The Legend
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Every large family is born from legends that are lost in times gone by. The most accredited legend states that they originate from Baldassarre, one of the three magi, hence the full 16-rayed silver star - comet star - which dominates the coat of arms.
Others who descend from the sacred lineage of the Balti who gave rise to the Kings of the Goths.
History
Historic family originally from Provence, France.
The progenitor was Pontius I, Viscount of Arles and lord of Le Baux, born in 870/880 AD. He expanded his power by acquiring numerous lordships, including Vienne, Marseille, Berrj, Montpelier, the Principality of Orange and on January 8, 1215 he obtained from the Emperor Frederick II, the (honorary) title of King of Arles and Vienne, practically the whole of Provence.
They arrived in Italy following Charles I of Anjou in 1223 and became one of the seven most powerful families in the Kingdom of Naples.
It was divided into various branches and had numerous prestigious fiefdoms, including: the County of Avellino and Monte Scaglioso, the Duchy of Andria and Venosa, the County of Bisceglie, the Duchy of Bari and the Principality of Altamura, and in particular, in Terra d'Otranto the County of Soleto with San Pietro and Galatina, the County of Copertino, Ugento, Nardò, Castro, and Lecce, the Principality of Taranto and the Duchy of Otranto, etc... Of the various branches of the family, two survive the del Balzo Dukes of Presenzano and the del Balzo Dukes of Caprigliano.
The del Balzo di Presenzano family
Don Gennaro del Balzo(1932), Noble of Capua, Knight of Honor and Devotion of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, married to Carla Valsecchi. He is father of:
– Donna Eugenia (1957), married to Philippe Wertheim, from whom Laetitia and Charlotte were born;
– Don Antonio (1961), Noble of Capua, from whom Vittoria;
– Donna Francesca (1967), married to Antonio Foresti, from whom Alessandra, Piero and Carolina;
– Don Raimondo (1972), Noble of Capua, married to Tatiana Chafcouloff, from whom Adalasia, Rebecca and Audrey.
