Borromeo

Until the end of the XIV century, the Borromeo family bore the name "Vitaliani" and had its origin from Padua . The family derives its origin (although there is no historical evidence for this) from the Christian martyr Justina of Padua , who, according to legend, was killed during the persecution of the emperor Diocletian against Christians in 303. In 1406, Vitaliano Vitaliani was adopted by his maternal uncle Giovanni Borromeo, who had no children. The prerequisite for adoption was that the adopted adopted the name "Borromeo". Thus, he became the founder of the famous Milanese family, going down in history as Vitaliano I.

Giovanni Borromeo was a wealthy Milanese who was engaged in trade and banking. The head office of the bank was in Venice , and its branches were in Milan , Rome , Bruges and London .

Vitaliano continued his uncle's business, opening in 1416 two new branches of the bank - in Burgos and in Barcelona . In 1418, he received Milanese citizenship and became treasurer of the Duchy of Milan .

In 1432, Vitaliano Borromeo built a palace outside the city (the current Castle of Borromeo in Peschiera Borromeo ). In the years 1439-1440, Filippo Maria Visconti gave Vitaliano various lands, including Arona on Lake Lago Maggiore , and in 1445, thanks to this possession, Vitaliano Borromeo became a count. Being a favorite of the Duke Filippo Maria Visconti, Vitaliano received various lands in the Lago Maggiore region. Later, he gained favor with Francesco Sforza , who, among other things, gave him Andger in 1449 .

After Vitaliano I, there were other great people in the Borromeo family.

1. Giovanni I the Just (d. 1495) defeated the Swiss at the Battle of Crevole . His sons:
   1. Lancillotto Borromeo (d. 1513), who was a senator under Louis XII
   2. Ludovico I (d. 1527), who in the castle he built Castello della Vitaliana withstood the attack of Sforza . His son:
      1. Camillo I Borromeo (d. 1549) was the governor of the province of Como , and then - the province of Pavia . His son:
         1. Giovanni Batista I Borromeo was the lord of Cannobio and married Julia Sanseverino.
   3. Gilberto I, who was also a dignitary of the French king. His son:
      1. Federico I Borromeo married Veronica Visconti . His children:
         1. Gilberto II Borromeo (d. 1558) was the governor of Lago Maggiore. His second wife was Margarita Medici di Marignano , who was the sister of Pope Pius IV and condottier Gianjacomo Medici di Marignano , known by the nickname "Little Doctor." His sons:
            1. Gilberto II were St. Carlo Borromeo
            2. Federico II Borromeo (d. 1562), who married Virginia della Rover, Duchess of Urbino.
         2. Giulio Cesare I (d. 1572), who married Margarita Trivulzio. His sons:
         3. Renato I Borromeo (d. 1608). His sons:
            1. Giulio Cesare II Borromeo (d. 1638), warrior. His son:
               1. Cardinal Federico V Borromeo (d.1673).
            2. Carlo III Borromeo (d.1652), married Isabella d'Adda , who was the first to begin the transformation of Isola Bella on Lake Lago Maggiore . His sons:
               1. Cardinal Gilberto Borromeo (Gilberto II Borromeo, d.1672)
               2. Renato II Borromeo (d.1685), who was married to Julia Arese. Among the children of Renato II and Julia Arese were:
                  1. Carlo IV Borromeo (or Borromeo Arese, d. 1734), who was vice-king of Naples, and was twice married to relatives of the pope : for the first time - to Giovanna from the Odescalca family, niece Benedetto Odescalca, who later became Pope Innocent XI ; the second time, on Camille of the Barberini clan, the granddaughter of Pope Urban VII . His sons:
                     1. Giovanni Benedetto Borromeo (d. 1744). His sons:
                        1. Renato III (d. 1788), married Marianne Odescalchi . His son:
                           1. Gilberto V (d. 1837). His sons:
                              1. Cardinal Renato V
                              2. the writer Vitaliano VIII (d. 1874), married to Maria d'Adda , who was known for his patriotic activities; he also made further improvements to the Palace of Borromeo on Isola Bella . His sons:
                                 1. Edoardo Borromeo
                                 2. Gilberto VI Borromeo (d. 1844)
                                 3. senator of the Italian kingdom of Guido Borromeo (1818-1890)
                                 4. Emilio Borromeo
                        2. Francesco IV (d. 1775)
                     2. Federico VI (d. 1779)
                  2. Gilberto IV Borromeo (d. 1740), Cardinal and Count Bishop of Novara.
               3. Vitaliano VI Borromeo (d. 1690), who created the project of a large transformation of the island of Isola Bella .
         4. Cardinal Federico Borromeo (Federico III), who was immortalized by Manzoni , and who determined the fate of Milan in both political and cultural life. Federico supported the cause of his cousin Carlo .

• Palace of Borromeo on the island of Isola Bella
• Arese-Borromeo Palace in Cesano Maderno
• Villa Visconte Borromeo Arese in Lainate
• Villa St. Carlo Borromeo in Senago
• Gabrielli Borromeo Palace in Rome , rebuilt by Cardinal Vitaliano Borromeo (1720-1793)
• Villa Borromeo in San Casciano in Val di Pesa on Via Borromeo, 110
• Borromeo Castle in Origgio
• Borromeo Castle in Corneliano Bertario
• Borromeo Castle in Angers
• Borromeo Castle in Peschiera Borromeo
• Borromeo Castle in Camairago
• Borromeo Castle in Cassano d'Adda
• Borromean Islands

• Monument to St. Carlo Borromeo in Aron .

The coat of arms of the Borromeo family is quite complex, there are many symbols on it.

The most famous motto is "Humilitas", emphasizing the piety and religiosity of the family, from which came out St. Carlo Borromeo and Cardinal Federico Borromeo . This motto demonstrates family commitment to the ideas of the Counter-Reformation and loyalty to the popes . The motto is written in vertical Gothic letters, which symbolizes virtue and modesty before God.

Another repeating symbol is a lying camel, on the back of which an ancient crown is placed. This is one of the oldest symbols of the family, introduced by Vitaliano I in memory of his maternal uncle Giovanni Borromeo. This symbol means patience and devotion.

The unicorn is associated with the political power of the family: it is a symbol of the great influence of Vitaliano I, which was recognized by Filippo Maria Visconti . In fact, this unicorn often turned against the snake (the heraldic symbol of the Visconti family).

Horse harness elements symbolize that soft power can stop brutal violence. These symbols are commemorated by the military force demonstrated by Giovanni Borromeo, who in 1487 stopped the Swiss at the Battle of Crevola .

Cedar symbolizes the beauty and diversity of plants flowering in the possession of Borromeo.

• Rings of Borromeo

• Official site of the Borromeo family
• V. Greugoldo “The family has a saint”