Black nobility
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The black nobility or black aristocracy are Roman aristocratic families who sided with the Papacy under Pope Pius IX after the army of the Kingdom of Italy led by the House of Savoy entered Rome on 20
Pius IX funeral escorted by the noble guard
Colonna family
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The House of Colonna is a prominent Italian family, forming part of the papal nobility. It played a pivotal role in medieval and Renaissance Rome, supplying one pope, 23 cardinals and many other churc
Black nobility
…clergy and even Popes. Black Nobility families, in this instance families whose ancestors included Popes, still in existence include notably the Colonna, Massimo, Orsini, Ruspoli, Pallavicini, Theodoli, Sacchetti, Borghese, Odescalchi, and Boncompagni-Ludovisi. Major extinct papal families include the…
Palazzo Colonna in Rome (begun by Pope Martin V, to this day residence of the family)
Oddo Colonna (1368–1431), Pope Martin V (1417–1431)
Prospero Colonna (1452–1523), condottiero once held as the best general in Italy.