Wealth and nobility: the Torlonia, princes and bankers

CYCLE: Nobles in Rome
SPEAKER: Daniela Felisini
DATE: Thursday, October 8, 6:00 PM

In 19th-century Rome, few families possessed a presence as imposing as the Torlonia—whether in buildings and monuments, in the writings of foreign travelers drawn to the magnificence of the cosmopolitan capital, or in the collective imagination.
Their modest French origins did not prevent Giovanni Torlonia from initiating an intense social ascent, rooted in banking activities and the acquisition of extensive landholdings. In 1809, Pope Pius VII granted him enrollment in the Libro d’Oro (Golden Book) of the Roman nobility, an honor extended in perpetuity to his descendants. This ennoblement was as recent as it was assertive, expressing itself through the traditional lifestyle of the aristocracy (more nobilium), characterized by a brilliant social life and munificent artistic patronage.
However, it was their extraordinary financial and entrepreneurial skills that led first Giovanni, and later his son Alessandro, to become the "Bankers to the Pope." Through the story of Alessandro, in particular, we will not only understand the personality and achievements of one of the greatest European bankers of his time, but also delve into the behavior of the elites, their matrimonial strategies, and complex family dynamics. Finally, the history of the Torlonia family offers illuminating insights into the Papal States, the Italian Risorgimento, and the transformations that reshaped European economy and society during the 19th century.

Daniela Felisini is Full Professor of Economic History and holder of a Jean Monnet Chair at the University of Rome Tor Vergata.
Her primary research interests include banks and bankers of the 19th and 20th centuries and the economic and financial history of the Papal States. She has published books on the Torlonia family with both Italian and international publishers, as well as numerous articles in national and international scientific journals.