LIBRO D'ORO

The 'Libro d'Oro' (Italian: ''Golden Book'') is a catalogue of members of the nobility.
Following World War II and the fall of Fascism, democratic Italy officially abolished titles and hereditary honours in its republican Constitution. Titles bestowed after 28 October 1922 (i.e. after the rise to power of Fascism) were declared never to have existed. Those families bearing older titles were permitted to use them but as part of their surname. These laws did not apply to the nobility of Rome, in so far as they had been created by the Pope, when he was a sovereign head of state (i.e. until 20 September 1870). In reality after a period of uncertainty the Italian aristocracy continued to use their titles in the same way as they had in previous centuries. ^[1] This behaviour was cemented by the continued publication of the "Il Libro d'Oro della Nobiltà Italiana" published as much to prevent self styled aristocrats social climbing as to list the established nobility.
Il Libro d'Oro della Nobiltà Italiana (The Golden Book of the Nobility of Italy) is regularly published by the Collegio Araldico of Rome. It lists all of Italy's noble families and their cadet branches. First published in 1910, it includes some 2,500 families. Included are those listed in the earlier books the "Libro d’Oro della Consulta Araldica del Regno d’Italia" and the later "Elenchi Ufficiali Nobiliari" of 1921 and of 1933 which contained the most recently enobled families.
The book is very comprehensive listing all members of a family who qualify as noble. The most recent and 12th edition of "''Libro d'Oro della Nobiltà Italiana''" was published in September 2000. ^[2]
The Libro d'oro should not be confused with a social register - wealth, status and social contacts are of no consideration on the decision as to whether a person may be included in the book, the only consideration is the blood or marital relationship to the head of a noble family
Such books had existed in many or the Italian states and cities before the unification of Italy. There are many early examples of such catalogues, the Venetian authorities created Golden Books even on the Ionian Islands in order to register the local nobility probably to assist in the collection of taxes rather than as a stud book. Another early example is the ''Libro d'Oro'' of Corfu began in 1572.

Contents

See also

Notes

References

See also

★ Consulta araldica

★ Nobility of Italy

Notes

1. Heraldry in Italy
2. Collegio Araldico

References

★ Collegio Araldico retrieved 11 may 2007

★ Heraldry in Italy retrieved 11 may 2007

★ Explanation of Italian noble rank retrieved 08 July 2007