House of Borromeo

Borromeo
Noble family
Motto: Humility to the Name
(Latin: Humilitas nomini)
Country Duchy of Milan

Golden Ambrosian Republic
Transpadane Republic
Cisalpine Republic
Italian Republic
Kingdom of Italy
Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia

Kingdom of Italy
Current region Italy
 European Union
Place of originRome
Founded1445; 579 years ago (1445)
FounderVitaliano I
Current headVitaliano XI
Titles
Style(s)Don or Donna
Estate(s)Rocca d'Angera
Palazzo Borromeo, Milan
Castel of Peschiera Borromeo
Borromean Islands
Villa Borromeo, Arcore
Deposition1797 (1797)
Cadet branchesBorromeo Arese

The aristocratic House of Borromeo were merchants in San Miniato around 1300 and became bankers in Milan after 1370. Vitaliano de' Vitaliani, who acquired the name of Borromeo from his uncle Giovanni, became the count of Arona in 1445. His descendants played important roles in the politics of the Duchy of Milan and as cardinals in the Catholic Reformation. In 1916, the head of the family was granted the title Prince of Angera by the King of Italy.

The best known members of the family were the cardinals and archbishops of Milan, Carlo (1538–1584), who was canonized by Pope Paul V in 1610, and Federico (1564–1631), who founded the Ambrosian Library. The figure of the Borromean rings, which forms part of the family's coat of arms, is well known in the diverse fields of topology, psychoanalysis, and theology.