PhD Program in Historical studies
The “first” family of the Kingdom of Sicily
The Branciforte represented the “first” family of the Kingdom of Sicily and occupied the first seat of the feudal branch in the Sicilian Parliament. During the seventeenth century the family increased its power and established itself on the political scene of the island, especially with Niccolò Placido Branciforte, the Prince of Leonforte, with Fabrizio Branciforte, the first prince of Butera and Giuseppe Branciforte who held several prestigious political offices in Palermo.
The feudal properties of the family stretched over a very large territory in different parts of Sicily: Butera, Raccuja and Leonforte were the main lands on which the political and economic power of the family was centered and are still of great historical and artistic interest.