The Ventimiglia family was originated from the union of Serlone II d'Altavilla, a Godson and relative of Ruggero Gran Count of Sicily, and his wife Lady Isabella de Candia et Creon-Nevers, Countess of Geraci, of the House of Candia. This marital union gave origin to the Ventimiglia line, the successors of Serlon were: Eliusa, Rinaldo di Bernaville, Rocca di Bernaville, Ruggero di Creon, Guerrera de Creon, Ruggero de Candida, Alduino de Candia, Elisabetta de Candia who married Count Enrico I of Ventimiglia from whom descended Guglielmo II. The French branch uses de Vintimille and the Spanish branch uses de Veintimiglia.

Another branch, the Lascaris (di Ventimiglia) Conti di Tenda, is descended in female line from the Laskaris of the Empire of Nicaea through the marriage in 1262 of Pietro I, Conte di Ventimiglia, Signore de Tenda (d. 1278) with Eudokia Laskarina (b. 1254), daughter of Emperor Theodore II Laskaris and wife Princess Elena of Bulgaria. Empress Josephine de Beauharnais is a descendant from it. A branch also located in Sicily and the husband of one of them founded Ventimiglia di Sicilia. Some empoverished members of the Sicilian branch went to the United States of America.

Members of the family include:

• Giovanni I Ventimiglia (1382-1473), eighth count of Geraci (from 1408); Marquis of Geraci from 1448 with the title of "Primo Marchese del Regno"; also Signore of Castelbuono, Tusa, Gangi, San Mauro, Pollina, Caronia (from 1412), Praetor of Palermo in 1416 and 1417, Grande Ammiraglio del Regno (Grand Admiral of the Kingdom), Viceré di Sicilia (Viceroy of Sicily) 1430-1432 and Viceré di Napoli (Viceroy of Naples).
• Giovanni II Ventimiglia, sixth Marquis of Geraci (from 1545), Baron of Pettineo (from 1529), Signore of Castelbuono, Tusa, Gangi, Tiro, Ciura and Carcinella, Sciara, and Pinola. A keen supporter of the mathematical sciences. Supported the efforts of scientist Francesco Maurolico.
• Salvatore Ventimiglia (d. Palermo, April, 1797), Bishop of Catania, son of the 3rd Princes of Belmonte

Titles held by the family include:

• Lord of Tenda
• Lord of Ollioules (in France)
• Lord of la Verdière (in France)
• Lord of Saint-Julien (in France)
• Lord of Turriers (in France)
• Lord of Ravest (in France)
• Lord of Vidauban (in France)
• Baron of Regiovanni
• Baron of Gratteri
• Count of Ischia
• Count of Geraci
• Count of Golisano
• Count of Naso
• Count of Prades
• Count of Ventimiglia, Lozana and Alpes-Maritimes
• Count of Peñon de la Vega (in Spain)
• Marquess of Castelbuono
• Marquess of Cropony
• Marquess of Gerace
• Marquess of Reggiovanni
• Marquess of Sambuca
• Marquess of Crópani (in Spain)
• Prince of Belmonte
• Prince of Castelbuono
• Prince of Gran Monte

Sources

• Lineage of the Ventimiglia family

See also

• Ventimiglia (disambiguation)