Duke of Amalfi

Medieval Amalfi was ruled, in the tenth and eleventh centuries, by a series of dukes (Latin: duces), sometimes called dogi (singular doge) corresponding with the republic of Venice, a maritime rival throughout the Middle Ages. Before the dukedom was formally established in 957, various patricians governed the territory.

Amalfi established itself as one of the earliest maritime trading powers renowned throughout the Mediterranean, competing with northern European cities.

Early rulers

Prefects (839–914)

The prefecture's establishment is not certain, but the first elected Prefect of Amalfi was in 839.

• Peter
• Marinus (first time)
• Sergius (I)
• 860–866 Maurus
• 870–876? Marinus (second time)
• 872–879 Pulcharius (co-ruled with Marinus)
• 883 Sergius (II)
• 898 Stephen
• 898–914 Manso (I)

Patricians (914–957)

The time of the patricians (or judges) is not well known. The numbering of the rulers of Amalfi usually begins again with the judgeship. Mastalus was elected judge upon his succession in 914.

• 914–953 Mastalus I
  • 920–931 Leo
  • 939–947 John (I)
• 953–957 Mastalus II

Dukes

Independent dukes (957–1073)

Mastalus was elected duke on his coming of age, but died the next year. A new dynasty was then inaugurated. It reigned uninterrupted for the next 115 years, except during the period 1039–1052, when the duke of Salerno conquered the duchy.

• 957–958 Mastalus II
• 958–966 Sergius I (II)
• 966–1004 Manso I (II), also Prince of Salerno (981–983)
  • 984–986 Adelfer, in opposition to Manso
• 1004–1007 John I (II), also Prince of Salerno (981–983)
• 1007–1028 Sergius II (III)
• 1028–1029 Manso II (III) with
  • 1028–1029 Maria, his mother
• 1029–1034 John II (III)
• 1034–1038 Manso II (III), again (with Maria)
• 1038–1039 John II (III), again (with Maria)
• 1039–1052 Guaimar I, also Prince of Salerno (1027–1052)
  • 1043–1052 Manso II (III), again
  • 1047–1052 Guaimar II, son, co-ruled with his father
• 1052–1069 John II (III), again
• 1069–1073 Sergius III (IV)
• 1073 John III (IV)

Norman governance

Amalfi was conquered by Robert Guiscard, duke of Apulia. Nevertheless, Amalfi rebelled twice, once electing the former prince of Salerno, Gisulf, and once electing a Neapolitan of that ducal family.

• 1088–1089 Gisulf, also Prince of Salerno (1052–1078)
• 1096–1100 Marinus Sebastus

A certain Manso ruled Amalfi—minting his own currency—under the title of vicedux (Vice-duke) sometime between 1077 and 1096, most probably during the reign of Robert's son Roger Borsa. Manso recognised Norman overlordship and was most probably a Norman appointee.

Neapolitan dukes (1388–1673)

The title "Duke of Amalfi" (Duca di Amalfi in Italian) was revived under the kingdom of Naples in the late 14th century, passing to the Piccolomini family in 1461.

• 1398–1405 Venceslao Sanseverino, also Count of Tricario and Chiaromonte, and Duke of Venosa
• 1405–1438 Giordano Colonna
• 1438–1459 Raimondo II del Balzo Orsini, also Prince of Salerno (died 1459)
• 1461–1493 Antonio Todeschini Piccolomini
• 1493–1498 Alfonso I Piccolomini, whose wife Giovanna is the title character in The Duchess of Malfi
• 1499–1559 Alfonso II Piccolomini
• 1559–1575 Cesare I Gonzaga
• 1584–1632 Ferrante II Gonzaga
• 1632–1656 Ottavio Piccolomini
• 1656–1673 Enea Silvio Piccolomini

Spanish dukedom (1902- )

The 20th-century title Duque de Amalfi was revived by Alfonso XIII of Spain:

• 1902–1912 Fulgencio Fuster y Fontes
• 1912–1945 Antonio de Zayas y Beaumont
• 1945–1959 Luis Moreno y Zayas
• 1959–1996 María del Carmen Cotoner y Cotoner
• 1996–2004 Íñigo Seoane y Cotoner
• 2004–present Íñigo Seoane García

Sources

• Chalandon, Ferdinand. Histoire de la domination normande en Italie et en Sicilie. Paris: 1907.
• Gay, Jules. L'Italie méridionale et l'empire Byzantin, vol. 2. New York: Burt Franklin, 1904.
• Skinner, Patricia. Family Power in Southern Italy: The Duchy of Gaeta and its Neighbours, 850–1139. Cambridge University Press, 1995.
• Skinner, Patricia. Medieval Amalfi and Its Diaspora, 800–1250. Oxford University Press, 2013.
• Stasser, Thierry. "Où sont les femmes?" Prosopon: The Journal of Prosopography (2006).