Page "Orsini family" Paragraph 21

The line of Gravina, from the name of the eponymous city in Apulia, is the only existing line of the Orsini.

It descends from Francesco ( died 1456 ), a son of Count Carlo of Bracciano.

Most of his fief were located in northern Lazio, but he entered in the Neapolitan orbit when in 1418 he was called by Sergianni Caracciolo to fight against the Angevine troops, which he defeated.

By marriage, he obtained the title of count of Gravina.

He was made Duke of Gravina by King Alfonso, title definitely assigned to his son Giacomo ( died 1472 ), to which had been added the counties of Conversano, Campagna and Copertino.

Two of Francesco's son, Marino ( died 1471 ) and Giovanni Battista ( died June 8, 1476 ), were respectively archbishop of Taranto and Grand Master of Knights of Rhodes.