The Twilight of Rome's Papal Nobility: The Life of Agnese Borghese Boncompagni Ludovisi de Ugo Boncompagni Ludovisi (1856–1935)

The Twilight of Rome's Papal Nobility: The Life of Agnese Borghese Boncompagni Ludovisi: Other Voices of Italy

Autor Ugo Boncompagni Ludovisi (1856–1935) Traducere de Carol Cofone Cuvânt înainte de T. Corey Brennan, Rita Boncompagni Ludovisi

en Limba Engleză Hardback – 11 mar 2025

Today anyone can walk along Via Veneto in Rome and experience Italy’s famed La Dolce Vita. However, it was once private property, part of Villa Ludovisi, and possessed of an altogether different culture. It was owned by the Boncompagni Ludovisi, an illustrious Roman noble family, descended directly from Pope Gregory XIII. They acquired the villa in the 1600s, and ultimately expanded it to sixty-two acres. However, by the late 1800s, the economic and social upheaval that accompanied the unification of Italy resulted in the villa’s subdivision, and the family’s loss of all but one of its properties, Villa Aurora, which still houses masterpieces by Caravaggio and Guercino, among others.

The Twilight of Rome’s Papal Nobility provides an intimate look at this family’s life and times. In its pages, privately published in Italian in 1921 and newly translated into English, Ugo Boncompagni Ludovisi recounts the story of his mother, Agnese. He illuminates how she lived, surrounded by almost unimaginable wealth and power, as her public life became increasingly tumultuous amid the family’s struggles to retain its property. In this tender elegy to a bygone era, we follow in the footsteps of the uniquely Roman papal nobility that shaped the history and culture of both the city and nation.

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Specificații

ISBN-13: 9781978840867
ISBN-10: 1978840861
Pagini: 334
Ilustrații: 5 color, 7 B-W images
Dimensiuni: 127 x 203 mm
Greutate: 0.45 kg
Editura: Rutgers University Press
Colecția Rutgers University Press
Seria Other Voices of Italy

Notă biografică

UGO BONCOMPAGNI LUDOVISI (1856–1935), the eldest son of Rodolfo Boncompagni Ludovisi and Agnese Borghese Boncompagni Ludovisi, was the progenitor of the current Boncompagni Ludovisi dynasty. Twice widowed, he ultimately joined the priesthood and held the influential position of Vice Camerlengo at the Vatican. As the founder of the Scacciadiavoli winery, he introduced innovative wine-making techniques to Italy.

CAROL COFONE is a translator and assistant director of the Archivio Digitale Boncompagni Ludovisi.

T. COREY BRENNAN is a professor of classics at Rutgers University and director of the Archivio Digitale Boncompagni Ludovisi. His books include The Fasces: A History of Ancient Rome's Most Dangerous Political Symbol and Sabina Augusta: An Imperial Journey.

HSH PRINCESS RITA BONCOMPAGNI LUDOVISI is the cofounder of the Archivio Digitale Boncompagni Ludovisi and coauthor (with T. Corey Brennan) of the forthcoming Villa Ludovisi: A Biography.

Cuprins

Contents
Forewords by HSH Princess Rita Boncompagni Ludovisi, T. Corey Brennan
Translator’s Note by Carol Cofone
INTRODUCTION

To My Few Readers

CHAPTER I

Casa Borghese
My Grandfather’s Wedding—My Mother is Born
The Death of my Grandmother, Guendalina
My Mother Always Remembers This Death
My Grandfather’s Second Marriage
My Mother Up To the Age of Twelve
The Revolution of 1848
Pius IX Departs from Rome
From My Mother’s “Journal:” Pius IX and the Borghese in Gaeta
The Borghese in Naples
The Miracle of San Gennaro
The Devotion to the Sacred Heart—The Doria
The News from Rome
The de Ligne
The Taking of Rome
Pius IX in Portici and the Borghese in Vico
Two Small Volumes of Memories
Her Mother
Her Father
The “Journal” of Her mother
The Borghese Return—My Mother’s Education is Completed

