Evening star., 1947-08-16
Italians Make Ready
To Chop Off Titles
OF 100000 Mobiles
By james WeIIord
herih American Newspaper Alliance

ROME, Aug. 16.-Next to CzariSt
Russia, Italy used to have the most
numerous aristocracy in Europe,
and she still has an estimated $780,
000 titles today, or one out of every
200 of the total population. But
whereas Bolshevist Russia disposed
Of her aristocrats by the Ugly Duch-
ess method of "off with their heads!"
the Italians are about to lop off the
titles of their gentry, leaving them
with their heads.
Soon the italian Parliament will
debate an articel of the new con-
stitution which states: THE re-
public does not acknowledge titles
of nobility" Since this article has
already been adopted and recon-
mended by 75-man committee ap-
pointed to draft the constitution,
there is little doubt that the Con-
stituent Assembly will approve the
recommendation.
Thus, 1taly's numerous princes
dukes, marquises, counts and barons
will officially disappear overnight.
Will Make Little Difference.
In point of fact, however, legisla-
ton will make little difference to
the status of Italian aristocrats, as
the French constitutional laws
passed after the revolution of 1889
made little difference to the French
nobility. French noblemen continue
to retain their pristine titles, and
IN Italy the 6tSI,t real change will u
that the titles prince or baron"
will be- discreetly placed between
brackets 6n thei.eae&lling cards.
Italy's aristocracy is divided into
three main categories, the white, !"
the BLACK" and the Pseudo" no
bility. The white" aristocracy was
created by the Kings of Italy and
Sicily. and they comprise, in order
OF precedence, princes, dukes, mar
quises, counts, barons and minor
dignitaries who are entitled to affix
a de" before their mafily name.
The "Libro D'Oro" (or Golden
Book~ compiled by the Consulta
Araldica "a kind of supervisory
council of the Italian nobility
lists about $4,000 accredited" aris-
tocrats. including 1900 princes, of
whom about TOO are in Sicily.
where almost every village has its
prince. There are some 1000 dukes,
and the remaining $4,000 or so rank
as marquises, counts, barons and
"deS."
Papal MOBILES Still Created.
The BLACK" aristocracy are the
mobiles created by the Popes through
the centuries, and these are ex-
empted from the government leg
islation by the concordat between
the Italian state and the Vatican.
Two Thousand BLACK" aristocrats,
including princes like Torlonia,
Boncompagni and Montereale, will
retain their titles.
Papal mobiles are still being Gre
ated by the bestowal of certain
ecclesiastical orders, such as the
Order of Christ, the Order of Plus
TX, and lesser decorations which
bring the recipient within the papal
hierarchy. Myron Taylor, Ameri-
can delegate to the Holy See, is
thus considered a nobleman.
In addition there are an esti-
mated 100000 pseudo -aristocrats-
commoners- who at some time or
other have held a figurative sword
over their head and acquired
knighthood and a coat of arms with
the minimum Of effort. Some OF
them are of quite respectable"
origin and trace their noble birth
back to the Middle Ages. when an
ancestor formed a private army,
built castle, and called himself
lord of all he surveyed. Others
are newcomers to the gentry, and
have tackled on a title in the course
of business.
The genuine Italian nobility did
not protest the governments level
ing legislation. They preferred to
remain discreetly silent, perhaps on
the assumption that no law can
change the chemistry of the blood.
Today most of them are concerned
with how to make ends meet.