Malaspina family

Original version

La fama che la vostra casa onora,
"Oh!", diss'io lui, "per li vostri paesi
già mai non fui; ma dove si dimora
per tutta Europa ch'ei non sien palesi?
grida i segnori e grida la contrada,
sì che ne sa chi non vi fu ancora;
e io vi giuro, s'io di sopra vada,
che vostra gente onrata non si sfregia
del pregio de la borsa e de la spada.
(Divina Commedia, Purgatorio, Dante Alighieri, Canto 8, Vv. 121–129 )^[9]

English translation

"Oh!" said I then to him, "I 've never been
in your domains, but where throughout all Europe
dwelleth a man who knows them not? The fame
which honoreth your house, proclaims its lords,
proclaims its district, so that even he
knows of them, who hath never been there yet.
I swear to you, so may I go on high,
that of the glorious use of purse and sword
your honored race doth not despoil itself.
(Divine Comedy, Purgatory, Dante Alighieri, 8th Canto, Vv. 121–129)^[9]

Essential genealogy

• Oberto I
  • Oberto II
    • Oberto Obizzo I
      • Albert I
        • Obizzo II
          • Albert "The Malaspina", forefather of the Malaspina
            • Obizzo Malaspina
              • Obizzone
                • Conrad I Malaspina, forefather of the Spino Secco branch of the family
              • Morello
                • Guglielmo
                  • Opizzo Malaspina, Forefather of the Spino Fiorito branch of the family^[1]

Malaspina of Mulazzo

The origin of this sub-branch is attributable to Moroello Malaspina (?–1284), who possessed not only the Castle of Mulazzo in Lunigiana, the main castle of the Spino Secco branch, but also feuds in Val Trebbia surrounding Ottone as well as having some influence over the family's dominions in Sardinia.

This sub-branch, being the first to be generated from the Spino Secco, always had possession over the marquisate of Mulazzo until the abolition of feudalism. The branch was extinguished in 1810 with the death of marquise Alessandro Malaspina, a renowned politician, explorer and navigator.

The marquisate, ruling from 1266 to 1797, was recognized as an imperial feud as soon as 1164; it expanded with several acquisitions of land over Pozzo, Montereggio, Montarese, Castagnetoli (from 1746), Calice, Veppo and Madrignano (the latter three territories were administered by the cadets of the Mulazzo sub-branch from 1710 to 1772, and due to some debts were then sold to the grand duke of Tuscany).

In the XVI century, the branches of Madrignano (1523–1634) and Montereggio (1523–1646) momentarily detached from the main Mulazzo branch. The feud of Mulazzo, starting from 1473 was also alternately governed by the "Malaspina del Castello" and the "Malaspina del Palazzo" until 1776. The direct male bloodline was extinguished by the famous explorer Alessandro Malaspina.^[14]

The rulers of the Malaspinas of Mulazzo feuds were:

• Moroello in 1355 he received the imperial investiture of the feud
• Antonio (1365–1406)
• Azzone –1473
• Cristoforo –1511
• Azzone II
• Gian Paolo –1517 and Gian Gaspare –1531 (del Palazzo)
• Moroello II –1573 and Gian Cristoforo –1574
• Francesco Antonio –1574
• Giampaolo II –1584 and Gian Gaspare II –1584
• Leonardo –1605 and Anton Maria –1600
• Gian Vincenzo –1623
• Ottavio –1646 and Gian Cristoforo II –1643
• Moroello III –1657
• Azzo Giacinto –1674 and Conrad –1676
• Carlo Maria –1705 and Obizzo –1691
• Azzo Giacinto II –1746 and Gian Cristoforo III –1763
• Carlo Moroello –1774 and Cesare –1776
• Azzo Giacinto III –1797 (and Luigi –1797, de jure).

the main sub-branches deriving from the Malaspinas of Mulazzo are:

• Malaspina of Cariseto and Godano, from Cariseto^[15] a fraction of Cerignale in Val Trebbia, their forefather was Antonio (?–1477), son of Antonio of Mulazzo, this branch was extinguished in the span of two generations: the marquisate of Cariseto was acquired by the Fieschi in 1540 and subsequently by the Doria.
• Malaspina of Santo Stefano, from Santo Stefano d'Aveto, in Val Trebbia, their forefather was Ghisello I (?–1475), son of Antonio of Mulazzo; in 1495 the marquisate of Santo Stefano was sold to the Fieschi, only maintaining the feuds of Godano and Bolano (both located in val di Vara, set in between Lunigiana and Val Trebbia), the branch was extinguished in the XVII century, their feuds were left to the main branch of Mulazzo.
• Malaspina of Edifizi, in Edifizi a fraction of Ferriere in val Nure, their forefather was Pietro, son of Ghisello I of Santo Stefano, the branch was extinguished in 1624.
• Malaspina of Casanova (from a Casanova probably near Ottone), their forefather was Antonio, a bastard son of Barnabò of Mulazzo, the branch was extinguished in the XVIII century after having sold their feud to the Doria in the XVI century.
• Malaspina of Croce (from Croce Fieschi in the Ligurian Apennines) their feud was sold to the Fieschi in 1504.
• Malaspina of Fabbrica, from Fabbrica a fraction of Ottone (not to be mistaken with Fabbrica Curone of which the Malaspina of Varzi was the marquise), their forefather was Moroello, which was either the son of Bernabò or of Galeazzo of Mulazzo, they sold their feud in 1540 to the Fieschi, they survived to the end of the feudalism and the branch is still living today.
• Malaspina of Ottone, from Ottone in Val Trebbia, their forefather was Giovanni, which was either the son of Bernabò or of Galeazzo of Mulazzo; they sold their feud in 1540 to the Fieschie and the branch was extinguished at the beginning of the XIX century.
  • Malaspina of Orezzoli, from Orezzoli, a fraction of Ottone, their forefather was Galeazzo son of Giovanni of Ottone, they had a considerable ramification process; their main branch was extinguished in the XVIII century, although the bloodline survived in some sub-branches. from one of these sub-branches, native to Bobbio, derived via adoption the branch of the Malaspina-Della Chiesa, marquises of Volpedo and of Carbonara.
  • Malaspina of Frassi, from Frassia fraction of Ottone, their forefather was Giovanni, son of Galeazzo of Orezzoli, the bloodline still exists today through many sub-branches. they sold their feud in 1656 to the Doria.
• Malaspina of Madrignano, an independent branch which started in 1355 having Azzone as its forefather, the branch was extinguished until 1631, but was later revived from 1710 to 1772 with the Consignori of Mulazzo. Its marquises were:
  • Azzone II, 1446
  • Bonifazio (1531–1555)
  • Stefano –1592
  • Bonifazio II
  • Stefano II –1600
  • Giulio Cesare –1631
  • Rinaldo di Suvero
  • Moroello di Mulazzo
  • Gian Cristoforo II (1710–1763), consignore of Mulazzo
  • Cesare –1772, consignore of Mulazzo

Malaspina of Castevoli

An autonomous branch of the family starting from the XV Century having Azzone of Antonio of Mulazzo as its forefather, it possessed the feuds of Stadomelli, Cavanella as well as some ruling authority over Villafranca. its main representatives were Thomas II (–1603) and his son Francesco (–1649). The main branch went extinct in 1759 and with imperial approval, the feuds were unified with Villafranca (1796). In 1794, some revolts against the authoritarian regime of Thomas III started. In 1757, part of the feud was acquired by the Mulazzo branch.
The rulers of the branch were^[16]:

• Azzone 1465
• Cristofano
• Tommaso –1547
• Giovan Battista, consignore of Villafranca (1547–1561)
• Tommaso II –1603
• Francesco –1640
• Tommaso II –1649
• Niccolò –1676
• Clarice –1678
• (Alfonso 1561–1584; Stadomelli lineage)
• (Alessandro –1604)
• (Marzio –1616)
• (Scipione –1656)
• Alfonso III (1678–1722), heir of Castevoli
• Scipione II –1744
• Opizzone Paolo –1759
• Thomas III –1797, heir of Villafranca.

