The Black Nobility (Italian: aristocrazìa nera) were Italian aristocratic families who sided with the Papacy under Pope Pius IX as opposed to Vittorio Emanuele II of Italy when the Piedmont monarchy came to Rome in 1870, temporarily ending the Papal States. As the Pope confined himself to the Vatican for 59 years, those who had received their titles from the Holy See—previously known as Privy Chamberlains of the Sword and Cape—kept their own doors closed in mourning, leading to the title "Black Nobility."-1... The Pope is the Catholic Bishop and patriarch of Rome, and head of the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Catholic Churches. ... Pius IX, born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti (May 13, 1792 – February 7, 1878), was Pope for a record pontificate (not counting the Apostle St. ... King Victor Emmanuel II of Italy Victor Emmanuel II (Italian: Vittorio Emanuele II; March 14, 1820—January 9, 1878) was the King of Piedmont, Savoy and Sardinia from 1849–1861, and King of Italy from 1861 until his death in 1878. ... The House of Savoy is a dynasty of nobles who traditionally had their domain in Savoy, a region between Piedmont, Italy, France and French-speaking Switzerland. ... City motto: Senatus Populusque Romanus – SPQR (The Senate and the People of Rome) Founded 21 April 753 BC (mythical), early 1st millennium BC (archaeological) Region Latium Area  - City Proper  1285 km² Population  - City (2004)  - Metropolitan  - Density (city proper) 2,553,873 almost 4,300,000 1. ... 1870 (MDCCCLXX) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... The Papal States (Gli Stati della Chiesa or Stati Pontificii, States of the Church) was one of the major historical states of Italy before the boot-shaped peninsula was unified under the Piedmontese crown of Savoy (later a republic). ... The current Pope is Benedict XVI (born Joseph Alois Ratzinger), who was elected at the age of 78 on 19 April 2005. ...

Following the conclusion of the Lateran treaties in 1929, the Black Nobility were given dual citizenship in Italy and the Vatican, as a token of their friendship, allowing them to enter the Noble Guard, which had previously only been open to nobility from the former Papal States. In 1931, Pope Pius XI denied the request of Alfonso XIII to open the Noble Guard further to nobles from all Catholic countries. The Lateran Treaties of February 11, 1929 provided for the mutual recognition of the then-Kingdom of Italy and the Vatican City. ... 1929 (MCMXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Noble Guard (Guardia Nobile) was the most senior guard unit of the Vatican City. ... 1931 (MCMXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link is to a full 1931 calendar). ... Pius XI (Latin: ), born Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti (May 31, 1857 – February 10, 1939), reigned as Pope from February 6, 1922 and sovereign of Vatican City from 1929 until his death on February 10, 1939. ... Alfonso XIII of Spain (May 17, 1886 - February 28, 1941), King of Spain, posthumous son of Alfonso XII of Spain, was proclaimed King at his birth. ...

Famous members of Black Nobility families include Eugenio Pacelli, who later became Pope Pius XII, and Giovanni Agnelli, who founded Fiat. Other Black Nobility families include Brigitta, Massimo, and Santioris. Pope Pius XII (Latin: ), born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli (March 2, 1876 – October 9, 1958), reigned as the 260th pope, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, and sovereign of Vatican City State from March 2, 1939 until his death. ... Giovanni Agnelli, joh-VAHN-ee ahn-YEL-ee (August 13, 1866-December 16, 1945), was the founder of the Fiat (Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino) automobile company and the leading Italian industrialist of the first half of the 20th century. ... FIAT Group, or Fiat S.p. ...

References

• Coulombe, Charles A. 2003. Vicars of Christ: A History of the Popes. Citadel Press. ISBN 0806523700. p. 415.
• Murphy, Paul I. and Arlington, R. Rene. 1983. La Popessa. New York: Warner Books Inc. ISBN 0446512583. p. 41.

Fiction using the term

• Greely, Andrew M. 1997. White Smoke: A Novel about the Next Papal Conclave. Tor/Forge. ISBN 0812590554. p. 64.
• Hatonn, Gyeorgos Ceres. 1993. Relative Connections-Truth And Consequences Vol. III. Las Vegas, Nevada, Phoenix Source Publishers. ISBN 1569350205 p. 74.
• Segal, Erich. 1993. Acts of Faith. Bantam Books. ISBN 0553560700. p. 315.