo. Concession of arms 3-28-1960
148. POLETTI GALIMBERTI DESANDRI, Ubero. Count. Concession 10-30-1971
149. PORCARI LI DESTRI, Saverio Salvatore, Barone. Renewal8-10-1968
150. PRATO (da), Aldo. Count Concession 5-12-1974
151. RAVIZZA, Ugo. Count. Baron of HRE, Knight of HRE, Magnate of Hungary. Don. Recongition 2-10-1950
152. REISOLI MATTHIEU DI PIAN VILLAR, Enrico. Count. Concession 12-18-1968
153. REVERBERI, Aldo Alberto, Count. Concession 7-14-1975
154. REVERBERI, Aldo Alberto. Noble. Concession 7-14-1975
155. REZZORI (von) Maria Beatrice née MONTI DELLA CORTE. Baron. Succession by male primogeniture. Recognition 6-5-1967
156. REZZORI (von) Gregor Arnulf. Baron (maritali nomine) Concession 6-5-1968
157. RIDALCONE, Giuseppe Aldo. Noble 10-14-1969
158. RINALDI CERONI, Rinaldo. Count. Recognition
159. RIPANDELLI, Umberto. Count. Concession 11-4-1958 with succession in the event of extinction of descendance to Decio RIPANDELLI and successors.
160. RIZZOLI, Angelo. Count. Concession 4-6-1967
161. ROCCA (La) Vito. Baron. Concession 10-30-1971
162. ROCCETTI CAMPAGNOLI, Domenico. Noble. Concession 10-15-1963
163. ROSSETTI, Eugenio. Baron. Concession 10-20-1974
164. ROSSI, Amilcare. Count. Concession 4-26-1976
165. RUTELLI, Giovanni. Count of Villagrazia. Concession 7-1-1967
166 .SAMPAOLI, Guido. Noble. Concession 1-22-1966
167.SAMPAOLI, Antonio di Guido. Noble. Transmissible to the sons and descendents Concession 7-14-1973
168. SANCTIS (de) Ernesto. Baron. Title transmissible to the grandson Paolo and his descendents . Concession 7-1-1967
169. SCARPA, AngeloPaolo. Count. Concession 8-7-1968
170. SCIOLETTE, Maximo. Marchese. Concession 12-27-1972
171. SCOTTO, Ignazio. Baron. Concession 7-14-1975
172. SICHERLE, Camillo. Count. Concession
173. SIMONIS, Giuseppe Casimiro. Count of Callario,. 2-22-1968
174. SOGNO, Egardo. Count. Predicate del Vallino di Ponzone. Concession 1962
175. SOMOGYI DI PERLAC, Francesco. Count. Concession 10-29-1966
176. SOTTILE, Luigi Athos. Baron. Concession 10-14-1969
177. TEDESCHINI, Giovanni Battista. Marchese di Val d’Oracolo. Concession 9-16-1959
178. TERRAGNI, Vittorio Emmanuele. Noble. Concession 5-14-1966
179. TONELLI, Pietro. Barone. Concession 6-9-1960
180. TORELLI, Lelio. Marchese. Concession 3-3-1969. Transmissible to daughter Maria Elena FRE née TORELLI and her descendants.
181. TRABATTONI, Giuseppe. Concession of arms 10-14-1969
182. TRAVAGLIO, Umberto. Count of Bossolasco. Concession 5-24-1955
183. VALLE, Giuseppe. Count. Concession 5-14-1966
184. VASSAROTTI, Amalia née QUAQUARELLI. Count. Concession 10-15-1964
185. VERGA, Alberto Angelo. Noble. Concession
186. VIDAU, Luigi. Count. Renewal with transmissibility to the grandson Giovanni Antonio TRAVAGLINI
187. VIOLA, Ettore. Count di Ca’Tasson. Concession 5-16-1969. At the request of the petitioner the title is not transmissible and remains ad personam with the disposition of the grantee in date of 7-17-1977.
188.VITO (de) PISCICELLI, Giuseppe. Count. Conmcession 3-28-1959
189. VITO (de) PISCICELLI, Oderisio. Count. Concession 9-26-1967
190. VITTUCI RIGHINI, Giovanni. Noble. Concession 2-19-1975
191. VOLPE, Gioacchino. Count. Concession 2-16-1967
192. ZEGNA BARUFFA, Giorgio. Count. Concession
193. ZICHELLA, Marco. Baron. Concession 9-15-1966
Our Italian jurist points out that in addition to the 193 titles cited above an additional 11 were conceded during the period of the General-lieutenancy(?) i.e. 23 September 1944 to 8 May 1946 and 46 more conceded between that date and 2 June 1946 during the precarious period following the abdication of King Vittorio Emanuele III. Further, he says, there are many others in "circulation", which could "not be registered". Thus we have a total of more than 230 titles, which represents a veritable record never beaten in the past and which will be hard to beat in the future.
It will be interesting to see if H.R.H. Prince Vittorio Emanuele, Duke of Savoy, Prince of Naples follows in his august father’s footsteps. We know he has modernized the statutes and reorganized the Order of Sts. Maurice and Lazarus, which his father had decided to take with him and revive as a dynastic order from exile after the fall of the Italian monarchy in 1946. The validity of this move has been debated for over fifty years as the transformation of the order in question into one of merit had begun in 1868 under King Vittorio Emanuele II. At that time the category of justice was abandoned and admission was opened to the military, the civil service, to people who had made their mark in the sciences, the arts, and commerce and industry regardless of nobility or religiosity. The statutes of the order were modified on a number of occasions after the advent of Fascism. The last of these modifications dated 12 July 1939 stipulated that a candidate for a grade in the order, with the exception of the grade of Grand Cross, must hold the next higher grade in the Order of the Crown of Italy before his candidacy could be presented. In the case of a candidate for the Grand Cross, he must have held that same grade in the Order of the Crown of Italy for two years prior to his nomination. It became the senior state merit order of the Kingdom of Italy since the advent of Fascism in 1921.
James Algrant
pajim@ime.net
post tenebras spero lucem
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