The house's origins go back to the Italian city state of Republic of Siena, also known as "nobile del Cotone'". In the 13th century, 1202, as Montepulciano took Oath of fealty to the Republic of Florence, documented in Florence, contained the signatures of the "nobile del Cotone'". It is also documented that in 1237 Abonito del Cotoné was chosen Podestà of Prato. When the Cotoner family grew in numbers, some of its members left Tuscany and established branches in various other places. Some went to Ascoli, where they founded and built the Castle of Monte Pastillo and others to Sicily, where they held the principality of Castelnuovo and Santa Caterina, keeping the memory of their Signoria del Cotoné in the Republic of Siena. One of those branches was to become one of the so-called "Nou Cases" in the Kingdom of Majorca, for there were nine "nobilis et Antique familiae'". These nine families were also incorporated into the Nobility governing and legislative bodies, like all the other houses, of the Kingdom but differed by the quality of their lineage.
Habsburg Spain
Bernardo Cotoner is first documented in the Kingdom of Majorca when seting up a "beneficio" for the Parish of Santa Eulalia and the again on 1363, acquiring a farmhouse in Valldemossa. On July 23rd, 1370 Letters patent were issued by Peter IV of Aragon confirming tax exception as well as their nobility for them participants in the conquest and his successors. His son Nicolas Cotoner y Genovard had three sons: Nicolas, Bernardo y Gabriel Cotoner y Saguals, setting up three distinct branches. Bernardo Cotoner y Saguals earned on July 18th, 1463, for his merits and services, privilege for perpetuity in the "braç militar" of the Kingdom of Mallorca. , Grand Masters of the Order of Malta in the 17th century. Chapel of Saint George, or the Langue of Aragon, Saint John's Co-Cathedral, in the island of Malta. It will be however, the great-grandson of Nicolas Cotoner y Saguals, Antonio Cotoner y Vallobar who will effectively consolidate the influence of the family. Antonio had been acting in the Res publica of his country, having demonstrated special talents and deserving the trust of the sworn s of the city and the Kingdom of Majorca to perform an important commission. Perpetual privilege was issued in October 18th, 1569 effectively knighted 1572 by Philip II of Spain. Of special relevance, is the historic and close relationship of this family with the Knights Hospitaller also known as Order of Malta with the ascension of Raphael and Nicolas Cotoner to the sovereign dignity of Grand Masters.
Notable members
Antonio Cotoner y Vallobar,, Nuncio or extraordinary Ambassador of the Kingdom of Majorca in 1571, and facilitated the royal sanction to establish a "Real Audiencia'" in Majorca. He was issued perpetual privilege to nobility in October 18, 1569 and was knighted by Philip II of Spain own hands in 1572.
Fra' Nicolas Cotoner y Oleza; 1608, Mallorca - 29 April 1680, Malta) was the 61st Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta, between 1663 and 1680. He was the son of Marc Antoni Cotoner i de Santmartí and brother of the previous Grandmaster, Rafael Cotoner.
