Die Geschichte der Familie Marchionneschi

The nobility of the Marchionneschi family, more than the antiquity of its origins, and the exceptional honours conferred on some of its members, is the result of a way of life, the munificence, philanthropy and generosity of many of its members. We presume that it originated in Poland, where there was a Marchionnowski family at the beginning of the XIV century. In Italy, the first official trace of the family was in the year 1350, in Turin, where the Marchionneschis enjoyed much fame and power, so much so that in 1359 Tommaso, while in England, was decorated with the order of the Garter by Edward III for services rendered to the nation. In 1439, Amedeo of Savoia decorated Giulio with the “Ordine Reale”, for eminent services to the nation. Giulio was one of the personages of the family who distinguished themselves in the ecclesiastical hierarchy for positions held, not only in the public administration, but as gonfaloniers. In 1385 Francesco Maria was sent by Innocent VIII to help the conspiracy of the Barons in Sicily,and in 1532 Giovanni in Genoa, under Andrea Doria, at the command of a galley, covered himself with glory in the battle of Hellespont. Towards the middle of 1700, the Marchionneschis left Piedmont and came to Tuscany, where they purchased land near Querceto from the Canons of Volterra, before moving to Guardistallo, where they were welcomed on account of their benevolent fame, which had preceded them. It is believed that Celestino and his son Giuliano were the first to take up residence, and they are remembered for “the good use they made of their possibilities to help the poorer classes, sustaining them with generous donations and favours”. From the union of Giuliano and Violante Lessi, came Gaetano, Nicola, Diumira and Giuseppa who, following the noble example of their predecessors, earned the title of Benefactors of suffering Humanity. Giuliano, together with his relatives Michelangelo, Natale, Silvestro, Ottaviano and Lorenzo, taking advantage of the occasion of the Leopoldine land Act of 1778 , built farms which produced cereals, wine and oil, thus creating development and work for the local population. From the union of Nicola and Erina , Sebastiano, Giuliano and Margherita were born. The Guardistallo branch of the family continued with Cesira, Virgilio, Guerrino and Paolo. The last two died young leaving an indelible memory of their integrity; above all Paolo, who was a doctor and practised his profession with great conscientiousness and without any thought of self. Cesira married Giovanni Biondi Bartolini of Pomarance. A cultured man of great ingenuity, and they had seven daughters and Giulio, who by marriage in 1907, become related to the noble lady Maria Dolores Baldi Papini. Virgilio married Zaira, a Pisan noble-woman of the Rossi Ciampolini family and began a period of important works and investments in Guardistallo. In 1877 he built a beautiful mansion at the entrance to the village called “Villa Elena”. Two years later he decided to repair and improve a little square in Guardistallo at his own expense and the town council, in recognition of this decided that the square should be named after him. Continuing his work of development and improving the village, after a year’s work he opened a theatre on 11.8.1833, this became a place of culture and entertainment for the population and also the centre and support for the musical group. After his beloved Zaira died, Virgilio married again, Emma Biondi Bartolini was of an old noble family of Pomarance; three children were born of this union, Giulio 1890, Fabio 1891 and Elena 1899. Virgilio enlarged the farm by buying land in nearby Montescudaio and Casale. He was particularly attentive to the production of wines, an art in which he excelled, not only for the quality but also for the use of modern techniques. At the beginning of 1900 he also exported his products as far as Paris, Montevideo and Buenos Aires, receiving prices and diplomas of merit. In 1888 he restored the principal church which had been damaged in the earthquakes of 1846 and 1871. Virgilio played an active part in public life, sitting on the town council and then becoming Mayor. With great modesty and impartiality, on the occasion of the elections in 1889. he paid for notices to be displayed, inviting the inhabitants of Guardistallo not to vote for him, so as to avoid a detrimental dispersion of votes. On 5.3.1893 he was nominated “Cavaliere della Corona d’Italia”. Fabio Marchionneschi after careful analysis which went on for several years and having obtained favourable results, donated the source of the “Santissima Annunziata” to the people in 1933. For many years this source guaranteed the water supply to the Commune of Guardistallo. In 1925 Giulio and his son Virgilio after him, in 1980, donated large portions of land in the Commune of Montescudaio for the realisation of the sports ground and public gardens called the “Boschetto”. We consider that the Marchionneschi family is of historical importance, linked to Guardistallo and Montescudaio and this history should be conserved for future generations.