Marquess of Galatone

The title of Marquess of Galatone is a subsidiary title of the Prince Belmonte, created for the Squarciafico family in the 16th Century and inherited by the Princes of Belmonte through a Pinelli-Ravaschieri marriage in the 17th Century.

The feudality was acquired in 1557 by Don Uberto Squarciafico of Genoa. On 29th June 1562, the title of Marquess of Galatone was conferred on Don Uberto's son Don Stefano by Philip II of Spain, son of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, who was husband to Mary I of England, (daughter of Henry VII and grand-daughter of the Catholic Monarchs (los Reyes Católicos), Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella of Castile). Don Stefano married Donna Vittoria Doria.

Don Uberto's younger son Don Giulio Cesare succeeded his brother Don Stefano as 2nd Marquess in 1567, and was placed under the guardianship of Don Uberto's sister Donna Livia and her husband Don Galeazzo Pinelli owing to his youth.

In 1588 Don Cosimo, son of Donna Livia and Don Galeazzo, succeeded to the lands, Castle and title as 3rd Marquess. He married Donna Nicoletta, daughter of Don Agapito Grillo, Patrician of Genoa and Guardian ('Custode') of the Galley of Admiral Don Andrea Doria. On 12th April 1593 Philip II of Spain conferred on Don Cosimo the title of Duke of Acerenza. Don Cosimo was responsible for the construction of the Church and Convent of San Francesco in Galatone in 1599-1600 at his own expense, dedicating it to the care of the Cappuchins and reserving the Chapel of the Immacolata as a family crypt.

Don Cosimo and Donna Nicoletta's only son, Don Galeazzo (II) Francesco succeeded his father in 1602 as 4th Marquess. Their daughter Donna Caterina also lived at Galatone, and is buried in the Chapel of the Immacolata, along with her cousin Donna Nicoletta, daughter of Don Galeazzo (I).

The inventory of the estate on the succession of Don Galeazzo (II) Francesco included:

'uno castello cum diversi membri; sala, camera, torre, cortiglio, stalle, cantine, giardene, et altri membri, con puzzo seu trozza, cisterne tre, sito dentro la terra di Galatone'.

Don Cosimo (II) succeeded as 5th Marquess of Galatone, and married Donna Anna Maria Ravaschieri Caracciolo, bringing her from the convent where she had been enclosed. Together they had nine children. Her tomb is in the Church of the Convent of San Francesco Cappuccini.

Don Gaetano Pinelli, their second son was selected as the heir to the title as 6th Marquess, since his elder brother Don Gaetano Antonio was considered 'fatuo' or a simpleton.

For the later Marquesses of Galatone, please see Prince Belmonte