“A tower of power.” That’s the legacy of the Della Torre family. The Torriano stands as a reminder of their influence. Let’s delve into the story of this Milanese noble family.
The Della Torre family also known as Torriani dominated Lombardy. This happened between the 12th and 14th centuries. They even held the Lordship of Milan. The Visconti family later expelled them.
The family’s origins trace back to the Milanese aristocracy. Tradition says they descend from the De La Tour di Borgogna. Two family members moved to Val Sassina around the year 1000. They married daughters of Count Tacius. The De La Tour were thought to be descendants of Anscario I. He was count of Oscheret and marquis of Ivrea. He was related to Charlemagne’s imperial family.
The Della Torre family got vast territories from the archdiocese of Milan. These territories reached Canton Ticino. The county of Valsassina was their main holding. The fortified village of Primaluna was at its center.
Martino “Il Gigante” Della Torre was a notable early member. He fought in the Holy Land during the Crusades. His son Jacopo married Berta Visconti. He became captain of Milan. Raimondo, his nephew, was bishop of Como and Patriarch of Aquileia. Salvino, another nephew, was podestà of Vercelli.
Pagano, Jacopo’s son, became capitano del popolo of Milan in 1240. He held this position until his death in 1247. His brother Martino III seized personal power over the city. This began the Torriani lordship. It lasted about 50 years. He died in 1259. Filippo, another brother, succeeded him.
The Torriani controlled Bergamo, Lodi, Novara and Vercelli. They were strong supporters of the Guelph faction in Italy.
Napoleone, Pagano’s son, gained power in Milan in 1265. The Visconti defeated him in 1277. He died imprisoned the following year. Francesco, his brother, was podestà of several cities. He died in the Battle of Desio in 1277 fighting the Visconti. This victory gave the Visconti power in Milan.
In 1302, the Visconti were ousted. Corrado Mosca returned to power. He ruled until 1307. His son Guido succeeded him. Guido tried to incite the people against Emperor Henry VII. He was forced to flee and died in 1312.
Florimondo della Torre tried unsuccessfully to regain power in Milan. His son Pagano became bishop of Padua. He was also Patriarch of Aquileia. Cassono della Torre was Archbishop of Milan. He later became patriarch of Aquileia. Paganino, Corrado’s youngest son, was podestà of Como. He was also a Senator of Rome. Lodovico della Torre was also Patriarch of Aquileia.
Eriprando, a descendant of Salvino della Torre, married Eurilla. She was the heiress of the Count of Valsassina. The Carinthian branch became Imperial counts. They acquired Bleiburg castle. They obtained the post of hereditary marshal in the County of Gorizia. Their nobility was recognized in the person of Valveno della Torre.
Girolamo Torriani was named Count of Valsassina. Francesco Torriani was counsellor of Emperor Ferdinand I. He was ambassador to Venice. Carlo Torriani was governor of Trieste.
Other families adopted the Della Torre name. They weren’t male descendants of the Milan family. These included the Thurn und Taxis family and Cardinal Carlo Rezzonico.
The Torriano reminds us of the Della Torre family. Their story is filled with power, conflict, and lasting influence. It shows a family’s rise and fall in medieval Italy.