Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, 1500-1558 (addressee)
Name:
Carretto family
Date:
1498
Description:
Collection of documents pertaining to the Carretto family (also referred to as del Carretto). The family, of Spanish origin, moved to Sicily in the early 16th century and prospered in the Palermo and Agrigento areas thanks to a close network of alliances with local noblemen. These connections are highlighted in many of the items of the collection, which consists of a large number of marriage certificates, dowries (sometimes containing inventories), death and baptism records, and genealogical tables. The Carretto were related to the Burgio, the Naselli, the Valguarnera, the Galletti, the Morso, and the Requesens, and through them acquired multiple titles and privileges. Moreover, correspondence between the Carretto and the Spanish king Charles V shows how the family stayed close to the crown even after moving to Sicily, and how they helped the monarch maintain a control over the Southern Italian territories. Wills of various members of the Carretto family, usually accompanied by inventories, are also present, and donations or payments to the local churches (especially Sant'Antonio da Padova in Palermo) are frequent.
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