Malaspina of Giovagallo

Their forefather was Manfredo, son of Conrad Malaspina The Old around 1260. They possessed the castle of Giovagallo (Tresana) as well as some surrounding territories. The branch went extinct in 1365, and their feuds were inherited by the Villafranca branch, whilst most of the marquisate was absorbed by the marquisate of Tresana.^[17]

Malaspina of Villafranca

Their forefather was Frederick, son of Conrad Malaspina The Old, they ruled over the castle of Malnido as well as Villafranca in Lunigiana and the surrounding lands. The branch was greatly weakened and impoverished due to many hereditary divisions, wars and the loss of numerous territories in the valleys close to the river Vara, Auella and Taverone. In the XVI Century they were taken under the protection of Modena and thanks to their loyalty, with the decree of the third of May 1726 the duke Rinaldo d'Este of Modena gave them the name of "Malaspina Estensi". The newly formed dominion they acquired included Garbugliaga, Beverino, Villa, Rocchetta di Vara, the castle of Virgoletta, as well as the castle of Malnido in Villafranca, where they ruled together with the consignori of the Castevoli branch.

The marquises ruling the branch were^[18]:

• Federico –1367
• Spinetta –1402
• Federico I –1406
• Gabriele –1437
• Giovanni Spinetta –1469
• Tommaso –1521
• Bartolomeo –1549
• Federico II –1580
• Alfonso –1601 and Scipione –1656
• Tommaso and Federico III –1603
• Bartolomeo II –1628
• Annibale –1652
• Niccolò - 1697
• Giovanni –1715
• Annibale II Malaspina Estense –1721
• Federico IV Estense –1786
• Giovanni II Estense –1796
• Tommaso III –1797 (of the Castevoli branch).

The branch expanded very efficiently, succeeding in surviving after the end of the feudalism, to this day many co-branches still exist. Some of them had their own rulers as well as a separate identity. These include:

• Malaspina of Cremolino, from Cremolino in Monferrato, their forefather was Thomas I (1361), son of Frederick of Villafranca And of Agnese del Bosco, a blood relative of the aleramica, from which derived all of the family's feuds (including the consignoria over the city of Ovada); the branch went extinct in the XVI Century^[19].
• Malaspina of Lusuolo, from Lusuolo a fraction of Mulazzo in Lunigiana, their forefather was Azzone (died in 1364), son of Opizzino of Villafranca, he inherited the feuds of the Malaspina of Giovagallo that were already extinct. the branch went extinct in the XVII Century after selling their feuds to the grand-duke of Tuscany^[20].
  • Malaspina of Podenzana, from Podenzana in Lunigiana, their forefather was Leonardo, son of Gian Spinetta of Lusuolo in 1536. Alexander during the Spanish war of succession became the imperial governor of Aulla, greatly weakening the powers of the families of Genoa, that had the right to rule over those territories since 1543; refusing to pledge his loyalty to the king of Spain, Alexander's castle was demolished in 1706, only in 1710 he regained the right to rule over the territories as the marquise of Aulla, purchasing the feud from the emperor at the price of 30.000 fiorini. In 1794 inherited a part of Licciana; the branch went extinct in the XVIII century. They also possessed Montedivalli, Amola and a quarter of the feud of Monti. The marquises ruling the branch were^[21]:
    • Leonardo (1535–1565)
    • Alexander–1587
    • Leonardo II –1637
    • Francesco –1676
    • Alexander II –1712
    • Francesco II Maria –1754
    • Alexander III –1789
    • Alfonso –1797
• Malaspina of Tresana, from Tresana in Lunigiana, their forefather was Opizzino, son of Giovanni Jacopo of Lusuolo, the branch went extinct with Guglielmo in 1652^[22].
• Malaspina of Licciana, from Licciana Nardi in Lunigiana, their forefather was Gian Spinetta, son of Giovanni Spinetta of Villafranca they became an independent branch in 1535; they ruled of the feud of Licciana the branch went extinct at the end of the XVIII century. Their marquisate also had influence over Panicale, Monti, Piancastelli, Solaro, Bigliolo, Catanasco, Mulesano and Amola. Ferdinando in the attempt to ask for Spanish protection was killed during a riot in 1611. In 1778 the branch was put under the protection of Modena and the family inherited in 1783 a part of the feud of Bastia. After the death of Ignazio, the feud was acquired by the Podenzana branch (1795)^[23].

