Of probable
Lombard origin, they appear in history as counts in the 9th century. The first known count was Hildebrand II (857). Their possession extended to what is now southern Tuscany and northern
Lazio regions of Italy. In 1274, their lands were divided between the
County of Santa Fiora and the County of
Sovana, which thenceforth were ruled by different branches of the family. After the extinction of the Aldobrandeschi of Sovana, the county was assigned to the
Orsini. The Aldobrandeschi heiress of Santa Fiora married into the
Sforza family. The most famous members were: Guglielmo Aldobrandeschi, who lived in the 13th century and is cited by
Dante Alighieri as the
Gran Tosco ("Grand Tuscan"); Guglielmo's son is also cited in Canto XI of the
Purgatorio in the
Divine Comedy as an example of a sinner of pride; and Margherita, the last of the Aldobrandeschi of Sovana, who married
Guy de Montfort, Count of Nola, and passed rule over
Soana to her daughter
Anastasia and son-in-law, Romano "Romanello"
Orsini and their heirs. == See also ==