San Martino in Rio

San Martino in Rio is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Reggio Emilia in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 50 kilometres (31 mi) northwest of Bologna and about 12 kilometres (7 mi) northeast of Reggio Emilia. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 6,990 and an area of 22.6 square kilometres (8.7 sq mi). The municipality of San Martino in Rio contains the frazioni (subdivisions, mainly villages and hamlets) Case Culzoni, Case Vellani, Gazzata, Montecatini, Osteriola, Stiolo, and Trignano. San Martino in Rio borders the following municipalities: Campogalliano, Correggio, Reggio Emilia, Rubiera. History According to : San Martino in Rio (italian) It was Charlemagne who donated these lands to the Church of Reggio Emilia, which in turn, through the Bishop Maltraversi Nicholas, sold it in 1050 to Boniface of Canossa. In 1115 the Countess Matilda of Canossa, daughter of Boniface, enfeoffed the family the territory to the reggianese family Roberti. From 1115 to 1430, this feud took the name of “Martino de’ Roberti”. The castle was destroyed in 1157 by Emperor Barbarossa and the Roberti rebuilt it surrounding it with a moat always full of water, drawbridge and enclosing it with wall and two mighty towers. In 1346 the Roberti allied with the Este family. In 1353 the Gonzaga besieged and destroyed the castle, which was again rebuilt. In 1368, the Roberti, with the imperial investiture of Charles IV, secured the possession of the manor until 1400, when the fighting began with the Este family, who will lead the family of Roberti to abandon, in 1420, San Martino in Rio. Having become the center of an independent lordship for a cadet branch of Este with Sigismund (1501–12), San Martino in Rio, then also called San Martino d'Este, also exercised sovereignty over the territories of Campogalliano, Castellarano, Prato di Correggio, Lemizzone, Gazza, Stiolo and Trignano. With Filippo, it was elevated to marquessate and finally, with Carlo Emanuele Filiberto II, to a principality in the empire 1747. In 1752, with the extinction of the line, the principality was reabsorbed by the Dukes of Modena, having it initially administered by the Count Gaudenzio Vallotta (1752–1795) and then conceded as feud to prince Paolo Rangoni d'Aragona (1772–1792). The castle loses the appearance of a military fort to become an elegant residence. Anna Ricciarda d'Este, daughter of Carlo Emanuele Filiberto II, was given Novellara in usufruct. Title As a titular Duke of Modena, the current holder of the title of "Prince of San Martino in Rio" would be Prince Lorenz of Belgium, Archduke of Austria-Este. Demographic evolution See also Princes of San Martino in Rio References