Duchy of Sora

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Map of the Duchy of Sora.

The Duchy of Sora was a

Isola di Sora
.

List of Dukes

della Rovere family

Boncompagni family

Cantelmi counts and dukes

The County of Sora had been constituted in 1399 as a

Alvito, was named the first duke of Sora by Alfonso I. His fief was intended as a buffer between the Neapolitan kingdom and the Papal States
. The Cantelmi struggled in the 15th century for a greater degree of autonomy, often taking advantage of the succession crises that threatened to tear apart the Kingdom of Naples until the early 16th century.

In 1450, during one of these wars,

Arce, was given to his nephew Leonardo della Rovere, who married a daughter of King Ferdinand I of Naples
.

Della Rovere dukedom

Between 1494 and 1501 Duke

Montecassino, bringing the Duchy to its greatest territorial extent. The following year he defended an attack from Prospero Colonna, but lost Esperia and Monte San Giovanni Campano until Pope Alexander VI
recognised him as duke.

After Giovanni's death, the title went to

Odet de Foix
.

Francesco Maria was succeeded by his son Giulio, and then by Francesco Maria II della Rovere.

Sora and the Ducal Palace in 1604.

Papal Sora

In 1579

Liri River. They also founded a new town, Colle Drago, but after Giacomo and his successor Gregorio I
, the financial difficulties of the family, caused by such expensive projects, prevented further efforts.

At the death of duke

Gaetano
, who relaunched a policy of social and economical improvements in the Liri Valley, as well as the embellishment of Colle Drago.

The last Duke was

Antonio II, who ceded his state to King Ferdinand IV of Naples
in 1796.

See also

  • History of Sora

Bibliography

  • Baffoni G & Boncompagni-Ludovisi P., Jacopo Boncompagni, tipografia Pisani M., Isola del Liri 1997.
  • Dell'Omo M., Montecassino. Un'abbazia nella storia., Arti grafiche Amilcare Pizzi, Cinisello Balsamo (MI) 1999.
  • Lauri A., I principi boncompagni Ludovisi nel ducato di Sora, in Roma XII n. 10, Tipografia Cappelli, Rocca San Casciano 1934.
  • Rosa A., Guglielmo De Croy Duca di Sora e le vicende storiche di Rocca Sorella, Pasquarelli ed., Sora 2006.