Obertenghi
The Obertenghi were a prominent Frankish noble family of Italian nobility descended from Viscount Adalbert III, first Margrave of Milan. The dynasty is the progenitor of the widely powerful and prestigious House of Este, as well the House of Welf, parent house of the Hanover dynasty.[3] Other cadet lines includes the Malaspina and Pallavicini families.[4]
Obertenghi | |
---|---|
Marcher noble family | |
Parent family | Bonifaci |
Country | |
Earlier spellings | Obizzi |
Etymology | Descendant from Oberto I[1] |
Place of origin | Probably Pavia or Lombardy |
Founded | 940 |
Founder | Adalberto the Margrave[2] |
Current head | None; main branch extinct |
Final ruler | Albert Azzo II |
Titles | List
|
Dissolution | 1097 |
Cadet branches |
Early in 951, Berengar II of Italy finished the reorganisation of the Italian feudal structure begun by his predecessor Hugh. He named three new margraves to three new territories:
- Aleram, Count of Vercelli, he named margrave of Western Liguria (Vercelli, Monferrato, Ceva, Acqui Terme, Oneglia, Albenga; marca Aleramica);
- Arduin Glaber was elevated from count to margrave of Turin (Torino, Ivrea, Maritime Alps, Nice, Ventimiglia, Sanremo; the marca Arduinica);
- Obert I margrave of Milan and count of Luni, was given the new marca Obertenga, Milan and Eastern Liguria. Eastern Liguria at this time contained the counties of Genoa, Luni, Tortona, Bobbio, Parma and Piacenza, Modena and Reggio Emilia, Ferrara, Ascoli Piceno.
The Obertenghi margraviate was the source of the fiefs of the Este, Pallavicini, Vicini, Malaspina, Fieschi, Della Torre, Visconti of Gallura, Parodi, Pinelli, Lupi, Massa, Della Berardenga, Cavalcabò, Adalbertina, etc.
Family heads
- 940–951: Adalbert III, (Regent) Margrave of Milan[2] – Frankish noble, reputed son of Guy, Margrave of Tuscany.[5]
- 951–975: Otbert I, Margrave of Milan, Count of Genoa[1] – son of Adalbert; forefather of the dynasty, which name took from.
- 975–1002: Adalbert IV, Margrave of Milan, Count of Genoa – first-born son of Otbert I; grandfather of Adalbert II Pelavicino, founder of the Pallavicini family.[6]
- 1002–1014: Otbert II, Margrave of Milan, Count of Genoa – second-born son of Otbert I; deposed and imprisoned by Emperor Henry II due to his support for Arduin of Ivrea. Father of Obizzo I (third-born son), forefather of the Malaspina family.
- 1014–1024: Hugh, Margrave of Milan, Count of Genoa – first-born son of Odbert II. Appointed by Emperor Henry II, he fell out after his death. Died childless.[2]
- 1024–1029: Albert Azzo I, Margrave of Milan, Count of Genoa – second-born son of Odbert II. First marquis of Este in 1011.[7]
- 1029–1097: Albert Azzo II, Margrave of Milan, Count of Genoa – son of Albert Azzo. Last of the Obertenghi main branch.[8] Succeeded by:
- From his marriage with Kunigunde of Altdorf, Welf I, founder of the Younger House of Welf.[9]
- From his marriage with Gersende, Countess of Maine, Faulk I, still Margrave of Milan and founder of the House of Este.[10]
- Another son with Gersende, Hugh V, inherited the County of Maine, dying childless.[11]
References
- Provero, Luigi (2013). Treccani (ed.). Oberto I. Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani. LXXIX.
- Litta, Pompeo (1832). Este (d'). Famiglie celebri italiane.
- Currò Troiano, Carmelo; Caputo, Don Salvatore. International Commission and Association of Nobility (ed.). Memories of the House of Este in England (PDF). Retrieved June 5, 2019.
- Pivano, Silvio (1935). Treccani (ed.). Obertenghi. Enciclopedia Italiana.
- Chiappini, Luciano (1967). Dall'Oglio (ed.). Gli Estensi.
- Formentini, Ubaldo (1960). Treccani (ed.). Adalberto. Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani. I.
- Chiappini (1967), p. 18.
- Bertolini, Margherita Giuliana (1960). Treccani (ed.). Alberto Azzo. Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani. I.
- Monumenta Germanica Historica, Scriptores, tomus XIII, Genealogia Welforum, p. 764.
- Orderici Vitalis, Historia Ecclesiastica, tomus unicus, pars III, liber VIII, cap. XI, col. 589.
- Actus pontificum Cenomannis, cap. XXXII, Gesta Domini Arnaldi Episcopi, p. 377.
Further resources
- GLI OBERTENGHI (in Italian) is a page from sardimpex.com, which provides genealogical and historical information on the family.