Embriaco family

Last updated
Embriaco
Parent family Spinola
Country Gibelletto, Crusader states
EtymologyGuglielmo Spinola (later called Guglielmo Embriaco)
Place of originFlag of Genoa.svg  Republic of Genoa
Founded XI century
Founder Guglielmo Embriaco
TitlesLord of Gibelletto
Heirlooms Sacro Catino
Estate(s) Embriaci Tower
Byblos Castle
Dissolution XV century
Guglielmo Embriaco portrayed on the main facade of the Palazzo San Giorgio, Genoa Genova-Palazzo San Giorgio-DSCF7708.JPG
Guglielmo Embriaco portrayed on the main façade of the Palazzo San Giorgio, Genoa
The Embriaci Tower in Genoa Genova-Torre Embriaci-DSCF7813.JPG
The Embriaci Tower in Genoa

The Embriaco family were a prominent Genoese family, who played an important role in the history of the Crusader states. It also gave consuls, admirals and ambassadors to the Republic of Genoa. [1]

Contents

The family ruled the city of Byblos (in present-day Lebanon), styling themselves "Lord (Signore) of Gib(e)let" or "Gibelletto", the name which the city was called at the time. Their rule lasted for almost 200 years, from 1100 to the late 13th century. [2]

History

They arrived in the Kingdom of Jerusalem as early as 1099, with Guglielmo Embriaco and his brother Primo di Castello. [3] They had Byblos, given to Ugo I Embriaco by Bertrand of Toulouse, from about 1110, thanks to Embriaco's military assistance in the creation of the Crusader states, on behalf of the Republic of Genoa.

Guglielmo Embriaco's son, Ugo I, was the first administrator of "Gibelletto" in the name of the Genoese republic, he then obtained the city as a hereditary fief, undertaking to pay an annual fee to Genoa and to the church of San Lorenzo. [1]

The family always protected the Genoese traders in the Levant, exempting them from all duties. [1] Their power in Byblos lasted, apart from occupation by Saladin 1187–1197, to the end to the thirteenth century, when they were defeated by Bohemond VII of Tripoli, and finally pushed out by Muslim advances.

The Embriacos were Lords of lands in Liguria and in Lunigiana. And had properties and a square in Genoa. The male line of the family died out in the middle of the 15th century. [1]

Embriaco family tree

Offspring of Guglielmo III

  • Guglielmo III Embriaco of Gibelletto
    • Ugo di Gibelletto (de) (d. c. 1220), Lord of Besmedin, married Agnes de Ham and had:
      • Raimondo di Gibelletto (de) (d. c. 1253), Lord of Besmedin, married firstly Marguerite de Scandelion and secondly Alix de Soudin, and had:
        • Giovanni I di Gibelletto, married Poitevine, daughter of a Marshal of Tripoli
        • Ugo di Gibelletto, died young
        • Enrico di Gibelletto (de) (d. 1310), Lord of Besmedin, married Marguerite de Morf, without issue
        • Bertrando di Gibelletto, died young
        • Eschiva di Gibelletto, married Raymundo Visconti
        • Agnese di Gibelletto
        • Susanna di Gibelletto, died young
        • Maria di Gibelletto, married Guy de Montolif
      • Gerardo de Ham di Gibelletto (d. 1225)
      • Guglielmo II di Gibelletto (d. c. 1243), married Anne de Montignac, and had:
        • Eudes di Gibelletto, died young
        • Girard di Gibelletto, died young
        • Giovanni III di Gibelletto, Lord of Saint-Foucy, married Gillette d'Angiller, and had:
          • Guglielmo III di Gibelletto, married in 1318 Marie de Verny, without issue
          • Maria di Gibelletto
          • Eschiva di Gibelletto (d. c. 1350), married Simon Petit (d. 1355/1338)
        • Stefania di Gibelletto, married Amaury le Bernier
        • Maria di Gibelletto, married Amaury le Flamenc
        • Eufemia di Gibelletto, died young
        • Agnese di Gibelletto, died young
      • Adamo di Gibelletto (de), Lord of Adelon
      • Agnese di Gibelletto, married Thierry de Termonde

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "EMBRIACI in "Enciclopedia Italiana"". www.treccani.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2020-12-13.
  2. Thiollet, Jean-Pierre (2005). Je m'appelle Byblos (in French). Paris: H & D. ISBN   9782914266048.
  3. "Genoa" (in Italian). Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-09-28.
  4. Steven Runciman. "A History of the Crusades". p. 407. Archived from the original on 2007-02-06. Retrieved 2007-02-06.
  5. Steven Runciman. "A History of the Crusades". p. 149. Archived from the original on 2007-02-06. Retrieved 2007-02-06.


34°07′12″N35°38′47″E / 34.1200°N 35.6464°E / 34.1200; 35.6464