Noble Dynasty

  Caputo of Antioch Dynasty

THE DINASTY OF CORRADO (CAPUTO) OF ANTIOCH comes from two Dynasties; one from the Norman Sicily of Altavilla (Hautville and the other from the House of Hohenstaufen. Holy Roman Emperor was an elective office, however, dynastic politics made it effectively hereditary, first with the Hohenstaufen.

Corrado Caputo of Antioch

Prince of Antioch of the House of Hohenstaufen. Vicar General for the island of Sicily, grandson of Frederick II. Prince of Abruzzo (1267), Duke of Spoleto, Count of Alba, Celano (1258), Laureto and Abruzzo (1267), Count of Loreto (1285). Baron of Anticoli, Saracinesco, Rocca dei Surici, Rocca di Muzzi and Sambuci.

The Principality of Antioch included part of Turkey and Syria and was one of the states created during the First Crusader. The Principality was much smaller that Edessa and Jerusalem. It extended around the northeastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea, bordering on the County of Tripoli to the south, Edessa to the east, and the Byzantine Empire or the Kingdom of Armenia to the northwest, depending on the date. It probably had about 20,000 inhabitants in the 12^th century, most of whom were Armenians and Greek Orthodox Christians, with a few Muslim outside the city itself. Most of the crusaders who settle there were of Norman origin and/or from southern Italy, as were the first rulers of the principality who surrounded themselves with their own loyal subjects. There were few Roman Catholics apart from the Crusaders who set up the Principality, even though the city was turned into a Latin Patriarchate in 1100.

This noble original family of Conrad Caputo Prince of Antioch of the House of Hohenstaufen, General Vicar of the island of Sicily, and grandson of the Emperor Frederick II. The Hohenstaufen House was a great German dynastic family of the Württemberg, in the Jurisdiction of Swabia, called also, particularly in Italy, “House of Swabia” and, in Germany “House of Staufen”.

King of Sicily, King of Cyprus and Jerusalem, King of the Romans, King of Germany
and Emperor of the Romans

Armorial of the Holy Roman Empire

Frederick II (December 26, 1194 – December 13, 1250), was the son of the emperor Henry VI. and Constance, daughter of Roger I., king of Sicily, and therefore grandson of the emperor Frederick I. and a member of the Hohenstaufen Dynasty. Frederick II was a pretender to the title of King of the Romans from 1212 and unopposed holder of that monarchy from 1215.  As such, he was King of Germany, of Italy, and of Burgundy. He was also King of Sicily from his mother's inheritance. He was Holy Roman Emperor (Emperor of the Romans) from his papal coronation in 1220 until his death. His original title was King of Sicily, which he held as Frederick I from 1198 to his death. His other royal titles, accrued for a brief period of his life, were King of Cyprus and Jerusalem by virtue of marriage and his connection with the Sixth Crusade.

The popes wanted Frederick to lead a holy crusade against the Muslims in the Near East, to liberate Jerusalem and re-establish Christian rule on the eastern shores of the Mediterranean. For a time, Frederick adroitly avoided this papal imposition (he had difficulties enough with some of the Muslims in his own kingdom), but by 1227 he could no longer postpone this mission, arriving in Palestine in 1229. He obtained rule of the Holy Land not through military prowess and bloodshed but by skillful persuasion and delicate diplomacy. By a treaty made in February 1229 he secured possession of Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth and the surrounding neighbourhood. Entering Jerusalem, he crowned himself king of that city on the 18th of March 1229.  

Unlike most Holy Roman emperors, Frederick spent little of his life in Germany. After his coronation in 1220, he remained either in the Kingdom of Sicily or on Crusade until 1236, when he made his last journey to Germany. (At this time, the Kingdom of Sicily, with its capital at Palermo, extended onto the Italian mainland to include most his coronation in 1220, he remained either in the Kingdom of Sicily or on Crusade until 1236, when he made his last journey to Germany. (At this time, the Kingdom of Sicily, with its capital at Palermo, extended onto the Italian mainland to include most of southern Italy.) He returned to Italy in 1237 and stayed there for the remaining thirteen years of his life, represented in Germany by his son Conrad.

Frederick died peacefully, wearing the habit of a Cistercian monk, on December 13, 1250 in Castel Fiorentino near Lucera, in Puglia, after an attack of dysentery. His sarcophagus (made of red porphyry) lies in the Cathedral of Palermo beside those of his parents (Henry VI and Constance) as well as his grandfather, the Norman king Roger II of Sicily. A bust of Frederick sits in the Walhalla temple built by Ludwig I of Bavaria.

