Thorbjorn Paternò Castello

Family history

The Libro d'Oro lists the Paternò family as an historical family for more than a thousand years which traces its origins to Prince Robert of Embrun and to the Sovereign House of Barcelona and Provence which arrived in Sicily in 1060 as part of the entourage of King Roger, seizing the Castle and Lordship of Paternò therefrom it assumed its name. In 1161 Costantino Paternò Count of Butera married Matilde Avenela the daughter of the Count of Avellino and a niece of King Roger I of Hauteville. It is impossible to list all the members of the Family of Paternò who have risen to eminence over the centuries. They have achieved honours and titles as well as the highest ranks of ancient chivalry, such as the Military Belt and the Golden Spur, and the Paternò have been Viceroys, Vicars General of the Kingdom of Sicily, Presidents of the Kingdom, Cardinals, Ambassadors to Popes and Kings, brave knights, generous patrons of the arts, famous politicians. Already Counts of Butera and of Martana in the 12th Century, the Family of Paternò has established close ties of blood with the Norman, Swabian and Savoyard Royal Houses. Knights of the Order of Malta since the beginning of the 15th Century, they are recorded by Mugnos as one of those families of royal descent. The Paternò have been Peers of Sicily since their origin and so assumed control over the governorship of the city of Catania and over its House of Nobility as to be able to exclude anyone who did not meet with their approval. Over the course of the centuries the Family held more than 170 main fiefs and since the beginning of the 18th Century possessed five hereditary seats in the Sicilian Parliament. The abolition of feudalism meant the loss of these inherent rights but the Family has continued to be renowned in intellectual, diplomatic and political fields.

Lineage

Prince Mario d. 1906 and was succeeded by his son Enrico:

Prince Enrico was succeeded by his sister.

Prince Roberto m. (2) Bianca Monteforte (1948–1990) .

Historical Criticism

The Fount of honour (Latin: fons honorum) of the family is heavily challenged by Guy Stair Sainty stating that as a junior member of a junior branch of the family don Roberto has no right to claim any prerogative pertaining to its chief, whether or not such prerogative actually exists and that he is head of self-styled orders of chivalry. In 1973 Lt Col Robert Gayre published a book in which the states that "certain observations should be made which, in our opinion, destroy completely these historical claims. The Papal legitimation which is brought forward to allow the desired descent was, in itself, insufficient to transfer any title to the Crown of Aragon. Furthermoree, as Aragon did not have the Salic law, the descent of crown could pass through a female line. Consequently, even if the legitimation had put Don Pedro Sancho into the line of succession, that succession would have gone through a female line on the extinction of the male descent - and so to the house of Paternò would have been out of succession in any case.". (...) It is clear that no matter how distinguished is the house Paternò, it cannot claim to be the heirs of the Kingdom of the Balearic Isles or of Aragon.". In a recent PhD study of Dr. Hans Hoegen Dijkhof of the University of Amsterdam, Guy Stair Sainty is cited, saying that "Sometime styled Prince of Emmanuel, he also lays claim to the thrones of Aragon and the Balearic Islands, without any support, as far as is known, from the citizens of Spain whom he claims for his potential subjects. This gentleman is actually a great-nephew of the late Lieutenant of the Grand Magistery of the Sovereign Military Order, Frà Ernesto Paternò Castello, who emphatically denounced his unfortunate relative. Hoegen Dijfhof opposes these statements. The Order of Saint Agatha of Paterno is listed by Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs as illegitimate order and sanctions (fines and jail) are prescribed for those who confer them or those who use them, even if conferred abroad.

Literature