The marquises ruling the branch were:

• Jacopo (1535–1580), in 1549 he received the imperial investiture
  • Cornelio
  • Alfonso –1600
  • Ferdinando –1619
  • Obizzo –1641
  • Jacopo II –1669
  • Obizzo II –1704
  • Jacopo Antonio –1746
  • Francesco Maria –1749
  • Cornelio –1778
  • Ignazio –1794
  • Amedea –1796
  • Alfonso –1797 (from the Podenzana and Aulla lineage).
  • Malaspina of Bastia, from Bastia, a fraction of Licciana Nardi, their forefather was Fioramonte II, son of Gian Spinetta di Licciana (?–1528) the line became independent in 1535. During the course of the XVII century, the feud was dishonoured by the criminal activities of Nestore, the younger brother of the marquise Carlo, his criminal activity ended only after his death caused by a violent popular revolt, he completely disregarded the intervention of the grand duchy of Tuscany. In 1704 the feud became a Tuscan estate gaining protection but having to be ruled by Florence officials. The line became extinct in 1783, leaving the feud to the line of Ponte Bosio. The marquee Anna, consort of the marquise Giovanni, renowned in the territory as a woman of unmatched beauty, was invited to Versailles in hopes of making her Luigi XV's favourite courtesan replacing Pompadour, she failed in her efforts and came back to the feud with only a modest money compensation granted by the king.

The marquises ruling the branch were^[24]:

• • • Fioramonte II of Licciana (1535–1574).
    • Camillo –1619.
    • Camillo II –1629.
    • Ippolito –1641.
    • Francesco –1671.
    • Serafino –1736.
    • Antonio –1740.
    • Giovanni –1783.
    • Claudio –1797 (of the Pontebosio branch).
    • Malaspina of Terrarossa, from Terrarossa, a fraction of Licciana Nardi, their forefather was Fabrizio, son of Fioramonte of Bastia, who sold his feud to the Grand-Duke of Tuscany in 1617; this branch was extinguished after only two generations^[25].
    • Malaspina of Ponte Bosio, from Pontebosio, a fraction of Licciana Nardi, their forefather was Ludovico I, the abiotic grandson of Fioramonte of Bastia, this branch became the sovereign branch in 1631, receiving the official imperial investiture in 1639; they inherited the feud of Bastia in 1783 and in 1794 part of the feud of Licciana; they survived the end of feudalism but went extinct in the XIX century.

The marquises ruling the branch were^[26]:

• • • • Ludovico -(1639–1659).
      • Giulio II –1664.
      • Claudio –1662.
      • Ferdinando –1722.
      • Ludovico II –1748.
      • Giulio III –1768.
      • Claudio II –1797.
      • Giulio IV –1797.
  • Malaspina of Monti, from Monti a fraction of Licciana Nardi, their forefather was Moroello (1535–1575), son of Gian Spinetta of Licciana, they went extinct in two generations with Orazio (1575–1585)^[27].
  • Malaspina of Suvero, from Suvero, a fraction of Rocchetta di Vara (a province of Spezia but still on the borders of Lunigiana), their forefather was Rinaldo (1535), son of Gian Spinetta II of Licciana;they inherited Monti, which was later sold in 1664 to the Podenzana branch of the family, the branch survived the end of feudalism and still exists today. An outstanding representative of the branch was Torquato (–1594) whom favoured philanthropic initiatives and constructed a "monte frumentario" to prevent famines. After the hereditary war between Rinaldo II and Spinetta of the Olivola branch (1627), the imperial feud was at peace until the Spanish invasion of 1733 which destroyed the family's castle^[28].

The marquises ruling the branch were:

• • • Rinaldo (1535–1563).
    • Torquato –1594.
    • Rinaldo II –1639.
    • Pier Torquato II –1663.
    • Francesco Antonio –1714.
    • Torquato III –1736.
    • Rinaldo III –1770.
    • Francesco Antonio II –1771.
    • Torquato IV –1796.

