The Prince of Leonforte (Italian: Principe di Leonforte) is a noble title in Italy held by the House of Borghese, and previously by the families Branciforte and Lanza. The title derives its name from Leonforte, a town in Sicily. Indeed, the town gained its name from the coat of arms of the Branciforte, depicting a strong lion (Italian: Leone Forte). It was originally created in 1614, during Philip III of Spain's reign as King of Naples for Nicolò Placido Branciforte. The title remained in the family until 1812, when Stefania Branciforte married Giuseppe Lanza Prince of Trabia. The family was thereafter known as Lanza Branciforte. The title was recognized by the Kingdom of Italy after the unification of Italy. In 1927, Sofia Lanza Branciforte, who was married to Don Giangiacomo Borghese, later Governor of Rome, was granted the title by Ministerial Decree. The title was thereafter used by her descendants, who are members of the House of Borghese.

House of Branciforte, 1614–1812[1]

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Prince Image Death
Nicolò Placido
1st Prince of Leonforte

1614–1661
  1661
Giuseppe
2nd Prince of Leonforte

1661–1698
  1698
Nicolò Placido
3rd Prince of Leonforte

1698–1728
  1728
Ercole
4th Prince of Leonforte

1728–1780
  1780
Giuseppe
5th Prince of Leonforte

1780–1806
  1806
Nicolò Placido
6th Prince of Leonforte

1806–1807
  1807
Emanuele
7th Prince of Leonforte

1807–1808
  1808
Giuseppe
8th Prince of Leonforte

1808–1812
  1812

House of Lanza Branciforte, 1812–1927[2]

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Prince Image Birth Marriages Death
Giuseppe
9th Prince of Leonforte

1812–1855
  31 October 1780
Palermo, Kingdom of Naples
son of Don Pietro, 7th Prince of Trabia and Anna Branciforte
Stefania Branciforte
1805
2 children
2 February 1855
Palermo, Kingdom of Naples
aged 75
Pietro
10th Prince of Leonforte

1855–1855
  4 August 1813
Palermo, Kingdom of Naples
son of Giuseppe, 9th Prince of Leonforte, 8th Prince of Trabia and Stefania Branciforte
Sofia Galeotti
29 June 1832
5 children
27 June 1855
Paris, France
aged 42
Giuseppe
11th Prince of Leonforte

1855–1868
  20 June 1833
Palermo, Kingdom of Naples
son of Pietro, 10th Prince of Leonforte, 9th Prince of Trabia and Sofia Galeotti
Eleonora Spinelli
29 June 1832
3children
27 April 1855
Munich, Kingdom of Bavaria
aged 35
Pietro
12th Prince of Leonforte

1868–1927
  18 August 1862
Florence, Kingdom of Italy
son of Giuseppe, 11th Prince of Leonforte, 10th Prince of Trabia and Eleonora Spinelli
Giulia Florio
6 December 1885
5 children
16 October 1929
Palermo, Kingdom of Italy
aged 96
Prince Image Birth Marriages Death
Sofia
13th Princess of Leonforte

1927–1984
  3 March 1896
Palermo, Kingdom of Italy
daughter of Pietro, 12th Prince of Leonforte, 11th Prince of Trabia and Giulia Florio
Don Giangiacomo Borghese,
Governor of Rome
7 January 1922
8 children
20 December 1984
Rome, Italy
aged 88
Alessandro Romano
14th Prince of Leonforte

1984–1994
  9 February 1924
Palermo, Kingdom of Italy
son of Don Giangiacomo and Sofia, 13th Princess of Leonforte
Fabrizia Citterio
7 July 1962
4 children
2 July 1994
Rome, Italy
aged 70
Fabio
15th Prince of Leonforte

1994–
  7 June 1965
Rome, Italy
son of Alessandro Romano 14th Prince of Leonforte and Fabrizia Citterio
Giacaranda Caracciolo di Melito Falck
22 June 1996
3 children

References

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  1. ^ "Home". mauriziodifazio.altervista.org.
  2. ^ "LANZA DI TRABIA".
  3. ^ "BORGHESE – 3".