CHAPTER II

“L’entrée dans le monde” of My Mother...My Mother’s Entry into the World
The Engagement and a Misunderstanding with the Porter
The Marriage
Letters of My Grandfather Borghese
Travel to Paris and England
My Birth
Other Letters from My Grandfather Borghese
My Brother Luigi is Born
A First Excursion
Aunt Princess Doria Dies
My Sister Guendalina
Political Events—Francesco II in Rome
Don Bosco and Francesco II at Villa Ludovisi
Letters of Francesco II
One of My Audiences with Francesco II
Family Relations—Some Names
My Sister Maddalena and My Brother Giuseppe are Born
My First Communion
A Warning That is Almost a Prophecy
Three Trips to Paris
In Mentone, in Switzerland, in Bavaria
We Do Not “diamo del tu” Anymore
In Belgium, in Cologne, and Again in Paris
I Get Lost in the Garden of the Exposition
Return to Rome and Meetings with the Countess Pianell, Monsignor di Canossa and the Garibaldini
A Trip to Mentana and the De Charette
La Quiete
The Institute of the Blind
The Charity Bazaar
My Mother’s Serious Illness—My Sister Maria is Born
My Uncle and Aunt Venosa at La Quiete
The Faith of My Mother
Une Matriarche
Her Faith and Affection for the Roman Pontificate
Gregory XVI
Pius IX
Leo XIII
Pius X
Benedict XV
The Political Philosophy of My Mother, The Division in Roman Society
I Fall Sick
A Deficiency in the Education of My Mother
A Faithful Cook
Providential Care of the Staff
The 20th of September, 1870
My Mother, the Pontifical Prisoners and Two Courtly Officers of the Bersaglieri
The 20th of September and Several Years Spent at La Quiete
A Few Among the Visitors of La Quiete in Those Years
Don Bosco
The Chapel of La Quiete and the Sacred Heart
Other Visitors at La Quiete—Abbott Lisi and Abbott Ancaiani
A True Tridentine Patriot
A Train Accident—Aunt and Uncle Bomarzo at La Quiete

CHAPTER III

Vittoria Patrizi
A Thought about Marriage
My Marriage
The Death of Princess Adele Borghese
The Wedding of My Sister Guendalina
My Little Guendalina and My Mother
Alton Towers Castle in the Past
The Religious Vocation of My Sister Maddalena and My Mother
The Departure, the Investiture of My Sister in the Letters of Monsignor Czaski and My Mother
Isabella Rondinelli Marries My Brother Luigi
La Quiete, Its Visitors Cardinal Pecci and Cardinal Nina
Two Oratorians Sacred to La Quiete: Monsignor Fabiani, Father Agostino da Montefeltro
The Death of My Vittoria, My Sorrow, the Affection of My Mother
My Mother and San Francesco
San Francesco—His Shrines—Franciscan Festivals
My Grandfather Piombino Dies
Laura Altieri
At Palazzo Piombino in Piazza Colonna
A Great Sorrow: the Death of Her Father
My Mother’s Thoughts on Maternal Authority
A Very Small Book Where She Wrote Down Her Memories About Her Children
Little Political Newspapers
October 20, 1886, a Very Happy Day for My Parents
My Father on the Verge of Death and Guido Baccelli
Arduina di San Martino Marries My Brother Giuseppe
The Palazzo in Via Veneto and My Mother
My Mother and the Memories of Casa Boncompagni
My Laura Dies—My Mother and Extreme Unction
Our Serious Financial Difficulties; Charity, the Fortitude of My Mother’s Soul
A Look at Her Affection for My Father That Manifested Itself More in The Days of Suffering
The Sorrow of My Mother Over the Death of Princess Teresa Borghese
My First Mass and The Long-Standing Prayer of My Mother in Loreto
Three Great Sorrows, Three Perished...My Brother-In-Law Cattaneo Dies
My Grandmother Piombino Dies
My Son-In-Law Malvezzi Dies
The Last Party At La Quiete—The Wedding of My Guglielmina
It Is the Hostess Who Makes the Salon
The Golden Wedding Anniversary
The Canon Don Andrea Muzzarelli
A Good Friend, Today Bishop of Noto
My Francesco Marries Nicoletta Prinetti. Their First Child
My Mother and Her Affection for Her Husband in His Last Years
The Death of Our Father; The Great Sorrow of Mammà

