Italy, as a single nation state, began only in 1861, after the Piedmont-based Kingdom of Sardinia conquered most of present-day Italy. At that point, titles were recognized to all who held them according to the law of so-called pre-unitarian States. Consequently, the Kingdom of Italy had several different nobility traditions, one for each pre-unitarian State and one for the unified state (that was actually the Piedmontese-Savoyard one). That is why the Italian College of Arms, called Consulta araldica (heraldic council), was organized in 14 "regional" commissions. Common rules concerning all titles were established only in 1926. That is why a list of Italian marquisates has to be divided into different pre-unitarian lists, plus a unified list for titles granted after 1861. The latter should be completed with titles granted by the last King of Italy, Humbert II, during his exile and after the proclamation of the republic (1946), until his death in 1983: these concessions base upon the fact that he was not defeated in war and thus remained a king, that is a fons honorum, but this issue is controversial, titles granted by a non-reigning king not being recognized by most noble and royal families in Europe. Only the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and the Corpo della Nobiltà Italiana recognize these titles, while the CILANE treats them as mere titles of courtesy. Since 1948, the republican constitution states that nobility titles are not recognized. It means that public bodies have not the power to use them towards nobility and tribunals have no power to state about their existence or non-existence, even as an interlocutory matter. The main association that privately protects titles and nobility is the Corpo della Nobiltà Italiana (body of the Italian nobility, also known as CNI).
List of marquesses in the Papal States
In Rome, several families hold a title of Marquis. A couple of them (traditionally four) are called "Marquesses of canopy" (in Italian: marchesi di "baldacchino"), since they hold the privilege of being among those that the Pope could visit and kept in their residence a special throne under a canopy for this aim. It is a historical privilege (the Pope does not visit privates nowadays) that permits these families to rank among Roman Princes and Dukes and let their members – as it happens for all families of Princes and Dukes in Italy – to be styled as Don or Donna before their first name. Since it is a customary privilege, some of them are disputed, especially in cases when a family became extinct and it is not clear whether another family has inherited the dignity.
Canopy marquesses
House of Patrizi (Patrizi Naro Montoro), beforehand Naro: the Marquess of Mompeo; House of Theodoli, beforehand Astalli: the Marquess of Saint Vitus and Pisoniano; House of Costaguti: the Marquess of Sipicciano; this house became extinct in 1921 with the marriage of the last Marquess Costaguti's only child, a daughter, with Marquess Afan de Rivera, whose descent have added the surname Costaguti: it is disputed weather Marquess Afan de Rivera Costaguti is actually a Canopy Marquess; House of Cavalieri: the Marquess of Penna; this house became extinct in 1814: it is disputed if the house Capranica had succeeded to the Cavalieri as Canopy Marquesses; Count Gerolamo Riccini: the Marquess of Vallepietra, title granted in 1842 explicitly together with honours of canopy but rapidly extinct; House of Serlupi (Serlupi Crescenzi), beforehand Crescenzi: Marquess; House of Sacchetti: Marquess of Castelromano (Letters patent 1933)
Other marquesses in Rome
Other marquesses include some distinguished families and also many of the Roman princes, who have among their many titles some of Marquess. The latter are non-included in the list hereafter; on the other hand, the list is incomplete also as concerns houses whose main title is that of Marquess. ltoviti-Avila Niccolai Lazzerini: Marquess; Cappelletti di Santa Maria del Ponte: Marquess; Cavalletti De Rossi, Patricians of Rome: the Marquess of Oliveto Sabino; Lepri: Marquess, the Marquess of Rota; Mazzetti: the Marquess of Pietralata, Patricians of Rome; Pellegrini Quarantotti: the Marquess of Casciolino.
List of marquesses in the rest of Latium, in Umbria and in the Marches
The list is incomplete. House del Gallo, Noble of Rieti: the Marquess of Roccagiovine. Marchesi Del Monte
List of marquesses in the papal "Romagne" The list is incomplete. Hercolani (Princes of the Holy Roman Empire, Patrician of Bologna): the Marquess of Blumberg; Malvezzi, Patrician of Bologna (1st line, Malvezzi Campeggi): the Marquess of Dozza Malvezzi, Patrician of Bologna (2nd line, Malvezzi de' Medici): the Marquess of Castelguelfo;