Cariddi
Encyclopedia
The Cariddi family surname is believed to have its roots deep into antiquity. Julius Caesar
refers to the Caridi family in his ‘Commentaries’(c50 BC)(1). However the name, which in Greek is Karideus/Karidis, existed in ancient times because its root can be traced back to the Myceneans (at least 1000 BC) like so: Ka-Ri-Se-U (Keriseus-Karideus) (2)
More recent evidence regarding the Caridi family is provided by the Renaissance
genealogist Mugnos (1). He remarks that there were 'some' men (i.e. not just one) mentioned by Julius Caesar, who had this surname, i.e. they already were an established family with ancestors and descendants. According to Mugnos, they were 'noteworthy' (in Italian 'chiari'), and this suggests that they were high officials and of considerable standing in order to be important enough to be mentioned by Julius Caesar. The family as a whole was most likely a member of the Ancient Roman nobility, who had their sons sent to the army to become military leaders, as it was the custom at the time.
After the fall of the Roman Empire
, these families survived during the middle ages
(c700-1200AD) perhaps under Papal rule in Rome. It is possible that branches of this family lived in Byzantine
territories.
From these middle age families, originated the more modern families of the Roman nobility (1200-1600) (3, page 131). From Rome
, a branch of the Caridi family moved to the city of Messina, Sicily
during the reign of King Martino, c1392 (4). An Antonio Cariddi was gentiluomo maggiore (major gentleman) in the court of the Queen Marianna, c1390 (4).
The Italian genealogist Scorza (5) confirms that the family was originally Roman and that they subsequently moved to Messina. The fact that members of the family were officials in the royal court in 1390s, i.e. immediately after they first moved to Messina, suggests that this Roman family belonged to the Italian nobility from earlier years. Also the great number of the Caridi members who went to become high officials in royal and civil courts during the years, indicates that the family as a whole had strong roots in the nobility for many centuries in the times before the move to Messina.
Another Italian genealogist Mango (6) highlights: “Caridi is a noble family (famiglia nobile), a family of judges, doctors and others from Messina, Sicily”.
Galuppi (7) confirms that the family flourished from the 14th to the 18th centuries. From the ordinary nobility, the whole family was upgraded to the civilian senate. A Mario Caridi (born c1570) was registered in the nobility books of 1587-1610. He had the title of ‘Misser’ i.e. a graduate doctor (7). He was married to Maria Marullo, descendant of an important nobility family from Messina. Galuppi also mentions a Giovan Pietro Cariddi who was one of the founders of the Ordine dei Cavalieri della Stella. This was a military order which started in Messina in 1595 and became extinct in 1687. It consisted of 100 'nobilissimi cavalieri' (most nobile knights) who, to join, had to show a record of an unbroken family lineage of belonging to the nobility for at least 200 years. This places the date of origin of the Messina branch to about 1390.
In later years, a Gianni Cariddi was mentioned as being a noble in Malvasia (Greece
) in 1552 and his sons were nobles after him. Then, two brothers, Nicolo and Leo, Counts Caridi moved to Cephallonia, in the Ionian Islands
(8). During 1590 were given further nobility titles, according to the Livre d'or De la Noblesse Ionienne (9).
In Cephallonia the original head of the family was a marquis (10), a title given to him by the Venetian government. A Gianni Caridi (c1510) had the nobility title 'Gabellator' given to him and his branch by the Doge of Venice 1552 (9). A Pantazi Caridi (1710–1781) became Regent of the Ionian Islands.
From Cephallonia, a branch moved to Larnaca
, Cyprus
during the early 18th century. The head of this branch was Giovanni Caridi (born c1640 in Cephallonia), with his two sons Christodulos (born c1685) and Pietro (c1690) who was a medical doctor(11). Christodulos had the nobility title 'Kaminaris' given to him while briefly living in Hungary
. One of Christodulos's sons, Constadinos, became Bishop Athanasios of Nikomidea and subsequently a holy martyr of the Greek Orthodox Church. Pietro's son, Adronicos, was a Cypriot dragoman of the Imperial Majesty the Queen of Hungary.
There are several descending lines of the Cyprus branch still living on the island including a line descending from Maria Caridi (c1780-1870). She was married to Demetrios Pieridis
, of the current Pieridi Museum and Cultural Foundation in Cyprus (11).
From at least the early 13th century the family had the same coat of arms
: A golden pine in red background, with two griffins on either side (counter rampant).