Prince of Antioch

The history of Antioch family begins with Frederick of Antioch natural son of the Emperor Frederick II of Swabia and therefore a descendant of Frederick I Barbarossa. Born in Palestine in 1228, to Maria Matilde (or Beatrice) of the House of the princes Bohemond III of Antioch of Altavilla (Hautville) and Constance, daughter of Philip I, King of France. The House of Antioch has origin Italo-German-French. Bohemond of Altavilla, son of Robert Guisgardo. Bohemond conquered Antioch in the first crusade on June 3, 1098, of which he was appointed prince.

Conrad (Corrado Caputo)  took for his last name of “Antiochia” (Summonte in the Story of Naples p.2 f. 237) because he obtained from the King, his father, Federico of Antioch d'Hauteville von Shwaben Hohenstaufen, the PRINCIPALITY OF ANTIOCH. Federico was King of Antioch, King of Tuscany, given to him by his father Frederick II Hohenstaufen, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire and the Kingdom of Jerusalem received with the marriage to Isabella di Brienne.  

Caputo last name derives from a nickname that was attributed to the original bearer. In this case, the Caputo last name derives from the Latin “Capo” from the Italian word “capo”, that means “head”. The people of the community gave this nickname to him, which the head of the family adopted for his last name. The use of the last names started during the Middle Ages for means of distinction between persons who carried the same personal name.

(The Italian surname of CAPUTO has the associated coat of arms recorded in Rietstaps Armorial General. Recorded in Naples, Italy)

The Caputo Lineage, ancient original Noble Family of Naples, enjoyed Nobility in the Seat of Porto, and also in the Seats of Nido, Montagna and Portanova. The Caputo family was enrolled also to the Seat of Noble “the First Public square” of Catanzaro, Cosenza and Tropea, to the seat of Port' Ercole, Imola, Narni, Foligno, Venosa, Eboli, Massalumbrese, Altamura and Venice. In XVI century was enrolled to the Seat of Venosa. Between the XVII and XVIII century in Saponara.  

The Caputo family branches were dispersed out in other parts of Italy, and were received several times for justice in the Order of the Knights of Malta and owned several estates, including the Marquess of Cerveto and Petrella from 1583, Emperor Charles VI, with diploma 1724, Caputo was invested with the title of Duke.

The Caputo had the Lordship of 15 feudal, (Bagnoli, Belvedere, Calopezzati, Carovigno, Castle of Peter, Cuma, Foccia, Gifuni, Mattafellone, Roccaromana, Sacco, Sanfelice, Sansosti, Santomango and Tito) Count of Montefortino and Capizzi, Marquis of Cerveto and Petrella, the Duchy of Turano and the Principality of Calopezzati.

Therefore Corrado (Conrad) was of German origin and has far for his last name, before been Caputo, it was Hohenstaufen, and he was prince of Antioch. From the same Corrado the family took also origin of the family Antiochia (Antioch). One, therefore, called himself from the coat of arms, other from the nobiliary title.  Many are the branches of families derived from the sons of Corrado Caputo of Antioch.

The Principality of Antioch enters on the emblem of the Emperor Frederick II as coat of arms at the time of his marriage to Isabella of Jerusalem (1225-1228). Frederick was crowned King of Jerusalem in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre as the only Holy Roman Emperor to be so honored. At that time; Frederick of Antioch was already born.

The arms of Antioch remains the emblem of Frederick II and, as the title of succession can be passed to his illegitimate son. Subsequently, the title de Antioch has been granted by his father to son. Particularly in July 1245, Frederick of Antioch had from his father received investiture of a knight, at the age of 16 years, becoming his official representative in the difficult context Tuscany and he was called to defend the interests of his family against the irreconcilable enemies to the Swabians.

In the city of Cremona in 1245, Emperor Frederick II created his son Frederick Prince of Antioch and with his own hand invested him with his sword (Origin and foundation of the Seat of Naples, p. 153, Camillo Tutini, Publicized in 1754 from R . Gessari).On the 16th of June, 1247, gave his son Frederick of Antioch the title of King of Antioch (History of Italian Republic)

In 1256 and always in Foggia, occupied by Cardinal Ottaviano of Ubaldini, Frederick of Antioch, which had not been able to resist in Tuscany, died falling in an ambush while Frederick of Antioch went to meet Manfred, that together had to rely on the rights of their kingdom, Manfred instead on his way found soldiers of the Pope and did not arrived on time to help his brother: so disappeared from history "one of the most seductive figures of Swabian (R. Davidsohn). Before Frederick was buried in the Cathedral of Saint Lucia di Mola, (here Peter III of Aragon of Sicily (brother in law), after the solemn funeral in the cathedral, temporarily buried the body of Federico waiting to be then transported to the cathedral in Palermo). Frederick of Antioch was the only son of the Emperor that rests next to his father in the Cathedral of Palermo, Italy. For the will of Conrad IV, the rulers of the Kingdom of Sicily were already princes of Antioch.