CHAPTER IV

Her Vision; The Painful Privations That It Imposed
Conversation Is a Welcome Relief
The Loss of a Beloved Sister and Two Dear Brothers
The Grandmother and Her Affection for Her Grandchildren
The Heart of My Mother, And My Son
My Daughter Guendalina, Her Grandmother and Her Social Work
My Mother’s Thoughts About the Work of Women
The Congregation of San Vincenzo in Foligno
A Son Respected for His Love for His Mother
Activities Aimed at Spiritual Improvement
Belfiore and the Children of The Workers
The Turchine and Some of Her Ways of Carrying Out Charity
The First Communions—The Last Hundred Lire My Mother Gave
Mons. Faloci and the Charity of My Mother
Going Back to My Mother’s Characteristic Qualities
My Mother and Culture—The Book
Another Loss—Her Last Sorrow
She No Longer Goes To La Quiete
Mother Savina Petrilli and The Last Summer Seasons
The Last Summer Seasons in Her Letters
The “Sisters Of The Poor”— The Dear One Of My Mother —“Leonetta"
Gleaning Among the Reading Done “With Pen in Hand”
Charity and Manual Work
What Those Who Knew Her Write
Maddalena Patrizi
Father Martens
Carlo Santucci
The Count of Linange
Raffaella Conestabile
Monsignor Di Somma
Matilde Fiorilli
Return To Rome!
Her Life in The Last Months
Everything Is in Order
My Sisters Tell Me
Always Full of Life ... But Life Is Near Its End!
Last Days—The Sacraments—Memories—Goodbyes
Last Hours—The Prayers of The Dying
I’m Standing in That Room! She Breathes Her Last! ... It’s Five Minutes to Midnight.

