Barbiano di Belgioioso

The Barbiano di Belgioioso (originally Da Barbiano) have been a noble family of northern Italy since the late Middle Ages.

Originally Romagnol, the family can be traced back to Alidosio, count of Cunio [it] and of Barbiano in the 14th century. His son, Alberico da Barbiano, was a prominent early condottiero whose nephew, Alberico II [it], received the Belgioioso Castle from Duke Filippo Maria Visconti of Milan in 1431. The family was always most famous for its soldiering, rarely rising high in political or ecclesiastical rank. Only in later centuries did some members adopt an interest in arts and letters.^[1]

In 1769 the most important branch of the family received the title of Prince of the Holy Roman Empire and the surname of Barbiano di Belgioioso-Este after the marriage with the heiress of a branch of the House of Este (Anna Ricciarda, daughter of Carlo Filiberto II d'Este).^[2]