Colonna collection

Machine-translated from the Italian article

The Colonna collection, specifically of the branch of the princes of Paliano, is an art collection founded in Rome in the 16th century and still belonging to the eponymous family. Considered one of the oldest Roman patrician families together with the Orsini, surpassed in terms of feudal expansion during the 17th century only by the Borghese and Barberini families, the Colonna family built its wealth on the roles and successes it had both in the Papal States and in the Kingdom of Naples and that of Sicily. Openly aligned with the Spanish Crown, the Colonna di Paliano members held over time all the main titles provided by the Spanish monarchy: they were invested with the Grand Constableship of the Kingdom of Naples (the first to receive the investiture was Fabrizio Colonna, in 1497 from King Ferdinand of Aragon), they received the collar of the Golden Fleece (the first was Marcantonio II in 1559, followed by Marcantonio V, Lorenzo Onofrio and Filippo II), the title of Viceroy of Aragon from 1678 to 1681, and the office of Viceroy of the Kingdom of Naples on two occasions, between 1530 and 1532 and between 1687 and 1688 (obtained respectively by Cardinal Pompeo Colonna and by Lorenzo Onofrio).