Julius Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman and a distinguished writer of Latin prose. He played a critical role in the gradual transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire....
refers to the Caridi family in his ‘Commentaries’(c50 BC)(1). However the name, which in Greek is Karideus/Karidis, existed in ancient times because its root can be traced back to the Myceneans (at least 1000 BC) like so: Ka-Ri-Se-U (Keriseus-Karideus) (2)
More recent evidence regarding the Caridi family is provided by the Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
genealogist Mugnos (1). He remarks that there were 'some' men (i.e. not just one) mentioned by Julius Caesar, who had this surname, i.e. they already were an established family with ancestors and descendants. According to Mugnos, they were 'noteworthy' (in Italian 'chiari'), and this suggests that they were high officials and of considerable standing in order to be important enough to be mentioned by Julius Caesar. The family as a whole was most likely a member of the Ancient Roman nobility, who had their sons sent to the army to become military leaders, as it was the custom at the time.
After the fall of the Roman Empire
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
, these families survived during the middle ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
(c700-1200AD) perhaps under Papal rule in Rome. It is possible that branches of this family lived in Byzantine
Byzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
territories.
From these middle age families, originated the more modern families of the Roman nobility (1200-1600) (3, page 131). From Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, a branch of the Caridi family moved to the city of Messina, Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
during the reign of King Martino, c1392 (4). An Antonio Cariddi was gentiluomo maggiore (major gentleman) in the court of the Queen Marianna, c1390 (4).
The Italian genealogist Scorza (5) confirms that the family was originally Roman and that they subsequently moved to Messina. The fact that members of the family were officials in the royal court in 1390s, i.e. immediately after they first moved to Messina, suggests that this Roman family belonged to the Italian nobility from earlier years. Also the great number of the Caridi members who went to become high officials in royal and civil courts during the years, indicates that the family as a whole had strong roots in the nobility for many centuries in the times before the move to Messina.
Another Italian genealogist Mango (6) highlights: “Caridi is a noble family (famiglia nobile), a family of judges, doctors and others from Messina, Sicily”.
Galuppi (7) confirms that the family flourished from the 14th to the 18th centuries. From the ordinary nobility, the whole family was upgraded to the civilian senate. A Mario Caridi (born c1570) was registered in the nobility books of 1587-1610. He had the title of ‘Misser’ i.e. a graduate doctor (7). He was married to Maria Marullo, descendant of an important nobility family from Messina. Galuppi also mentions a Giovan Pietro Cariddi who was one of the founders of the Ordine dei Cavalieri della Stella. This was a military order which started in Messina in 1595 and became extinct in 1687. It consisted of 100 'nobilissimi cavalieri' (most nobile knights) who, to join, had to show a record of an unbroken family lineage of belonging to the nobility for at least 200 years. This places the date of origin of the Messina branch to about 1390.
In later years, a Gianni Cariddi was mentioned as being a noble in Malvasia (Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
) in 1552 and his sons were nobles after him. Then, two brothers, Nicolo and Leo, Counts Caridi moved to Cephallonia, in the Ionian Islands
Ionian Islands
The Ionian Islands are a group of islands in Greece. They are traditionally called the Heptanese, i.e...
(8). During 1590 were given further nobility titles, according to the Livre d'or De la Noblesse Ionienne (9).
In Cephallonia the original head of the family was a marquis (10), a title given to him by the Venetian government. A Gianni Caridi (c1510) had the nobility title 'Gabellator' given to him and his branch by the Doge of Venice 1552 (9). A Pantazi Caridi (1710–1781) became Regent of the Ionian Islands.
From Cephallonia, a branch moved to Larnaca
Larnaca
Larnaca, is the third largest city on the southern coast of Cyprus after Nicosia and Limassol. It has a population of 72,000 and is the island's second largest commercial port and an important tourist resort...
, Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
during the early 18th century. The head of this branch was Giovanni Caridi (born c1640 in Cephallonia), with his two sons Christodulos (born c1685) and Pietro (c1690) who was a medical doctor(11). Christodulos had the nobility title 'Kaminaris' given to him while briefly living in Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
. One of Christodulos's sons, Constadinos, became Bishop Athanasios of Nikomidea and subsequently a holy martyr of the Greek Orthodox Church. Pietro's son, Adronicos, was a Cypriot dragoman of the Imperial Majesty the Queen of Hungary.
There are several descending lines of the Cyprus branch still living on the island including a line descending from Maria Caridi (c1780-1870). She was married to Demetrios Pieridis
Demetrios Pieridis
Demetrios Pierides , Greek Cypriot son of Pierakis Demetriou Corella and Maria Caridi . He was a banker, vice consul of Great Britain and collector of ancient Cypriot artefacts.-History and Career:...
, of the current Pieridi Museum and Cultural Foundation in Cyprus (11).
From at least the early 13th century the family had the same coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
: A golden pine in red background, with two griffins on either side (counter rampant).