Frederick of Antioch died leaving as heir his first born son Corrado (known as Caputo) of Antioch, that was born between 1240 and 1241 and could have then fifteen or sixteen years old, the major feudal heritage, including domains in Abruzzo of Alba, and Celano Loreto Aprutino those located in the north of Monti Ruffi, on Aniente and the way Valeria. Also in its broad domain of, Anticoli, Saracinesco, the "Rocca di Surici", "Fortress of Muzzi" and Sambuci.

With the death of his father Frederick of Antioch, Corrado seems to have inherited the political tendencies in favor of his uncle Manfred, so soon to become one of the most avid supporters of the cause Swabia, then filling the vacuum that Frederick of Antioch had left in Ghibelline Italian movement. The image of Corrado offers us in the historical sources, is that of a man already powerful by birth, surrounded by many influential personages of which is linked by close bonds of kinship, belonging to the narrow circle of advisers who enjoy the confidence unconditional Manfred.

Galvano Lancia (future father in law of Corrado) had the principality of Salerno and was largely elected marshal of the Kingdom, Manfred Maletta had the great office of Camerlengo and the lordship of Monte Sant'Angelo, Corrado of Antioch instead, Manfred confirmed to him the county of Alba, Celano and Loreto Aprutino, adding the county of Abruzzo and the domination of certain lands in Calabria. Between 1258 and 1261, Corrado married Beatrice Lancia daughter of Galvano, while his sister Filippa became wife of Manfredi Maletta.

Corrado of Antioch had eight children: Federico, Bartholomew (archbishop of Palermo), Francesco (archbishop of Palermo), Costanza (married Bartolomeo della Scala), Imperatrice (married Federico della Scala), Corrado, Galvanus, Giovanna (married Congrante della Scala ). The first Frederick had a son named Conrad of Antioch Count of Capizzi.  This branch brings today the surname of Caputo.

After the dead of the Emperor Frederick II, grandfather of Conrad Caputo of Antioch, December 13, 1250, Pope Innocence IV  left marks to destroy the “Svevi” (Swabian): “Never leave  this man and his poisonous family  the scepter with which dominated the people of Christ!” and, other terrible sentence: “Extirpate name, body, seed of the heirs of the Babylonian”. Innocence died in 1254. Under his successor Urban IV and Clemente IV, more rigid and obstinate, brought the destruction to them.

Frederick of Antioch (father of Conrad Caputo of Antioch) King of Tuscany supported the brother King Manfred and his nephew Corrado (Conrad IV) in Puglia in the defense of the Reign. But after the dead of the Emperor, his father, incapable to stand as General Captain in Tuscany, he died in 1256, not even thirty years old, fighting in Foggia (Italy) that was occupied by the papal troops.

BATTLE OF TAGLIACOZZO

But Conradin and Corrado (Caputo) of Antioch's cousin, Constanza, had married Pietro (Pedro) III of Aragon, whose claims were supported by the Sicilians after their revolt against the French (the Sicilian Vespers of 1282). Pedro succeeded in invading Sicily, and this marked the first and longest split between the kingdom of Naples and the kingdom of Sicily (1282-1443). Heraldically speaking, Pietro, by quartering the eagle displayed sable on argent of the Hohenstaufen with the four pallets gules on or of Aragon, created the arms of Sicily. On the other side of the Faro, Charles of Anjou was ceded the rights to Jerusalem by Marie of Antioch in 1277, and his arms (France ancient a label gules) impaling Jerusalem became the arms of the kingdom of Naples.

The fall of Conradin of Swabia (grandson of Frederick II and cousins of Conrad of Antioch), in the battle of Tagliacozzo the 23 of August of 1268, marked the end of male legitimate succession: but it does not mean that all the offspring had been exterminated. From the sons of Fredrick of Antioch the offspring’ branches have arrived until our days and: from our Grandfather Conrad of Antioch (Born in 1241) develops the “Caputo Branch”. Conrad Caputo of Antioch escaped from the massacres ordered by Charles of Anjou because his mother, Margarita Poli and his wife Beatrice Lancia, had in their castle of Saracinesco, in hostage since 1267, some Nobles of Guelph part, the Lords Napoleone and Matteo Orsini, and had saved the life for interchanging with the powerful Cardinal Giovanni Gaetano Orsini (brother of the prisoners), future Pope Nicoló III 26 December 1277), then made them to swear fidelity to the Church. Conradin of Swabia was host in the Conrad Caputo’s Castle of Saracinesco (near Rome) the eve of the battle.