Notes on Contributors
Appendix: Who’s Who

Foreword xv
HSH Princess Rita Boncompagni Ludovisi
T. Corey Brennan
Translator’s Note xxv
Carol Cofone
Introduction: To My Few Readers 1
Chapter 1 3
Casa Borghese 3
My Grandfather’s
Wedding—My
Mother
Is Born 5
The Death of My Grandmother,
Guendalina 6
My Mother
Always Remembers This Death 7
My Grandfather’s
Second Marriage 11
My Mother
Up to the Age of Twelve 13
The Revolution of 1848 15
Pius IX Departs from Rome 18
From My Mother’s
“Journal”: “Pius IX
and the Borghese in Gaeta” 19
“The Borghese in Naples” 28
“The Miracle of San Gennaro” 36
“The Devotion to the Sacred Heart—The
Doria” 38
“The News from Rome” 40
“The de Ligne” 42
“The Taking of Rome” 43
Pius IX in Portici and the Borghese in Vico 44
Two Small Volumes of Memories 45
Her Mother
47
Her Father
50
The “Journal” of Her Mother
54
The Borghese Return—My
Mother’s
Education Is Completed 55
Chapter 2 59
“L’entrée dans le monde” of My Mother
(My Mother’s
Entry into the World) 59
The Engagement and a Misunderstanding
with the Porter 62
The Marriage 63
Letters of My Grandfather
Borghese 66
Travel to Paris and England
68
My Birth 71
Other Letters from My Grandfather
Borghese 73
My Brother
Luigi Is Born 74
A First Excursion 74
Aunt Princess Doria Dies 75
My Sister
Guendalina 76
Political
Events—Francesco
II in Rome 76
Don Bosco and Francesco II at Villa Ludovisi 77
Letters of Francesco II 79
One of My Audiences with Francesco II 82
Family
Relations—Some
Names 83
My Sister
Maddalena and My Brother
Giuseppe Are Born 86
My First Communion 87
A Warning That Is Almost a Prophecy 88
Three Trips to Paris 88
In Mentone, in Switzerland, in Bavaria 89
We Do Not “Diamo del Tu” Anymore 90
In Belgium, in Cologne, and Again in Paris 91
I Get Lost in the Garden of the Exposition 92
Return to Rome and Meetings with the Countess
Pianell, Monsignor di Canossa, and the
Garibaldini 94
A Trip to Mentana and the De Charette 96
“La Quiete” 97
The Institute of the Blind 98
The Charity Bazaar 100
My Mother’s
Serious Illness—My
Sister
Maria Is Born 104
My Uncle
and Aunt Venosa at La Quiete 106
The Faith of My Mother
106
Une Matriarche 108
Her Faith and Affection for the Roman
Pontificate 108
Gregory XVI 109
Pius IX 109
Leo XIII 111
Pius X 112
Benedict XV 113
The Political
Philosophy of My Mother,
the Division in Roman Society 113
I Fall Sick 114
A Deficiency in the Education of My Mother
115
A Faithful Cook 120
Providential Care of the Staff 121
The 20th of September 1870 123
My Mother,
the Pontifical Prisoners, and Two
Courtly Officers of the Bersaglieri 124
The 20th of September and Several Years
Spent at La Quiete 125
A Few among the Visitors of La Quiete in Those
Years 129
Don Bosco 130
The Chapel of La Quiete and the Sacred Heart 132
Other Visitors at La Quiete—Abbott
Lisi
and Abbott Ancaiani 134
A True Tridentine Patriot 136
A Train Accident—Aunt
and Uncle
Bomarzo
at La Quiete 139
Chapter 3 141
Vittoria Patrizi 141
A Thought about Marriage 142
My Marriage 143
The Death of Princess Adele Borghese 143
The Wedding of My Sister
Guendalina 144
My Little
Guendalina and My Mother
145
Alton Towers Castle
in the Past 145
The Religious Vocation of My Sister
Maddalena
and My Mother
148
The Departure, the Investiture of My Sister
in the Letters of Monsignor Czaski, and
My Mother
149
Isabella Rondinelli Marries My Brother
Luigi 153
La Quiete, Its Visitors Cardinal Pecci and
Cardinal Nina 154
Two Oratorians Sacred to La Quiete:
Monsignor Fabiani, Father
Agostino
da Montefeltro 156
The Death of My Vittoria, My Sorrow,
the Affection of My Mother
158
My Mother
and San Francesco 158
San Francesco—His
Shrines—Franciscan
Festivals 159
My Grandfather
Piombino Dies 163
Laura Altieri 163
At Palazzo Piombino in Piazza Colonna 164
A Great
Sorrow: The Death of Her Father
164
My Mother’s
Thoughts on Maternal Authority 166
A Very Small Book Where She Wrote
Down Her Memories about Her Children
170
Little
Political
Newspapers 172
20 October 1886, a Very Happy Day for
My Parents 174
My Father
on the Verge of Death and
Guido Baccelli 174
My Sister
Maria Marries Francesco Caffarelli 175
Arduina di San Martino Marries My Brother
Giuseppe 179
The Palazzo in Via Veneto and My Mother
