That is: of the noble and titled Neapolitan families belonging to the Noble Circles of Naples, registered in the Neapolitan Gold Book, to the Neapolitan Regional Register or who played a role in the affairs of Southern Italy.

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THE d’AURIA FAMILY

Part two


Lucera, the coat of arms of the d'Auria Family
 

A MOST NOBLE KINSHIP – SANT’ALFONSO MARIA de’ LIGUORI

Members of the d’Auria Family are related many times with the House of the de’ Liguori:
this noble Neapolitan Family of the Seat of Portanova had the good fortune to count among its most important members, a great Saint of the Church: Alfonso Maria de’ Liguori (1696-1787).

Alfonso was an extraordinary man. He enrolled in the University of Naples at the early age of 12, graduating in 1713, U.J.D. (Utriusque Juris Doctor, id est Doctor in both Civil and Canonic Law), having taken the exam with the great philosopher, Giambattista Vico.  He was proclaimed Saint in 1839, and Doctor of the Church in 1871. Thanks to the many marriages between the d’Auria(s) and the de Liguori, Saint Alfonso has always been considered a Saint of “the Family”. his Bishop’s cross encasing fragments of the cross of the crucifixion was preserved in the d’Auria House until the 70’s, Giovanni and Maria d’Auria, now in Heaven, whose devotion was very profound, made it a gift to the Church because it was an object of veneration by all the faithful.


OTHER KINSHIP:  the Vallin(s)

Giovanni d’Auria in his first marriage, Donna Carolina Vallin, lady of Scottish origin, born 22nd September 1812, only daughter of Sir Don Angelo, Count of Siward, Baron of Stillbrat and of Lady Celeste Garigliano. The surname of Vallin has ancient French origins and arrived in England with the Normans. From this marriage on the 5 of June 1842, Amilcare, Maria, Francesco Paolo, Vincenzo was born and on 25 July 1842 passed away after only 50 days of life. Disconsolate, the parents decided to adopt from the Casa Della Santissima Annunziata in Naples, a girl by the name of Maria Grazia Giovenale, who had been left (exposed) in the said Pius Institute on May 4 1842, apparently born one day previously. Of this child there is little notice.


The coat of arms of the Vallin Family


Naples – The foundling wheel

But Destiny had not left an easy or happy life to the couple. The day of the 5th of March, at the age of 32, after 27 days of sickness with pneumonia, also Carolina passed to a better life. In a holographic will, placed with the Notary, Gabriele Vallo of Naples, and a copy of which is among the papers of Giovanni d’Auria, Carolina nominated her husband her sole heir.
 

A HOUSE ENVELOPED IN LEGEND


Palazzo d’Auria – courtyard with beautiful 13th Century balcony

Events referred to by some chroniclers, among whom the authoritative Carlo Corrado (1641-1725) (events, however, which have always been known by tradition), were that in this Palazzo d’Auria was hosted and solaced Elena degli Angeli, Queen Elena Comneno, wife of King Manfredi, fleeing to L’Epiro, her homeland, after the defeat and death of her husband, Manfredi. The Queen continued her flight travelling to Trani where she was betrayed by some ecclesiastics loyal to the Papacy and, therefore, to Carlo of Angiou. She was delivered with her children to the henchmen of Carlo I of Angiou where she was left to die in prison. The Palazzo of the d’Auria (s), subsequently modified by other owners, dates back to the XIII Century, being the century of the Battle of Benevento in 1266.
 

A sepulcher of MDLXXXV

Ch. SS. S. e S.

Ch. SS. S. e S.

Naples, a sepulcher of family Auria of MDLXXXV
 

d'Auria Palace

Via N.

Via N.

Naples, d'Auria Palace belonged to Gennaro d'Auria, (U.J.D. Utriusque Juris Doctor)
Vicar General of Naples (end of 1600)


A CONSUL IN THE FAMILY(?)

In a Cemetery in Naples, there is a memorial monument with the busts of the spouses Vincenzo d’Auria and Erminia Ajello with the following epitaph:


Vincenzo d'Auria


Erminia Ajello

It is not certain, but there is good reason to believe that said Vincenzo was the son of Gennaro d’Auria and Giuseppa Rho Confalone who lived in the years of the end of 18th Century to 1868.
 

A REVOLUTIONARY AND REPUBLICAN

In Naples, on the 23rd of January 1799, certain Neapolitan nobles and some bourgeois notables proclaimed the Neapolitan Republic, nominating a provisory government comprising 25 members and initially presided over by Carlo Lauberg. King Ferdinando IV of Bourbon transferred to Palermo with the help of the English fleet commanded by Horace Nelson. From the news that was related in the Family, there is no doubt that Nicola d’Auria participated – it is not clearly known in what way or in what role – in this Republican Revolution.
The Neapolitan Republic lasted only a few months. The French troops, due to wartime events of the epoch, were recalled to other war theatres and left Naples undefended, while Cardinal Ruffo went around organizing the so-called “Army of the Holy  Faith” which, leaving from Calabria, with rapid ascent, reached Naples.

Logo della Repubblica Napoletana del 1799
Manifesto illustrating
“Neapolitan Republic” 1799

The Neapolitan commoners, the so-called Lazzari, faithful to the King, led by Michele Pezza, the legendary “Fra Diavolo”, with the approach of the Sanfedists and of Nelson’s fleet that supported them from the sea, gave life and motion to rebellious action, which determined the collapse of the Republic 7 May 1799. King Ferdinando hastened to nominate a Council to begin trials which resulted in death sentences, imprisonments, deportations and exile. Horace Nelson in person, wanted the execution of the Admiral of the Bourbon fleet, Francesco Caracciola, who had passed to the Republicans. He was hanged from a flagpole of his own ship. Among the other revolutionaries was Luisa Sanfelice who was decapitated. She was the protagonist of a famous romance by Alexandre Dumas.
Many, among which our
Nicola d’Auria, eluded the trials and sure death sentences for high treason by fleeing. Nicola d’Auria was able to get to England “where the wife, Antonia Cilenti did not want to follow for fear of the long voyage”.
Nicola was, perhaps, facilitated by the fact that at Tolve, territory of the Basilicata - rather isolated and distant from Naples - the repression arrived with a certain delay, giving Nicola more ease in arranging his escape.


Coat of arms of the d’Auria Family – pastel drawing preserved in Tolve.

The reason why Nicola chose England as his new residence instead of the Napoleon Republic of France, is not known.


AN ARDUOUS TASK


Photograph of Giovanni Francesco d’Auria (1975)

The d’Auria coat of arms – manuscript

To Giovanni Francesco d’Auria, Knight of Justice of the Sacred Military Order Constantiniano of San Giorgio, is entrusted the continuity of the tradition so that the History of the House of d’Auria never falls into oblivion.

Part one | Album / Genealogy


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