Editing Orsini family (section)

==Bracciano line==
Napoleone, another son of Matteo Rosso the Great, received Bracciano, [[Nerola]] and other lands in what is now northern [[Lazio]]. In 1259 he was [[Summus Senator|Senator of Rome]]. Thanks to the strategic positions of their fiefs, and to their famous [[Castello Orsini-Odescalchi|castle]] built in Bracciano in 1426, they were the most powerful Orsini line in the Lazio. Count Carlo (died after 1485), son of another [[Napoleone Orsini (condottiero)|Napoleone]] (died October 3, 1480), was Papal Gonfaloniere. By his marriage with a Francesca Orsini of Monterotondo was born Gentile Virginio Orsini, one of the most prominent figures of Italian politics in the late 15th century. After Carlo's death, he enlarged the family's tenure with lands inherited by his wife, another Orsini from Salerno, and most of all he was amongst the favourites of Ferdinand I of Naples, who appointed him as Great Constable of Naples. Together with his cousin, the Cardinal Giovanni Battista, he was among the fiercest opponents of popes [[Innocent VIII]] and [[Alexander VI]]. In 1492 Gentile Virginio bought the county of [[Anguillara Sabazia|Anguillara]] from [[Franceschetto Cybo]].

During [[Charles VIII of France]]'s descent into Italy, he managed to keep Bracciano. [[Ferdinand II of Naples|Ferdinand II]] had his fiefs confiscated and imprisoned him in [[Castel dell'Ovo]], where he was poisoned in 1497. The family recovered this setback under the more friendly Medici popes of the early 16th century. His son [[Gian Giordano Orsini|Gian Giordano]] was [[Prince Assistant to the Papal Throne]]. His nephew Virginio was a famous admiral for the Papal States and France, but in 1539 he had his fiefs confiscated under the charge of treason.

[[Paolo Giordano I Orsini|Paolo Giordano]] was created first Duke of Bracciano in 1560. The son of Girolamo Orsini and Francesca Sforza, he was grandson, on his father's side, of [[Felice della Rovere]]<ref>Caroline P. Murphy, ''The Pope's Daughter: The Extraordinary Life of Felice della Rovere'' (New York: Oxford University Press 2006).</ref> (illegitimate daughter of [[Pope Julius II]]) and [[Gian Giordano Orsini]] and, on his mother's side, of Count Bosio [[Sforza]] and [[Costanza Farnese]], an illegitimate daughter of [[Pope Paul III]]. An accomplished condottiero, he was however also a ruthless figure who had his wife [[Isabella de' Medici]] murdered. For this and other homicides he had to flee to northern Italy. He was succeeded by [[Virginio Orsini, Duke of Bracciano|Virginio]], whose heir [[Paolo Giordano II Orsini|Paolo Giordano II]] married the princess of [[Piombino]] and was created Prince of the [[Holy Roman Empire]]. His brother [[Alessandro Orsini (cardinal)|Alessandro]] was cardinal and Papal legate, and another brother, Ferdinando (died March 4, 1660) acquired the assets of the other line of [[San Gemini]]. In the 17th century the Dukes of Bracciano moved their residence to Rome. This, along with a general economical decadence, damaged the dukedom, and last Duke and Prince, Flavio (March 4, 1620&nbsp;– April 5, 1698) was forced by the huge debts to sell it to [[Livio Odescalchi]].