Alberico I Cybo-Malaspina (28 February 1534 – 18 January 1623) was the first Prince of Massa and Marquis of Carrara. He was also the last Count (1553–1619) and the first Duke of Ferentillo (1619–1623).

Alberico I Cybo-Malaspina
Portrait of Alberico I Cybo-Malaspina
Marquis/Prince of Massa and Carrara
Reign15 June 1553–18 January 1623
Coronation15 June 1553
PredecessorRicciarda Malaspina
SuccessorCarlo I Cybo-Malaspina
RegentNone
Born28 February 1534 (1534-02-28)
Massa and Carrara
DiedJanuary 1623 (1623-02) (aged 88)
Massa and Carrara
Spouse
  • Elisabetta della Rovere
  • Isabella Do Capua
Issue5
HouseMassa and Carrara
FatherGeneral Lorenzo Cybo
MotherRicciarda Malaspina
ReligionCatholic Christianity

Born in Genoa, Italy, he was the son of Lorenzo Cybo and Ricciarda Malaspina (although probably born of his mother's adultery with her brother-in-law, Cardinal Innocenzo Cybo),[1] and was a descendant of Pope Innocent VIII and Lorenzo de' Medici.

In 1553 Alberico succeeded his mother as Marquis of Massa and Lord of Carrara, being later promoted, in 1568, to Prince and Marquis respectively He was married twice, first to Elisabetta della Rovere, daughter of Francesco Maria I della Rovere, Duke of Urbino by whom he had one son, Alderano Cybo-Malaspina; and second to Isabella di Capua, by whom he had three daughters and a son. He also fathered five natural children. Cybo-Malaspina died in Massa after having reigned, beloved and respected, for nearly 70 years. Since his son Alderano had predeceased him, it was his grandson Carlo who succeeded him in the principality.[2]

Notes

edit
  1. ^ Petrucci (DBI): "In all probability the date of his birth was 28 February 1534, although [Alberico] himself pretended to be two years older [...] Understandable, however, is [Alberico's desire] to anticipate his own year of birth, since in 1532 the relationship between his father and his mother was not completely interrupted, as on the contrary it would be two years later, when Ricciarda resided permanently in Florence, far from her husband and instead close to Cardinal Innocenzo Cibo, her brother-in-law, most probably [Alberico's] true father". See also: Calonaci, Stefano (2006). "MALASPINA, Ricciarda". Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani (in Italian). Vol. 67. Rome: Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana. Retrieved 3 December 2022. Alberico (1534), on the other hand, was probably the son of Cardinal Innocenzo Cibo, although he was held to be legitimate
  2. ^ Petrucci (DBI).

Sources

edit