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Villafranca in Lunigiana, Massa e Carrara, Toscana, Italy Genealogy


Guide to Villafranca in Lunigiana municipality, Italy ancestry, family history, and genealogy: birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.

History

The ancient castle of Malnido existed before the arrival of Dante (around 1306). Evidence suggests the castle was a garrison on the Via Francigena. The church of San Nicolò di Malnido existed by 1285.

Jurisdictions the municipality belonged to:

  • Malaspina family (specifically the Ghibelline branch)
  • Imperial fiefdom of the Malaspina dello Spino secco, marquises of Virgoletta
  • (From 1567, placed under the Tuscan consortium)
  • (From the 18th century, placed under the protection of the dukes of Modena)

Major events:

  • Mention of the castle of Malnido and its connection to the Via Francigena.
  • Governance by Franceschino Malaspina of Mulazzo during Dante's time.
  • Association with Corrado II (the Younger) Malaspina, praised by Dante in Purgatory.
  • Mention in Boccaccio's Decameron.
  • Marriage by proxy in the church of San Nicolò di Malnido in 1285, linking the Malaspina to the Counts della Gherardesca.
  • Discovery of the crypt containing the remains of the Malaspina princes.
  • Division of the marquisate in 1547, creating the lines of Virgoletta and Castevoli.
  • Around 460 families residing in Villafranca in 1559.
  • Revolt in 1705 against the Marquis Giovanni.
  • Sovereignty until its suppression in 1797.[1]

Resources

Cemeteries

Census

Church Records

Civil Registration

Repositories

For a list of FamilySearch Centers and Affiliate Libraries, see map.

Archives

Libraries

Societies

Research Helps

The following articles will help you research your family in Italy.


References

  1. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Villafranca in Lunigiana," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villafranca_in_Lunigiana, accessed 5 February 2025.
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