Delle Piane family

The Delle Piane (di Polcevera) is a very ancient and noble Italian family with a long tradition of military and civil service. The family originated in the plains of Val Sturla and Val Polcevera in the region of Liguria.

Delle Piane di Polcevera
Country	Republic of Genoa
Founded	1255
Founder	Oberto
Titles	Nobile di Polcevera
Estate(s)	Polcevera

In the 12th century the Delle Piane appeared in the ambit of the freeholders, small “rural Vassals” of the Archbishop of Genova, to whom they pay rent and where they gravitate, and as certified, there was the presence of Oberto de Planis de Pulcifera, who appears in the acts of the Curia in 1254, and of Fulco, witnessed in the acts of the Archbishop in 1255.

After having recuperated local charges in the 13th century, as “Consuls of the Ceranesi”, a branch of the dynasty, from the 14th century, militate in the “populares” (aristocrats) and between the “artifices albi” partly Ghibelline, participated actively in the government of the ancient council of Genova, with Matteo delle Piane officer of Gazaria (Genoese colonies) in 1313, with Niccolo delle Piane Castellan of Pornassio and of the Valle Arroscia in 1343, Giovanni, Elder of the council in 1362, with Benedetto delle Piane, Castellan of Corvara (Beverino) in 1378, a second Oberto de Planis (de Pulcifera) Elder in 1374, 1386, 1394 and Knight of the Doge in 1380, Giacobo Adviser in 1382 and Elder in 1390, Antonio Elder in 1401 and Abbot of the Podesteria (Podestà) of Voltri in 1404, Bertone Adviser and member of the monetary office in 1427, Bartolomeo Adviser in 1518.

Following the constitutional reform in 1528 some Delle Piane having “open houses” in Genova and belonging to several branches were registered in the “Liber Civilitatis” Liber Nobilitatis (Libro d’Oro della Nobilta Italiana) and in Albergo De Franchi in 1528/1531 and in Albergo Cybo in 1566/1568 (they were one of the 35 families registered in the aristocratic corporation that had access to the charges of the republic).

Other branches of the family originated and descended from Antonio (di Fegino), that lived “more nobilium” in Polcevera, as “primaries and principles”, transferred to Novi Ligure at the end of the 18th century, remembering Stefano, who in 1564 founded the gentilitial family tomb in the benedictine Abbey of San Nicolo del Boschetto in Rivarolo; the magnificent Giovanni Battista Abbot of the Polcevera in 1582, the rev. di D Francesco and D. Giuseppe, that again in 1768 pay investiture to the ecclesiastical mess of Genova for there lands and properties of Le Folle in San Quirico Tuscany.

Giovanni Maria (born in Monticelli 1756+ in Forenzuola d’Arda in 1836) was nominated Captain (land) of the Terzo of Busseto and of the first company of the militia of Monticelli in 1799 by the Duke Ferdinand of Parma. He descended from the celebrated court painter Giovanni Maria delle Piane descending from another branch from the Polcevera.

The Delle Piane were granted various coat of arms with a Lion (heraldry) and a band for military service in the medieval ages and then other coat of arms with a coronet with eight pearls of the title of nobility of Nobile and a fortuna goddess standing on a globe, (or with a wheel of fortune or a ship's wheel, holding a ship's sail) to symbolise the watermills they owned or their marine activities in the Renaissance, the honorary titles of nobility of Dominus and of Nobile were conferred to some branches and members of the family. Slowly, throughout the XIX century, members of this house have almost ceased to use the courtesy title of Nobile di Polcevera.

The Delle Piane are also renowned for their contributions during the Renaissance to Ligurian history and to the business environment. Beginning in the 16th century their family businesses included banking, watermills and textiles. Through these business endeavors they achieved nobility status. For 700 years the Delle Piane were considered as one of the prominent families in Liguria and were recognized as nobility because of their success in business and their wealth, their successful business enterprises elevated them to the highest social strata. The Delle Piane are also landowners, they purchased several Italian estates, country houses, ville and palazzi in the region of Liguria. The noble Milanese branch of the family also built a villa with a park in the style of a castle in the renaissance in the Italian Riviera. The Delle Piane were also buried in the local churches and in the church of San Cipriano di Serra Ricco. The Delle Piane married other noble families including the De Castello (Castellesi), Castello, Martelli, Gavotti, Centurione, Balbi, Cambiaso, Musso-Piantelli e i Barbieri.

The family, divided in various branches, in the line that we give the descent here, were received with proof of nobility in the ceto of the knights of Jure Sanquinis in S.M.O. Cost. Di S. Giorgio (Alf.).

Very ancient branches of the family settled in other places by the Mediterranean, Europe and South America, with old genealogies and similar coat of arms. The family also settled in Savona, Alessandria, Milan, Switzerland, Cadiz, Argentina and Uruguay, according to genealogical organisations and houses of names.