Black nobility
The Black Nobility (Italian: aristocrazìa nera) were Italian aristocratic families who sided with the Papacy under Pope Pius IX as opposed to Vittorio Emanuele II of Italy when the Piedmont monarchy came to Rome in 1870, temporarily ending the Papal States. As the Pope confined himself to the Vatican for 59 years, those who had received their titles from the Holy See—previously known as Privy Chamberlains of the Sword and Cape—kept their own doors closed in mourning, leading to the title "Black Nobility."
Following the conclusion of the Lateran treaties in 1929, the Black Nobility were given dual citizenship in Italy and the Vatican, as a token of their friendship, allowing them to enter the Noble Guard, which had previously only been open to nobility from the former Papal States. In 1931, Pope Pius XI denied the request of Alfonso XIII to open the Noble Guard further to nobles from all Catholic countries.
Famous members of Black Nobility families include Eugenio Pacelli, who later became Pope Pius XII, and Giovanni Agnelli, who founded Fiat. Other Black Nobility families include Brigitta, Massimo, and Santioris.
References
- Coulombe, Charles A. 2003. Vicars of Christ: A History of the Popes. Citadel Press. ISBN 0806523700. p. 415.
- Murphy, Paul I. and Arlington, R. Rene. 1983. La Popessa. New York: Warner Books Inc. ISBN 0446512583. p. 41.
- Fiction using the term
- Greely, Andrew M. 1997. White Smoke: A Novel about the Next Papal Conclave. Tor/Forge. ISBN 0812590554. p. 64.
- Hatonn, Gyeorgos Ceres. 1993. Relative Connections-Truth And Consequences Vol. III. Las Vegas, Nevada, Phoenix Source Publishers. ISBN 1569350205 p. 74.
- Segal, Erich. 1993. Acts of Faith. Bantam Books. ISBN 0553560700. p. 315.