Researches concerning the Family Pirovano Dear

Researches concerning the Family Pirovano
Page 1
To whom it may concern
Switzerlnad, 6th of August 2006
Subject: Researches concerning the Family Pirovano
Dear friend Pirovano
Please below find the collected information regarding the family Pirovano. The original
texts are written in normal letters, the translations are written in italics.
I have received a lot of interesting information regarding the family Pirovano or the origin
of the word Pirovano from many different people.
If there is some more information, I should join to this collection, please let me know.
I thank you for your help in advance!
Carmen Pirovano
Carmen Pirovano: mailto:[email protected]
8/7/2006
Researches concerning the Family Pirovano
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The Pirovano Family
The Pirovano family was a very noble family that worked for the Visconti family which
were rulers of the region around Milano/Lake Como and Lake Lecco. The Pirovano’s
worked directly under the Visconti family laying out new towns, collecting taxes and
generally setting regions (John Pirovano; [email protected]).
The family Pirovano and the family Visconti came toghether: Anastasia Pirovano became
the wife of Tebaldo Visconti in about 1250. Tebaldo Visconti was the father of Uberto and
his descendants. (Egidio Pirovano, Via Mondacce 177, 6648 Minusio, Switzerland).
General information regarding the Visconti families: the period of democratic government
came to an end when power was seized by the old Milanese Visconti family, who were to
be “lords” of Milan from 1277 to 1447. The Viscontis gave the city a political an cultural
supremacy which brought international renown, and it is under their rule that the
construction of the Duomo and of the Castel began. (Carmen Pirovano;
[email protected]).
The famous Church in Milano called the Duomo has recorded in the cathedral 2 Pirovano
bishops dated 1200’s and 1400’s both were burned to death (John Pirovano;
[email protected]).
In the Duomo (cathedral) of Milano, on the right hand side when entering the cathedral,
there is a huge marble plaque showing the names of the bishops from Milano starting in
the year 1000: the first 2 had the name Da Pirovano (already as a boy I was very proud of
that!). (Vincenzo Pirovano, Hüsliweg 306, 5425 Schneisingen, Switzerland).
As fare as our origins are concerned I can tell you that there have been two Pirovano
being archbishops of Milano in the past. (Piero Pirovano, http://[email protected].)
A research is showing that there are actually 612 families Pirovano living in Milano (Piero
Pirovano, http://[email protected]).
The family Pirovano was a noble family and amongst its members there were also
clergymen. My great-aunt, Giuditta has been a nun of the cardinal Schuster from Milano.
(Egidio Pirovano, Via Mondacce 177, 6648 Minusio, Switzerland).
In about 1200 Oberto Pirovano was a very powerful archbishop of Milano. He founded the
league “lega lombarda” against Federico Barbarossa. When Barbarossa distroyed Milano,
Oberto Pirovano escaped with the treasure to Genua. That is how Oberto Pirovano
dishonoured the family name and in consequence the Pirovano started to call themselves
Provana or Provano. (Egidio Pirovano, Via Mondacce 177, 6648 Minusio, Switzerland).
Carmen Pirovano: mailto:[email protected]
8/7/2006
Researches concerning the Family Pirovano
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The Pirovano’s are recorded in Pavia as mayors of the town. Genova, Italy, also has
records of the family although I have not personally seen them. (John Pirovano;
[email protected])
The Pirovano’s had a Castle in the region just north of Monza on the out skirts of Milano
where I found a tumb of 5 Pirovano’s dating back to the early 1000’s. The castle was
burned to the ground in an uprising against the Pirovano’s. (John Pirovano;
[email protected])
Pirovano’s were also horse people and a fine bread of horses was bread in that region.
The story my grand-father tells is of the Pirovano’s selling horses to Napoleon Bonaparte
and a Pirovano joining the ranks as an officer in charge of the cavalry. Napoleon would
spend his summers in Italy and then would travel to Amsterdam Holland where he had
made his brother king and do trading. This is how my side of the Pirovano’s settled in
Holland. There is a house of records in Haarlem. A Mr. E Urger helped me find the records
of the Pirovano family dating back to the early 1800’s if you are interested in writing to him
the Address is Mr. E. Unger PO Box 5040 NL – 2000 GA Haarlem. Velsen is the town where
the family records show the family settled on the outskirts of Amsterdam. My grand father
told me stories and I have seen old family photos of his mom & dad and how the family
were strawberry farmers, fishermen and were involved in building the North Sea Canal. My
grandfather died a long time ago but his stories I remember very clearly. (John Pirovano;
[email protected]).
General information regarding Napoleon era in Milano: In the course of the wars that
followed the French Revolution of 1789, Milan came under French control. At first it
became capital of the Cisalpine Republic and, thereafter, of the so-called “Regino
Italico”, which was governed by relatives of Napoleon and comprised nearly the whole of
Nothern Italy. This was a brief period characterized by great artistic and ideological zeal,
which bequeathed the city with its first town-planning schemes, together with major
public works such as the Arena and some of the new “Porte” (city gates). (Carmen
Pirovano, [email protected]).
Amongst the Pirovanos were also warriors. Thomas Pirovano was the captain of the
cavalry of Malta, governor of Lamatte and Lanson. He died at Rhodos during the famos
siege of the Turks, I think. (Egidio Pirovano, Via Mondacce 177, 6648 Minusio, Switzerland).