Malaspina of Pregòla

Their forefather was Alberto (–1298), son of Conrad Malaspina (The Old). They inherited the feud of Pregòla (a fraction of Brallo di Pregola) as well as a vast territory on the left side of the Val Trebbia (the river divided their feuds from the ones owned by the branch of Mulazzo), as well as some territories near Bobbio. In 1304 Corradino Malaspina, the lord of the castle of Carana (Corte Brugnatella) in agreeance with Visconte Pallavicino and the abbot of Bobbio Guido took control over Bobbio and transformed it into a lordship building its current castle; in 1341 the Visconti family of Milan took control of Bobbio and of the Brugnatella court, stripping the Malaspina of the castle of Carana and destroying the famous Castello nero (a black castle famous for the unusual stones used to build it), after 1347, when Corradino died, the feud was distributed between his heirs, but in 1361 they had to give it to the Visconti family. in 1436 it was given to the Dal Verme family who had become counts of Bobbio and Voghera; the malaspinas also lost the control over the ancient church of San Cristoforo in the Valle del Carlone, the only territory they still owned was Dezza which was later given to the Malaspina of Pregòla. The branch endured a division in 1347 from which the feuds of Prato (a fraction of Cantalupo Ligure, in Val Borbera, near Val Trebbia) and of Corte Brugnatella, which both had a short history. In another division in 1453 the four quartieri were separated from the feud of Pergola, each of the estates was given to a distinct branch of the family.

These branches were^[29]:

• Malaspina of Vezimo, from Vezimo a fraction of Zerba in Val Trebbia, they went extinct at the end of the XVI century^[30].
• Malaspina di Pei e Isola, da Pei, frazione di Zerba, e Isola, località ormai disabitata in comune di Brallo di Pregola, si estinsero nel XVII secolo (ma forse esistono ancora loro discendenti tra i Malaspina della zona, di cui si ignora la genealogia).
• Malaspina di Alpe e Artana, da Alpe frazione di Gorreto e Artana frazione di Ottone, si estinsero nel XVII secolo.
• Malaspina of Pregòla, Campi and Zerba, from Zerba and Campi a fraction of Ottone, they originated the branch wich later reacquired a majority of the main feud, they regained the title of Marquses of Pregòla (which are still remembered today during a town celebration called: "sfilata medioevale in costume di Bobbio" which is held yearly in November). Thanks to marquisse Oliviero, they obtained in 1541 the investiture as an imperial feud and it remained so disregarding the continuous threaths of invasion by the Savoia until the end of feudsalism in Italy (1797). The last marquise ruling the feud was Baldassarre who had strong pressure coming from the court of Tourin to renounce to his feudal rights. Because of hereditary disstress the feud had fostered many different family branches as well as the marquises of Pallavicino and of Cabella whom, with Gerolamo, had usurped in 1660 portions of the malaspinian feud. in 1782 Gian Galeazzo Malaspina, the marquise of Santa Margherita, Antonio Giuseppe Malaspina marquise of Orezzoli, heirs of Conrad Malaspina of Pregòla (whose widowed wife Maria Teresa Farnese dal Pozzo in 1777 had become part of the Savoia) as well as Giovan Carlo Spinola Pallavicino, claimed in the court of Vienna their feudal rights regarding the recents annexions done by the Savoia, asking for intervention from the Emperor.^[31] The direct line survived the end of feudalism and still remains a branch of the family. The line emigrated to Greece and finally to the United States of America.^[32]

Malaspina of Varzi

Their forefather was Azzolino, Obizzino 's grandson and son of Isnardo, who had already died before the division in 1275; Azzolino inherited with his brother Gabriele a third of the estates of his grandfather Obizzino, some estates were in Lunigiana and some in Lombardy, after some time, in agreeance with his brother, he took full control of the lombard feuds, mostly located in the Staffora valley surrounding Varzi. The Marquisate of Varzi was divided between Azzolino's three sons: the sub-branch of Isnardo, which ruled over Menconico, went extinct in the XV century, the other two branches on the other hand survived^[33]:

• Malaspina of Fabbrica, from Fabbrica Curone in a valley that borders with Staffora valley, had Obizzo as their forefather, Azzolino's son. they went extinct at the end of the XIX century after they had become Sforza-Malaspina.
• Malaspina of Varzi (first-born righteous branch), they went extinct in the XIX century after having created many ramifications and lost the control over the marquisate. It is plausible that there could still be some heirs of the line between the many Malaspinas living in the Staffora valley to this day. From the Varzi branch other two branches were created:
  • Malaspina of Santa Margherita, from Santa Margherita, a fraction of Santa Margherita di Staffora, their forefather was Cristoforo (who died after 1420), they went extinct in 1821.
  • Malaspina of Casanova, from Casanova Staffora, a fraction of Santa Margherita di Staffora, their forefather was Baldassarre son of Bernabò di Varzi, they went extinct in the XVII century. they generated another sub-branch:
    • Malaspina of Bagnaria, from Bagnaria of which they only had the nominal 'ruling title',their forefather was Bernabò son of Bernabò di Varzi, they went extinct in the XVII century.^[34]

Malaspina of Fivizzano

their forefather was Gabriele, Obizzino's grandson and Isnardo's son, who had died before the division of the feuds in 1275; Gabriele ruled over a third of the familie's estates alongside his brother: Azzolino, some in Lunigiana and some in Lombardy, thanks to a political agreement with his brother he took control of all the feuds in Lunigiana, which consisted of the castel of Verrucola in Fivizzano, and the bordering territories in the oriental Lunigiana. Gabriele had three children, Isnardo's family went extinct in the XV century, leaving Fivizzano to the Republic of Florence of whom they were allied with, this event determined the future creating of the strong influence florence had over lunigiana and the bordering territories (the famous Lunigiana Granducale which fought for supremacy with the malaspinian dominium as well as the one of Modena); Spinetta Malaspina pledged his loyalty to Verona, by doing so he was awarded the feud of Fosdinovo, he had no natural heirs, so his bloodline went extinct with his sons; Azzolino's descendants were rewarded with the feud of Fosdinovo and generated the line of Malaspina of Fosdinovo, they were the imperial vicars in Italy, from which Antonio Alberico I Malaspina descended, and, as he was the marquise of Fosdinovo, he obtained Massa in 1441.^[35] His son, Giacomo I Malaspina (?–1481), succeeded to his father and added to the lordship of Massa the one of Carrara as well as its surrounding territories.^[36] Giacomo's son, Alberico^[37] banished from the state his brother Francesco as well as his offspring, depriving them of all succession rights, leaving as the sole heir his daughter, Ricciarda married to Lorenzo Cibo, from which descended the Cybo-Malaspina, the new Duchess of Massa and Carrara.^[38]

this branch of the family generated several other sub-branches, including:

• Malaspina of Sannazzaro, from Sannazzaro de' Burgondi near Pavia, their forefather was Francesco, the son of Giacomo I of Massa who had been invested as the rightful ruler of the feud by the Sannazzaro in 1466. They went extinct in 1835 with Luigi, an outstanding citizen of Pavia in which he had a prominent political and social role^[39].

Malaspina of Fosdinovo

The malaspinian castle of Fosdinovo

Their forefather was Galeotto (who died in 1367), son of Azzolino. Spinetta Malaspina in 1340 consolidated the family's power over its estates granting them the lordship for the following centuries. the marquisate of fosdinovo became sovraignly autonomous in 1367 engulfing the territories of Viano, Castel dell'Aquila, Gragnola (1646), Cortila, Pulica, Giucano, Ponzanello, Tendola, Marciaso and Posterla, Caniparola. Gabriele son of Antonio Alberico I of Fosdinovo, took control of the feud of Fosdinovo, leaving the other estates to his siblings.^[40]

In 1529 the hereditary status of imperial vicary was recognised to him and his feuds, in 1666 the emperor granted him the right of producing his own currency (the mint right). The last sovereign marquise was Carlo Emanuele, who was favourible to the option of abolishing the imperial feuds in Italy, he agreed with the Napoleonic edict of the 2nd of July 1797 and renounced to his feuds; the Torrigiani-Malaspina family still holds the ownership of the Castle fosdinovese.
I The ruling marquises were^[41]:

