Duca de Colonna

The Colonna family descends from the Counts of Tusculum, who held power in the city of Rome during the 10th and 11th centuries and produced eight popes. Their progenitor was Margrave Alberic I of Spoleto (*before 889; † between 917 and 925). A certain Petrus de Columna (c. 1078–1108) is mentioned in 1101 as a son of Gregory of Tusculum (Gregory II, † before 1064), as well as the brother of a Gregory and a Tolomeo; however, the exact family relationships are not fully clarified.

The name Colonna derives from the town of Colonna, located in the Alban Hills near Tusculum. Colonna and Palestrina were confiscated by Pope Paschal II, but later restored to the aforementioned Petrus de Columna by Pope Honorius II.

During the High and Late Middle Ages, from the 11th to the 16th century, the Colonna family exercised considerable influence over the affairs of the Papal States and papal elections. This influence was based on their numerous castles and extensive estates—most notably the city of Palestrina—as well as their large network of clients and supporters.