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Corsini is the name of a Florentine princely family.
Contents
From Poggibonsi to the 14th century
The Corsinis are an old, historical family of Florence.
They arrived in Florence towards the end of the 12th century. They came from the areas of Poggibonsi and from the “Pesa” valley, which are between Siena and Florence. The Corsini family gained considerable success in the 14th century as politicians, traders, and churchmen in what was at the time, the Republic of Florence. They gave to Florence twelve Priors and forty-seven Gonfalonieres of Justice, the highest appointments in Florence.
Matteo (1322–1402) built a considerable fortune at the Court of England, trading wools, silk and fish. He was a close friend to the great Italian poet, Petrarca. The banking crisis, which had been caused by the insolvency of Edward III following his wars in France, forced Matteo to relinquish his position in England. He then returned to Tuscany where he invested in land. In 1371, Matteo and the Corsinis were granted the title of Count Palatine by the Charles IV, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. Matteo’s cousin, Giovanni, became Seneschal of Armenia and Governor of Rodi. Another cousin, Filippo (1334–1421), was a law expert, an active diplomat, and was five times Gonfaloniere of Justice, in Florence.
Early contributions to the Church
Two Corsinis were bishops of Fiesole. They were Andrea (1349) and Neri (1374). Two others, Piero (1363) and Amerigo (1411), were bishops of Florence.
Of particular note is Andrea, who was Bishop of Fiesole from 1349 until his death in 1373. He was made a Saint in 1629 (Sant Andrea Corsini, or Saint Andrew Corsini) because of his life of penitence, meditation and dedication to helping the poor. His brother, Neri, was also a Bishop of Fiesole and is a Blessed Soul.
Piero (1363 - 1403) followed Pope Urban V into exile in Avignon as a Cardinal and Bishop of Florence, and supported the Pope’s return to Rome. Amerigo (1411) was the first arch-bishop of Florence.
The 15th and 17th centuries
At the end of the 15th century the political influence of the Corsini family decreased, mainly because of the seizure of power carried out by the Medici family. Though some of the Corsinis opposed the Medici, the family as a whole continued to flourish in business and politics under Medici rule, acquiring titles, lands, and offices.
Filippo (1538–1601) and Bartolomeo (1545–1613) consistently increased the wealth of the family thanks to their large and well organised web of commercial desks around Europe. It was connected with a very fast private postal service (a letter of Bartolomeo, who lived in London, would need less than 3 days to reach Florence). They developed a large banking and brokerage business. They were also responsible for the construction of Palazzo Corsini, Florence on the Lungarno which was built in what is now referred to as ‘Florentine Baroque’ style. The two Florentine Palazzos – one on the Lungarno and the other in Via del Prato – mark the intensifying relationship between the family and the art world in the course of the 17th century. The chapel in the Chiesa del Carmine, dedicated to Sant’Andrea Corsini, was built during the first half of the century. The Galleria Gentilizia, where many works of art were preserved, was developed in the Palazzo which dominates the Arno river. Their cousin, Cardinal Ottavio, hosted a musical drama in 1620 on his palace. Some professors argue that this is the first time a lyrical opera was staged.
During those years, the Corsinis were granted the feuds of Sismano, Casigliano and Civitella. In 1620, Paolo V (Pope Paul V) granted them the title of Marquis of Sismano, which was extended by Urbano VIII (Pope Urban VIII) to Casigliano and Civitella (1629), later Lajatico and Orciatico (1644) and finally Giovagallo and Tresana (1652).
The 18th and 19th centuries
The 18th and 19th centuries marked the height of the Corsini family.
Lorenzo was made Pope with the name of Clemente XII (Clement XII, 1730–1740). He founded the Museum Capitolini, and commissioned (among other things) the Fontana di Trevi (Trevi fountain), the façade of San Giovanni in Laterano in Rome and the majestic Corsini chapel dedicated to Saint Andrew Corsini on its left side. He also commissioned the façade of Santa Maria Maggiore, the Palazzo della Consulta, and the ports in Anzio, Ravenna (porto Corsini) and Ancona. He was the first one to ban the Freemasonry.
In 1736, Cardinal Neri Maria (Neri Maria Corsini), nephew of Pope Clement XII, commissioned the structure of the “Palazzo Corsini alla Lungara” in Rome. During the Napoleonic occupation of Rome, the palace hosted Joseph Bonaparte.
Bartolomeo (1683–1752) was commander in chief of the Roman Chivalry, and President of the Cabinet of King Charles III in Naples, Vice-King of Sicily. He was also the first Prince of Sismano and Duke of Casigliano, and was Sovereign Marquis of Tresana.
Neri (1771–1845) was a smart politician and was Secretary of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany both under Napoleon and under the Restoration. He was appointed as sole negotiator of the Habsburg-Lorena (at the time Grand Duke of Tuscany) at the historical Congress of Vienna.
Tommaso (1767–1856) was several times ambassador and senator of the Grand Duchy.
Andrea (1804–1868) was Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the Grand Duchy.
Tommaso (1835–1919) was MP of the Kingdom of Italy from 1865 to 1882, life senator and finally Mayor of Florence. He founded the “Fondiaria Assicurazioni”, was chairman of the Saving Bank of Florence and chairman of the Southern Italy Railways. With an act of generosity and far-sightedness, he gave the Palazzo della Lungara in Rome to the Italian State and donated his entire Roman collection of paintings, prints and books. The Accademia dei Lincei, which he founded, is still located on these premises.
Tommaso (VIII Prince of Sismano, 1903–1980) nephew of Tommaso, took part in Italy’s political life as a Constituent Assembly deputy for the constitution of the Italian Republic. As an expert in agriculture and farm animal breeding, he contributed to the modernization of these two sectors in Tuscany and Umbria. His wife, Donna Elena, managed to save the Galleria Corsini and many other treasures from bombings and from the passing of the front line during World War II.
Giovanni (1911–1988), Marquis of Lajatico and Count Palatine, escaped during WWII from an English prison in Ethiopia together with 4 comrades, eventually reaching freedom in Mozambique, after 3500 miles of escape.
Today
The family still exists today, with three main branches in London, Florence, Rome, Milan, Belgium, United States, Philippines and Brazil.
One branch of the Corsini family living in Italy, is involved in wine and olive oil production. The estate is managed today by Duccio Corsini. Villa Le Corti, the old family residence, can be toured today by visitors where they will have the opportunity to learn about the history and traditions of the Corsini family.
The IX Prince of Sismano is Filippo (1937) who married Giorgiana Avogadro di Collobiano.
Prince Filippo Corsini, 21, died on 31 October 2016 in cycle accident in London.