About 5 years ago my parents passed their holiday on the island of Malta. In a church
called “St. John’s Co-Cathedral” my mother discovered a thumb stone showing the
inscription Provano (please see “the family name” below). Unfortunately my mother did
not yet know at that time that the name Pirovano had been changed to Provano as well,
otherwise she would have payed more attention to the other information on this stone.
But she remembers that it was a thumb of a crusader. (Carmen Pirovano;
[email protected]).
Carmen Pirovano: mailto:[email protected]
8/7/2006
Researches concerning the Family Pirovano
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The family crest
The family crest of the Pirovano, of Novaggio, with the origin in Villa d’Adda. Source:
“Codice di Marco Cremosano, manoscritto del XVII secolo”, State Archives di Milano.
(Carmen Pirovano; [email protected]).
The family crest is dated 1122 AD. (John Pirovano; [email protected]).
In the family crest of the Pirovano from Milano there is the tower of Milano and a bunch of
grapes; this tower was very high and it is said that one could have seen the sea from
there. (Egidio Pirovano, Via Mondacce 177, 6648 Minusio, Svizzera).
The family name
The family name is Roman and dates back to the early 1000’s (John Pirovano;
[email protected]).
The family name is antique. In older days the Pirovanos were named “da Pirovano” and
the Germans said “Von Pirovano”. Pirovano must be a place in the Veneto (region of
Italy) but I don’t know where this place is. In the Swiss region called “Graubünden” there is
also the name “Pirovino” existing. (Vincenzo Pirovano, Hüsliweg 306, 5425 Schneisingen,
Switzerland).
When Barbarossa (see above) destroyed Milano Oberto Pirovano escaped with the
treasure to Genua. That is how Oberto Pirovano dishonoured the family name and in
consequence the Pirovanos started to call themselves Provana or Provano . (Egidio
Pirovano, Via Mondacce 177, 6648 Minusio, Svizzera).
Carmen Pirovano: mailto:[email protected]
8/7/2006
Researches concerning the Family Pirovano
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A “provana” is a wine plant at a certain stage of growing (?). Still today the grape “Italia”
and the queen grape are called Pirovano. I think the numbers are 298 and 264, but I am
not sure of that. (Egidio Pirovano, Via Mondacce 177, 6648 Minusio, Switzerland).
In the Russian language there is the verb “pirovat” existing. “Pirovat” means to make a
huge party for instance a wedding party. (Carmen Pirovano; [email protected]).
“Piro” means “fire” in the Greec language and “vano” means .....? (This information is from
a very nice gentleman from Italy who called me one day, but as he spoke very fast Italian
I had some difficulties of understanding him. Carmen Pirovano; [email protected]).
Various information
I think Eric Maria Rilke wrote a poem about Oberto di Pirovano (Egidio Pirovano, Via
Mondacce 177, 6648 Minusio, Switzerland).
Rainer Maria Rilke wrote: “Die Weise von Liebe und Tod des Cornets Christoph Rilke” , e.g.
“the way of love and death of the cornet Christoph Rilke”. I have read this poetry and
there is a certain “Freiherr von Pirovano des kaiserl. Oesterr. Heysterschen Regiments zu
Ross” e.g. “baron of Pirovano of the imperial Austrian ‘Heysterschen’ government on
horse” mentioned. This poetry was published the first time in 1912 and Rilke lived from 1886
to 1926. (Carmen Pirovano, [email protected]).
There is some information in the book “I Visconti” edited by Francesco Cognasco
Dell’Oglio 1966. (Egidio Pirovano, Via Mondacce 177, 6648 Minusio, Switzerland).
7 or 8 years ago I received an offer for a genealogical book concerning the name
Pirovano for the price of Sfr. 90.--. I did not buy it. [...] I advise you to look for that book in a
library at Basel (town in Switzerland). If you cannot find that book, tell me, as I know
people from Basel which might be interested. (Vincenzo Pirovano, Hüsliweg 306, 5425
Schneisingen, Switzerland). [Dear Mr. Vincenzo Pirovano: I could not find the mentioned
book - if you could help me, I would be very grateful - Carmen Pirovano].
There are some interesting information on the internet, I found by searching with the help
of the search machine Alta Vista. Here after some examples I have chosen without the
intention to make any promotion:
• http:www.pirovano.it/dx.html: There is a ski resort existing in the Italian mountains northeast of Milano, near the Swiss and Austrian border. The place is called Pass of Stelvio
and the hotels there were founded by Giuliana Boerchio and her husband Giuseppe
Pirovano in the late 40s. Fabiano Pirovano is mentioning, that there is a book existing,
that gives further information on Giuseppe Pirovano: “Bestiario” written by Dino Buzzati,
Arnoldo Mondadori (editor), 1991. ([email protected]).
• http://www.pime.org.br/pime_brasil/aristides.htm: A certain Aristides Pirovano went
after the second world war to the Brasilian Territory “Amapá”, which is situated in the
Carmen Pirovano: mailto:[email protected]
8/7/2006
Researches concerning the Family Pirovano
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North East of Brasil. There he founded a hospital together with his friend Dr. Candida
and did a lot of good things. He died in Italy in 1997.
• http://www.telemedia.it/acv/6.htm: A certain Alessandro Pirovano was the first
timekeeper and the first trustee of the new founded section of Varese (motorcycle
club?)
• http://www.winetel-italy.com/producer/pirovano/index.htm: There is a wine grower
with the name Pirovano.
Carmen Pirovano: mailto:[email protected]
8/7/2006