Colonna family definition of Colonna family in the Free Online Encyclopedia.

Colonna (kōlôn`nä), noble Roman family that played a leading part in the history of Rome from the 12th to the 16th cent. They were hereditary enemies of the Orsini Orsini (ōrsē`nē), powerful Roman family that included three popes and numerous other churchmen, soldiers and statesmen.
..... Click the link for more information. and Caetani families, generally siding with the Ghibellines, or antipapal faction, against the Guelph alliance (see Guelphs and Ghibellines Guelphs and Ghibellines (gwĕlfs, gĭb`əlēnz, -lĭnz)
..... Click the link for more information. ).

Sciarra Colonna, d. 1329, a bitter enemy of Pope Boniface VIII Boniface VIII, 1235–1303, pope (1294–1303), an Italian (b. Anagni) named Benedetto Caetani; successor of St. Celestine V.

As a cardinal he was independent of the factions in the papal court, and he opposed the election of Celestine.
..... Click the link for more information. , was excommunicated, fled to the court of King Philip IV of France, and led, with Chancellor Nogaret, the French expedition that captured (1303) Boniface. As senator of Rome, Sciarra supported Holy Roman Emperor Louis IV Louis IV or Louis the Bavarian, 1287?–1347, Holy Roman emperor (1328–47) and German king (1314–47), duke of Upper Bavaria.
..... Click the link for more information. during his Italian expedition and bestowed the imperial crown on him in 1328, but he was forced into exile when Louis departed shortly afterward. Despite its antipapal attitude, the family produced in Pope Martin V Martin V, 1368–1431, pope (1417–31), a Roman named Oddone Colonna; successor of Gregory XII. He was created cardinal by Innocent VII, and in the schism (see Schism, Great ) he attended and supported the decisions of the Council of Pisa (see Pisa, Council
..... Click the link for more information. (Oddone Colonna) one of the most successful advocates of papal authority.

Fabrizio Colonna, d. 1520, was a general of the Holy League Holy League, in Italian history, alliance formed (1510–11) by Pope Julius II during the Italian Wars for the purpose of expelling Louis XII of France from Italy, thereby consolidating papal power.
..... Click the link for more information. against King Louis XII of France. His daughter was Vittoria Colonna Colonna, Vittoria, marchesa di Pescara
..... Click the link for more information. (see separate article).

Prospero Colonna, 1452–1523, Fabrizio's cousin, also fought the French in the Italian Wars and defeated them (1522) at La Bicocca.

Marcantonio Colonna, 1535–84, duke of Paliano, commanded the papal forces in the battle of Lepanto (1571) against the Turks. Many other members of the family distinguished themselves in the service of the Holy See and of Spain. Three lines of the family, all of princely rank, are still in existence. The Colonna Palace in Rome was begun by Martin V.

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Colonna
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