The Dynasty of the Hohenstaufen House continued its existence in the House of Frederick of Antioch, son of Frederick II, and Mary Matilda House of the princes of Antioch Bohemond of Altavilla (Hautville) and Constance, daughter of Philip I, King of France.

The Sicilian Vespers of 1282

The Sicilian Vespers is the name given to a rebellion in Sicily in 1282 against the rule of the Angevin king Charles I of Naples, who had taken control of the island with Papal support in 1266. It was the beginning of the eponymous War of the Sicilian Vespers.

The rising had its origin in the struggle between the Hohenstaufen-ruled Holy Roman Empire and the Papacy for control over Italy. When Hohenstaufen Manfred of Sicily was defeated in 1266, the Kingdom of Sicily was entrusted to his rival, Charles of Anjou, by Pope Urban IV.

Charles regarded his Sicilian territories as a springboard for his Mediterranean ambitions, which included the overthrow of the Byzantine emperor Michael VIII Palaeologus. His French officials (who governed Sicily badly) mistreated native Sicilians with rape, theft and murder.

On Easter Monday (30 March), 1282 at the Church of the Holy Spirit just outside Palermo, at evening prayer (vespers), a Frenchman harassed a Sicilian woman. Accounts differ as to what the harassment entailed, who the woman was, and who the Frenchman was.

This single event led to the massacre of four thousand Frenchmen over the course of the next six weeks. The king of Sicily at the time, Charles I, was an Angevin, and his French followers had a legacy of mistreating the native people of Sicily, especially while Charles was away on one of his many absences. Only a few officials notable for their good conduct were spared; and the city of Messina held out for Charles. But through the diplomatic errors of the vicar, Herbert of Orléans, Messina revolted on April 28. Herbert retreated to the castle of Mategriffon and the Crusader fleet stationed in the harbour was burned.

The Italian physician John of Procida acted on behalf of Peter of Aragon, the heir of Manfred in right of his wife. John had been a loyal servant of Manfred's and had fled to Aragon after Charles success at Tagliacozzo. John travelled to Sicily to stir up the discontents in favour of Peter and thence to Constantinople to procure the support of Michael VIII Palaeologus. Michael refused to aid the Aragonese king without papal approval and so John voyaged to Rome and there gained the consent of Pope Nicholas III, who feared the ascent of Charles in the Mezzogiorno. John of Procida then returned to Barcelona and the pope promptly died, to be replaced by Simon de Brie, a Frenchman and an ally of Charles.

Peter nevertheless pressed his advantage and by February 1283 had taken most of the Calabrian coastline. Charles, perhaps feeling desperate, sent letters to Peter demanding they resolve the conflict by personal combat. The invader accepted and Charles returned to France to arrange the duel. Both kings chose six knights to settle matters of places and dates. A duel was scheduled for 1 June at Bordeaux. A hundred knights would accompany each side and Edward I of England would adjudge the contest; the English king, heeding the pope, however, refused to take part. Peter left John of Procida in charge of Sicily and returned via his own kingdom to Bordeaux, which, evading a suspected French ambush, he entered in disguise. Needless to say, no combat ever took place and Peter returned to a very troubled Spain.

While Peter was back in France and Spain, his admiral, Roger of Lauria, was wreaking havoc in Italy. He routed Charles' fleets on the high seas several times and conquered Malta for Aragon.

Peter was the direct descendant and the heir-general of the Mafalda, daughter of Robert Guiscard, Duke of Apulia, the Norman conqueror, and his official wife Sigelgaita, daughter of a Lombard prince, Guaimar IV of Salerno. Thus, he stood at the end of the Hauteville succession to Sicily. After the ducal family of Apulia became extinct with William II in 1127, Mafalda's heirs (then counts of Barcelona) apparently became de jure heirs of Guiscard and Sigelgaita: thus Peter was dormantly a claimant to the Norman succession of southern Italy. More directly, he was the heir of Manfred in right of his wife. The Two Sicilies were to be a tenaciously-pursued inheritance for the Aragonese royal house and its heirs for the next five centuries.