Tomaselli

Tomaselli is the name of an old Italian family whose documented history is associated with northern Italy, particularly Piacenza, Milan, Strigno, and the Bergamo area. The family is described as having roots among condottieri and feudal lords, with different branches later receiving knighthoods and other distinctions in European chivalric orders. It is not a contemporary commercial brand or corporate group, and the available reference material does not identify a present-day company, product portfolio, owner, or formal brand-management structure under the name. The earliest cited record dates to the beginning of the twelfth century. Luigi Tomaselli is identified as the family founder in the tradition summarized by the Wikipedia article. He was said to have been granted a knighthood in 1113 by Matilda of Tuscany after military service in conflicts connected with the papal cause against Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor. His nephew Cosimo Tomaselli reportedly fought with the Lombard League against Frederick Barbarossa at the Battle of Legnano. The family’s economic position was strengthened by involvement in the wool trade and by participation in local political life. Over subsequent centuries, branches of the family moved through several northern Italian centers and entered relationships with regional governments and ruling houses. Members were associated with territories connected to the Archdiocese of Milan, and Giacomo Tomaselli, described as a lawyer with close links to the Sforza dynasty, became Grand Chancellor of the Duchy of Milan in 1537. In the late seventeenth century, the Republic of Venice sent members of the family to the Province of Bergamo, during the rule of Doge Silvestro Valier, to administer and oversee Venetian possessions around the Serio River. The family eventually settled permanently in the Bergamo region and exercised authority over feudal territories connected with the southwestern borders of the Venetian Republic. The family’s prominence declined when its most important branch, the Counts of Sottocasa, became extinct in the middle of the eighteenth century. A later title was nevertheless granted to Luigi Sergio Tomaselli, who was already recognized in the nobility of Bergamo. In 1801, Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor, awarded him the hereditary title of Count of Sottocasa, which was to pass according to primogeniture. Another significant branch developed in Austria. It descended from Giuseppe Tomaselli, born in Rovereto in 1758, when the area belonged to the Prince-Bishopric of Trent and was later under Austrian rule. After studying music in Milan, Giuseppe moved to Salzburg in 1781 and became a singer in the court chapel of Hieronymus, Count of Colloredo-Wallsee, the Prince-Bishop of Salzburg. He later worked as a music teacher in Salzburg and Vienna. His marriage to Antonia Honikel connected the family to a German-speaking Central European background. This Austrian branch produced several figures in nineteenth-century music and theatre. Giuseppe’s children included Franz Tomaselli, an actor and comedian in Vienna; Karl Tomaselli, founder of a well-known Salzburg coffeehouse; Ignaz Tomaselli, a comedian and singer; and Katharina Tomaselli, an opera singer. Katharina was the mother of the Austrian actress and theatre director Josefine Gallmeyer. The wider family also includes the historian Sylvana Tomaselli, who by marriage became Countess of St Andrews and a member of the extended British royal family. The reference material additionally identifies Pope Boniface IX, opera singer Giuseppe Tomaselli, and bassist Pancho Tomaselli among notable people associated with the name, although the precise genealogical relationships are not fully detailed there.

The Tomaselli family is presented in the reference material as an old northern Italian lineage with roots among military leaders, feudal administrators, merchants, lawyers, and political figures. Its earliest cited document dates from the beginning of the twelfth century. Luigi Tomaselli is identified as the founder and is traditionally said to have received a knighthood in 1113 from Matilda of Tuscany after distinguishing himself in battles associated with the conflict between the papal party and Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor. His nephew Cosimo Tomaselli is said to have fought with the Lombard League against Frederick Barbarossa at Legnano. The family’s fortunes grew through wool trading and entry into local political affairs. Branches moved from Piacenza into Milan and other parts of northern Italy, eventually becoming connected with the Archdiocese of Milan and acquiring feudal possessions. Giacomo Tomaselli, a lawyer linked to the Sforza ruling house, was appointed Grand Chancellor of the Duchy of Milan in 1537. During the late seventeenth century, the Republic of Venice placed members of the family in the Province of Bergamo under Doge Silvestro Valier. Their role involved controlling Venetian territories around the Serio River, and the family settled permanently in the Bergamo area while administering fiefs near the southwestern borders of the Venetian Republic. The principal Counts of Sottocasa branch became extinct in the mid-eighteenth century, ending much of the family’s earlier prominence. A hereditary title was later granted to Luigi Sergio Tomaselli, who was already enrolled in the nobility of Bergamo. Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor, made him Count of Sottocasa in 1801, with succession assigned by primogeniture. A separate branch developed in the Austrian and German-speaking cultural sphere. Giuseppe Tomaselli was born in Rovereto in 1758 and moved to Salzburg in 1781 after studying music in Milan. There he became a court-chapel singer and later worked as a music teacher in Salzburg and Vienna. His children included Franz Tomaselli, a Viennese actor and comedian; Karl Tomaselli, who founded a notable Salzburg coffeehouse; Ignaz Tomaselli, a comedian and singer; and Katharina Tomaselli, an opera singer. Katharina’s daughter was Josefine Gallmeyer, an Austrian actress and theatre director. The family’s later associations extend beyond Italy and Austria. Historian Sylvana Tomaselli, born in Salzburg to Maximilian Karl Tomaselli and Josiane Yvonne Preschez, became Countess of St Andrews through marriage. The article also lists Pope Boniface IX, opera singer Giuseppe Tomaselli, and bassist Pancho Tomaselli among notable figures connected with the name. The available sources do not establish the Tomaselli name as an operating consumer brand, company, or corporate enterprise.

• 1801

  Creation of the Count of Sottocasa title

  [1]Tomasellien.wikipedia.org

  Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor, granted Luigi Sergio Tomaselli the hereditary title of Count of Sottocasa.

• 1781

  Giuseppe Tomaselli moves to Salzburg

  [1]Tomasellien.wikipedia.org

  After studying music in Milan, Giuseppe Tomaselli moved to Salzburg and joined the court chapel of the Prince-Bishop of Salzburg.

• 1537

  Giacomo Tomaselli becomes Grand Chancellor of Milan

  [1]Tomasellien.wikipedia.org

  Giacomo Tomaselli, a lawyer associated with the Sforza dynasty, was appointed Grand Chancellor of the Duchy of Milan.

• Earliest documented family record

  [1]Tomasellien.wikipedia.org

  The first cited document concerning the Tomaselli family dates to the beginning of the twelfth century.

• Luigi Tomaselli receives a knighthood

  [1]Tomasellien.wikipedia.org

  Family tradition records that Luigi Tomaselli was knighted by Matilda of Tuscany after military service in conflicts connected with the papal cause.

• Settlement in the Bergamo region

  [1]Tomasellien.wikipedia.org

  A branch was sent by the Republic of Venice to administer territories around the Serio River and subsequently settled in the Bergamo area.

Historic family name and lineage rather than a modern commercial brand.

1. 1Tomasellien.wikipedia.org