• Galeotto (1361–1367)
• Gabriele I (1367–1390)
• Spinetta II (1393–1398)
• Antonio Alberico I (1398–1445)
• Giacomo I (1445–1467)
• Gabriele II (1467–1508)
• Lorenzo (1508–1533) alongside Galeotto II (1508–1523)
• Giuseppe (1533–1565)
• Andrea (1565–1610)
• Giacomo II (1610–1663)
• Pasquale (1663–1669)
• Ippolito (1669–1671)
• Carlo Francesco Agostino (1671–1722)
• Gabriele III (1722–1758)
• Carlo II Emanuele (1758–1797).
  • Malaspina of Olivola, from Olivola a fraction of Aulla, their father was Lazzaro son of Giovanni Battista of Fosdinovo, and nephew of Gabriele who had took contol of the feud of Olivola after the assassination of all the original heirs of the main branch. They went extinct in the 19th century. The marquisate also possessed Pallerone (1572), Bibola, Bigliolo, Agnino, Quercia, Saracco and Vaccareccia. In 1569 it was absorbed by the Grand Duchy of Tuscany.

The ruling marquises were^[42]:

• • • Lazzaro (1509–1544), in 1525 he received the imperial investiture.
    • Spinetta II –1571.
    • Lazzaro II –1630.
    • Spinetta III –1655.
    • Giuseppe –1682.
    • Lazzaro III –1714.
    • Giuseppe Massimiliano –1758.
    • Lazzaro IV –1783.
    • Carlo –1796.
  • Malaspina of Verona, their forefather was Spinetta son of Antonio Alberico I of Fosdinovo, who gave up his feudal rights but had many estates in Verona. they became part of Verona's nobility in 1406 and acquired the marchional title with imperial placet the 13th of April 1638, which was then re-confirmed the 7th of January 1821. they went extinct in the XX century^[43].
  • Malaspina of Gragnola, from Gragnola a fraction of Fivizzano, their forefather was Leonardo, Spinetta the great's brother; they went extinct with Leonardo II (–1419) after two generations, but the feud was passed down to the marquise of Fosdinovo, which went extinct shortly after (1642), to be later re-absorbed by the main branch of Fosdinovo (1644), after a dispute with the grand-duke of tuscany who was nominated to be the heir of the feud by the last Marquise Alessandro.^[44]

The ruling marquises were^[45]:

• • • Lazzaro III (1445–1451)
    • Galeotto
    • Leonardo III –1505
    • Giacomo
    • Giovanni –1550
    • Leone –1568
    • Alfonso –1594. Part of a sub-branch (inherited the feud in 1594)
    • Galeotto –1544
    • Corrado –1576
    • Giovan Battista –1602
    • Cosimo –1638
    • Alessandro –1642.

Malaspina of Olivola

Their forefather was Francesco, son of Bernabò and grandson of Obizzino. After the division of 1275, he inherited land both in Lunigiana (the castle of Olivola, in a fraction of Aulla) and Lombardy (including the castle of Pizzocorno, a fraction of Ponte Nizza). All the heirs of the main branch were assassinated in 1413 in the castle of Olivola. their feuds were divided between the other branches of the family (Fosdinovo and Godiasco). Olivola was given to the line of Gragnola after the extinction of the line it was given to Alberico I ofFosdinovo and his son Gabriele IV (–1485) who left it to his son Giovan Battista. It was later inherited by Lazzaro who in 1525 created an independent line until the abolition of the imperial feuds in 1797. The ruling marquises were^[46]:

• Bernabò (1249–1265)
• Franceschino –1339
• Domenico –1355
• Marco –1398
• Manfredi, Bernabò II, Giovanni –1413.

