Duke of Camerino

Dukedom of Camerino
Creation date1502
Created byPope Alexander VI and Cardinal council
PeerageVatican and Italy
First holderCesare Borgia
Present holderHouse of Borgia

Duke of Camerino[1] is a title of nobility, originally in Papal peerage. It was created on 1503 by Apostolic authority of Pope Alexander VI and cardinal council over the ancient Marquissate of Camerino, which was part of the Dukedom of Spoleto.

History

Camerino was a Welf Marquissate, under the Varano family, its rulers participated in all conflicts between Ghibellines and Welfs. Meanwhile, Cesare Borgia was in Rome making his final plans for his intervention in Tuscany, in Camerino the Lord of Faenza, Astorre Manfredi, was found floating in the Tiber, he had been strangled on the orders of Borgia.

On 5 June Pope Alexander VI, excommunicated Giulio Cesare Varano, ruler of Camerino, accusing him of giving help to the enemies of the Church. On 23 June Cesare Borgia left Rome with an army of 8000 troops. On 20 July Cesare Borgia carrying the Apostolic authority, took Camerino and Giulio Cesare Varano prisoner. On 25 July and after Alexander VI and cardinal council received notice of Camerino's capture, Cesare Borgia is invested by Apostolic authority and by cardinal council as Duke of Camerino,[2] being first time in history the denomination is used over the Camerino city and region of Camerino.[3]

Background

Cesare Borgia left the Duchy of Camerino to his brother Giovanni Borgia, who was later named Duke of Nepi and Duke of Pallestrina by Apostolic authority.[4] The Duchy of Camerino remained in the hands of Giovanni Borgia until his death when it passed to another branch of the Borgia family by reason of patrimony.

In 1503 The pope returned Camerino to Juan Maria. In 1521 Juan was deposed by his brother Segismund, and he was brought back to power once again in 1522. In 1534 Camerino was integrated to the Duchy of Spoleto but the ruler and Lady of Camerino was deposed by the pope in 1535.

Camerino was used as a political ploy by popes who used it in pursuit of political alliances until 1555. Camerino was joined to the Papal States until 1860, year which Camerino passed to new Kingdom of Italy.

The title of Duke of Camerino remained then in hands of Borgia family; nevertheless, it was used by the popes without permission of Giovanni Borgia and his descendants. Giovanni Borgia received rents of Camerino until his death, the dukedom right passed to a branch of the House of Borgia.

Dukes of Camerino

Rulers under Papal domine

Papal rulers

Kingdom of Italy

According to the laws of the Italian Republic, the titles of nobility of Italy ceased to exist with the fall of the monarchical regime.

Citations

  1. ^ a b Olivier, Manuel. D. Rodrigo de Borja (Alejandro VI). Sus hijos y descendientes, Second tree, Cervantine Library. http://www.cervantesvirtual.com
  2. ^ L. William, George, Papal Genealogy, The Families of Renaissance Popes. p. 217. McFarland and Company Inc, Publishers, Jefferson, North Carolina, and London. ISBN 0-7864-2071-5, 1998, 2004
  3. ^ Hollingsworth, Mary. The Borgias: History's Most Notorious Dynasty. Published by: Quercus Edition Ltda. London, 2011. ISBN 9781782069447
  4. ^ Lola Galán, José Catalán Deus. El papa Borgia: Un inédito Alejandro VI liberado al fin de la leyenda negra. Edited and published by: Aguilar, Random House Mondadory, 2012. ISBN 9788403011762
  5. ^ L. William, George, Papal Genealogy, The Families of Renaissance Popes. p. 217. McFarland and Company Inc, Publishers, Jefferson, North Carolina, and London. ISBN 0-7864-2071-5, 1998, 2004.
  6. ^ L. William, George, Papal Genealogy, The Families of Renaissance Popes. p. 61. McFarland and Company Inc, Publishers, Jefferson, North Carolina, and London. ISBN 0-7864-2071-5, 1998, 2004 (Borgia)

General sources

  • John W. Barker and Christopher Kleinhenz. "Camerino, Duchy of", Medieval Italy: An Encyclopedia, ed. Christopher Kleinhenz (London and New York: Routledge, 2004), p. 173.
  • John E. Law. "The Ending of the Duchy of Camerino", Italy and the European Powers: The Impact of War, 1500–1530, ed. Christine Shaw (Leiden and Boston: Brill, 2006), pp. 77–90.
  • John E. Law. "The Da Varano Lords of Camerino as Condottiere Princes", Mercenaries and Paid Men, ed. John France (Leiden and Boston: Brill, 2008), pp. 89–104.