A HISTORY OF

THE DeNUCCIO FAMILY

OF RIARDO, ITALY

In the fifteenth century, around 1435, at the death of the late Angiovan sovereign, Giovanna II, a war was rekindled between Alfonso V, King of Aragon, and Renato d'Angio who was the brother of the king of France. This long and bitter war was finally concluded in 1442 with the victory of the Alfonso faction. Alfonso was referred to as "il Magnanimo" or nobie-minded.

Among the knights who had followed Alfonso and who had particularly distinguished himself in the conquest was the noble and courageous captain Pedros de Nucho, (1391-1446). Don Pedro had a son, Don Alonso, (1421-1480) who was also a career soldier.

Upon the death of Alfonso the Noble-Minded in 1458, his illegitimate son, Don Ferrante, succeeded him as Ferdinand I. He had many enemies and met considerable opposition from a group of barons who had revolted against Giovanni of Angio, son of the old Renato of Angio. Among those who took the side of the Angiovan was the feudal leader of Riardo, Antonio Cristoforo Gaetani. For this reason the king had the fortress of Riardo surrounded on August 22, 1463 and after five days of heavy siege took the castle by storm. Don Alonso de Nucho, having attained the rank of captain, was among those participating in the siege.

Having reduced the castle to his will, the king left a detachment of troops on the site under the command of Captain Don Alonso, who then established himself in the town with his sons, Don Pietro (1446-1514), Don Buenefacio (1448-1480) and Don Rocco (1450-1515). And so it was that the DeNuccios of Riardo, direct descendants of Don Pedros de Nucho of Aragon, Spain, came to prominence in the town and also branched out into other parts of Italy.

In particular the main branch .of the Riardese DeNuccio's are the descendants of first son Don Pietro. Don Pietro was the father of Don Bonefacio (1474-1544) who himself had two sons, Ferdinando (1488-1480) and Antonio (1521-1611). Bonefacio emigrated to Tuscany and Ferdinando to Palermo, Sicily, while Antonio remained in the town of Riardo and kept alive the name of DeNuccio.

In Florence, Tuscany, Bonefacio founded a hospital and in Siena other members of the family became famous painters. One of them, Benedetto of Gubbio (1521-1587) was the most famous and created many artistic works in Florence and in the regions of Umbria and Marche.

Historian Di Crollalanza indicates that Nucci of Lucca is the rightful holder of a "blue Coat of Arms of a Golden Griffin." Surmounted at the top of the griffin are three golden stars arranged in a half-circle. In Pistoria and Firenze (Florence) the DeNuccio's coat of arms displayed a golden griffin surmounted by the silver cross of St. Stefano. The DeNuccio who emigrated to Palermo, Ferdinando, had a coat of arms which displayed a red lily on a golden background. Di Crollalanza also says that the Nucci of Sicily coat of arms used to belong to an old and noble family which had branched out into the cities of Mazara and Alcamo and enjoyed high office until 1270. One son of this family, Nicolo, died in the battle of Ravenna (1512) serving the imperial forces against the French. The date of 1270, however, precedes the arrival in the Kingdom of Naples and Sicily of Don Pedros de Nucho and makes one think of another DeNuccio who emigrated to the island centuries before.

From the previously mentioned Antonio DeNuccio (1521-16I1) who had stayed in Riardo was descended Mattia (1544-1600); from Mattia descended Pietro (1574-1644). From Pietro descended Bonefacio (1604-?) and another Mattia(1606-i688). From this Mattia descended Alfonso (1640-1705), Nicolo (1642-1710), and Rocco 1662-1745). The sons of Rocco were Mattia (?-?) and Pietro (1738-1805). It is from this Pietro that some of the better known DeNuccio's descended. They are better known because they are closer to our time. For example, Rocco, born in 1774, Pasquale, Mattia, Domenico, Nicolo (1779-1885), who was the husband of Teresa De Fusco. Arcadio (1784-1862) and Bonifacio (1784-1859) were twins and both were ordained and became monsignors.

Rocco DeNuccio is the patriot of Riardo who in 1799 killed two French soldiers, and when Giocchino Murat was forced to abandon his throne in 1815, became the Mayor of Riardo for a few months. He married Maria Zeppetella, daughter of Domenico and Ippolita Caiazza. They became the parents of six children, one of whom, Pietro, born in 1817 became a pharmacist and later a patriot with Garibaldi, but unfortunately he was abducted and killed with his nephew by bandits in 1866.

It is from this Pietro DeNuccio, married to Elena Franco, that are descended Candido and Arcadio DeNuccio. Candido DeNuccio was a teacher and owner of Fonte Eletta and earlier had been co-head with Erasmo DeNuccio of the family archives. He married Lucia Mollica (1849-1928), a baroness from the Montenaro family of Teano. They had seven children: Pietro (1873-1937), Marco (1878-1934) who emigrated to the United States, Elvira (1880-1965), Celia (18821958), Giovanni (I887-1944), Dante (1889-1958), and Alfredo (18921954). Alfredo was the father of Vera and Lucia.

Of these the most particularly remembered and honored in Riardo and Italy was Pietro who became an Assistant Deputy Secretary of Finance and later, Mayor of Riardo from 1928 to 1933. During this period the beautiful Piazza de11a Vittoria (Victory Square) was completed together with the new elementary school building and the monument to the deceased during World War I.

Arcadio DeNuccio (1855-1924) was the first treasurer and secretary of the town and married Amalia Casillo. Their children were Ugo, who died young; Ada, who married Dr. Tomaso Ricca, a very skillful physician in Rome; Adele, who married Amedeo Izzo, an engineer with Alfa Romeo; Alba, who married Franceso Lepore, chief executive officer of public education; and finally, Tullio, a prominent lawyer, who was born in 1891, and became famous for his heroic active duties during the First World War. He became a lawyer and member of the bar in Rome for 50 years.

While the DeNuccio name is still prominent in various parts of Italy it is practically non-existent in Riardo. The last DeNuccio in Riardo was Roberto (1917-1960), son of Giovanni and Elena DeNuccio. Roberto was a school teacher and gentleman: sincere, polite, friendly. He died at age 42. His only sister, Franca, is married to Dr. Luciano D'Ovidio, who is an executive for the Secretary of the Interior.

The family name DeNuccio continues to exist in the United States with the descendants of Marco. Shortly after emigrating to the United States he married Angela Teresa Garofano, of Maddaloni, in the Italian church of Spirito Santo in Providence, Rhode Island in 1899. They gave life to six children: Americo, Alfonso, Elena, Luigi, Rosa, and Conditto. Widowed in 1918 Marco was remarried to Marianna Petterutti Iaccoba in 1919. It was to them that the twins, Italo and Armando were born. Marco died in 1934 while Marianna (Grandma DeNuccio) lived until 1973, long enough to see the first two of Marco's great-great grandchildren come into the world. Our branch of the DeNuccio family begins with Marco and his wives, Angela and Marianna. Currently, (2006) the descendants of Marco include the eight children mentioned above plus 18 grandchildren, 41 great grandchildren, 57 great-great grandchildren and 11 great-great-great grandchildren.

From: The Story of Riardo by R. Piscatelly, 1984.

Translated by Peter Buonfiglio, Sr., Foreign Language Chairperson, Bain Junior High School, Cranston, RI, 1992

Additional and updated information:

William Michael DeNuccio, 1992, 2006