Malaspina of Godiasco

their forefather was Alberto, son of Obizzino, who in the division of 1275 with his grandchildren had feuds both in Lunigiana and Lombardy, mainly close to the castle of Filattiera (they were initially called Malaspina of Filattiera, this title was kept by the first generation only) and of Oramala (a fraction of Val di Nizza), they later acquired control over the Borgo of Godiasco and set it as their center of power. In 1743 the province of Bobbio was established, under the marquisate of Bobbio (from 1516), the Savoia and the mandate of Varzi, which delimitated their territories. Thanks to Nicolò also known asMarchesotto, son of Alberto, and his five children, the five main sub-branches of the family were created, they all had feuds in Lunigiana and in the marquisate of Godiasco^[47]:

• Malaspina of Castiglione and Casalasco, from Castiglione del Terziere a fraction of Bagnone in Lunigiana, and from Casalasco a fraction of Val di Nizza in the Oltrepò Pavese, their forefather was Franceschino also known as The soldier, son of Marchesotto; they went extinct in three generations, Castiglione went to Florence and Casalasco to the Malaspina of Oramala.
• Malaspina of Bagnone and Valverde, from Bagnone in Lunigiana and Valverde in the Oltrepò Pavese, their forefather was Antonio, son of Marchesotto. Antonio's children divided their estates equally: Bagnone was given to Riccardo, and was later sold by his grandchildren to Florence, his bloodline went extinct in 1987. The bloodline of Cardinal Aragonio Malaspina Bartolelli still lives on to this day, its last heir is still alive in the Marca Anconetana; Valverde was given to Antonio, whose bloodline is probably still continued in the Oltrepò.
• Malaspina of Treschietto and Piumesana, from Treschietto a fraction of Bagnone in Lunigiana and from Piumesana a fraction of Godiasco in the Oltrepò Pavese, their forefather was Giovanni, son of Marchesotto; in 1698 they sold Treschietto to the Grand-Duke of Tuscany, as well as their lordship over Piumesana and the consignoria on Godiasco was reduced significantly. they went extinct in the XIX century.
• Malaspina of Filattiera and Cella, from Filattiera in Lunigiana and Cella a fraction of Varzi in the Oltrepò Pavese, their forefather was Obizzino, son of Marchesotto; in 1514 Bernabò, rebelled against the Sforza, and was executed in Voghera, the feud of Cella was confiscated; his son Manfredi sold Filattiera to the Grand-Duke of Tuscany; they went extinct in the XVIII century.
• Malaspina of Malgrate and Oramala, from Malgrate a fraction of Villafranca in Lunigiana and from Oramala a fraction of Val di Nizza in the Oltrepò Pavese, their forefather was Bernabò, son of Marchesotto. This is one of the few branches of the family, alongside the one of Fosdinovo, that has never diminished its power over time, it acquired almost full control of the marquisate of Godiasco, the marquisate of Pozzol Groppo and the marquisate of Fortunago, as well as having substantial control over many of the other malaspinian feuds of the Oltrepò. They were later called Malaspina of Godiasco-Pozzol Groppo and Fortunago,^[48] they went extinct in the XIX century.

The ruling marquises were^[49]:

• • Bernabò (1351–1368)
  • Niccolò –1408
  • Bartolomeo –1456
  • Ercole –1477
  • Malgrate –1499
  • Giambattista –1514
  • Cesare –1549
  • Ercole II –1581
  • Pier Francesco –1622
  • Giuseppe
  • Pier Francesco II –1692
  • Ercole III Benedetto –1723
  • Agostino –1750
  • Ercole IV –1797.
  • Malaspina of Sagliano, from Sagliano Crenna a fraction of Varzi, their forefather was Azzo, son of Nicolò of Oramala and Malgrate, they went extinct in the XVIII century.^[50]

Other outstanding members of the family that are not part of the known lines

• Ricordano Malaspina: (also known as Malespini), a storiographer from Florence (* around 1200, †; 1281) he wrote a book regarding the history of florence ("Istoria fiorentina") in Italian, which was completed after his death by his grandson, Giaccotto. After the battle of Montaperti (1260) he was exiled to Rome. He later came back to Florence after the battle of Benevento in 1266.
• Giacotto Malaspina, he kept documenting Florence's history until 1286^[54].
• Saba Malaspina the secretary of Pope John XXI, he wrote the history of Sicily ("Rerum sicularum", 1250–76) from a guelf's point of view.