179
My Mother
and the Memories of Casa
Boncompagni 180
My Laura Dies—My
Mother
and Extreme
Unction 182
Our Serious Financial Difficulties; Charity,
the Fortitude of My Mother’s
Soul 183
A Look at Her Affection for My Father
That
Manifested Itself More in the Days of
Suffering 185
The Sorrow of My Mother
over the Death
of Princess Thérèse Borghese 188
My First Mass and the Long-Standing
Prayer of My Mother
in Loreto 189
Three Great
Sorrows, Three Perished . . . My
Brother-in-
Law
Cattaneo Dies 190
My Grandmother
Piombino Dies 191
My Son-in-
Law
Malvezzi Dies 192
The Last Party at La Quiete—The
Wedding
of My Guglielmina 192
It Is the Hostess Who Makes the Salon 193
The Golden Wedding Anniversary 194
The Canon Don Andrea Muzzarelli 199
A Good Friend, Today
Bishop of Noto 201
My Francesco Marries Nicoletta Prinetti.
Their First Child 202
My Mother
and Her Affection for Her
Husband in His Last Years 202
The Death of Our Father;
the Great
Sorrow of Mammà 204
Chapter 4 207
Her Vision; the Painful Privations That
It Imposed 207
Conversation Is a Welcome Relief 209
The Loss of a Beloved Sister
and Two
Dear Brothers
209
Grandmother
and Her Affection for
Her Grandchildren 211
The Heart of My Mother,
and My Son 212
My Daughter
Guendalina, Her Grandmother,
and Her Social Work 213
My Mother’s
Thoughts about the Work of
Women
214
The Congregation of San Vincenzo in Foligno 215
A Son Respected for His Love for His Mother
216
Activities Aimed at Spiritual Improvement 217
Belfiore and the Children
of the Workers 218
The Turchine and Some of Her Ways of Carrying
Out Charity 218
The First Communions—The
Last Hundred
Lire My Mother
Gave 219
Mons. Faloci and the Charity of My Mother
220
Going
Back to My Mother’s
Characteristic
Qualities 220
My Mother
and Culture—The
Book 222
Another Loss—Her
Last Sorrow 223
She No Longer Goes to La Quiete 224
Mother
Savina Petrilli and the Last Summer
Seasons 225
The Last Summer Seasons in Her Letters 231
The “Sisters
of the Poor”—The
Dear One
of My Mother—
“
Leonetta” 235
Gleaning among the Reading Done “with
Pen in Hand” 238
Charity and Manual Work 244
What Those
Who Knew Her Write 244
Maddalena Patrizi 245
Father
Martens 245
Carlo Santucci 247
The Count of Linange 248
Raffaella Conestabile 248
Monsignor Di Somma 249
Matilde Fiorilli 251
Return to Rome! 254
Her Life in the Last Months 255
Everything
Is in Order 258
My Sisters
Tell Me 259
Always Full of Life . . . but Life Is Near Its End! 260
Last Days—The
Sacraments—Memories—
Goodbyes
262
Last Hours—The
Prayers of the Dying
269
I’m Standing in That Room! She Breathes
Her Last! . . . It’s Five Minutes to Midnight 271
Who’s Who in The Twilight of Rome’s
Papal Nobility 275
Notes on Contributors 281

Recenzii

"An intimate memorial to Agnese, who became wife, mother, and matriarch of a Roman aristocratic family in the tumultuous decades between the mid-nineteenth and the early twentieth century. From memoir to wider family history, Ugo's account intertwines the fate of the Boncompagni Ludovisi with the making of a new unified Italy. Cofone's translation captures the spirit of the now vanishing world of Roman aristocratic culture."
"Cofone's translation offers an extraordinary glimpse into the lives and mental world of the nineteenth-century Roman aristocracy—intensely Catholic but increasingly international and, from a social position of certainty that would prove mistaken, intellectually curious. The economic ups and downs of the Boncompagni Ludovisi family, an astoundingly rich papal family which would topple from its great height by the end of the century, are the backdrop for marital alliances and travels, and the life of Agnese Borghese Boncompagni Ludovisi as written by her son was, in its own way, a gigantic adventure in which we can now participate."

Descriere

The Twilight of Rome’s Nobility provides an intimate look at an illustrious family who grew up surrounded by almost unimaginable wealth and power. A tender elegy to a bygone era, this book offers a first-hand account of late nineteenth-century Italy’s social upheavals as the family’s vast Villa Ludovisi was lost.

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