The Stampa trace their ancestry back to Carlo Lanfranco of the dukes of Étampes, later governor of Milan under Charles the Great. His descendants settled in Milan and Gravedona, and ruled over the Val Bregaglia. The best evidence for this is the city of Stampa, named so by the family in honour of its ancestors. However, historians such as the CountPompeo Litta do not believe these sources, arguing that it was very common for aristocratic families to trace their ancestry back to France. One of the earliest documents Litta could find dates to 1277, when the ArchbishopOttone Visconti became Lord of Milan: it consists in a register compiled by Ottone himself, granting several privileges to the most influential families of the city, including Arrigo Stampa and his progeny. The Stampa decided the destiny of Milan on more than one occasion. The first time was in 1450, when they helped Francesco I Sforza become Duke of Milan. In February the Venetians had sent an ambassador, Leonardo Venieri, to negotiate the city's surrender and help them defeat Sforza. Giovanni Stampa marched onto Milan with his army and killed Venieri on the stairs of Palazzo Reale, forcing the Milanese to surrender. The Duke was naturally obliged to the family, and rewarded them with many honours.
Stampa di Soncino
In 1536 Massimiliano Stampa was created 1st Marquess of Soncino by Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. The family ruled over Milan until 1876, and the city flourished immensely under their guidance. Massimiliano Cesare Stampa, the last Marquess of Soncino, died without children and donated his castle to the municipality. His assets passed to the Casati family, thus creating a new branch called Casati Stampa di Soncino.
Marquises of Soncino Stampa (1536–1876)
Massimiliano I, Count and 1st Marquess of Soncino from 1536
Ermes I, Marquess of Soncino, brother of Massimiliano I
Ermes II, 4th Marquess of Soncino, son of Massimiliano II
Massimiliano III, 5th Marquess of Soncino, son of Ermes II, sentenced to death for murder
Giovanni I, 6th Marquess of Soncino, brother of Massimiliano III
Massimiliano IV, 7th Marquess of Soncino, son of Giovanni I
Giuseppe I, 8th Marquess of Soncino, brother of Massimiliano IV
Massimiliano V Giovanni, 9th Marquess of Soncino, son of Giuseppe I
Massimiliano VI Giuseppe, 10th Marquess of Soncino, son of Massimiliano V Giovanni, Grandee of Spain e Member of the Order of the Iron Crown, married to Carlotta Gonzaga in 1785
Massimiliano VII Giovanni, 11th Marquess of Soncino, son of Massimiliano VI Giuseppe
Massimiliano VIII, 12th Marquess of Soncino, son of Massimiliano VII Giovanni
Massimiliano IX Giovanni, 13th Marquess of Soncino, son of Massimiliano VIII and last Marquess of Soncino
Casati Stampa, Marquess of Casate (1876–1970)
Camillo I, Marquess of Casate, husband of Luisa Casati.
Camillo II, Marquess of Casate, son of Camillo I. His infamous suicide marked the end of the dynasty.
"Count Filippo Stampa, scholar and administrator, lived here. A.D. 2001"
Among their many properties the Stampa had Elba, an island in the Mediterranean, which they administered since the Pope granted them the concession on the mine caves. After Napoleon conquered Elba and seized the mines, Pope Pius VII offered Angelo's first born Pietro an important job within the Papal States, to compensate him for the financial damage he suffered. CardinalMastai Ferretti, later Pope Pius IX, also ensured that Domenico Stampa contracted a good marriage with Paolina Vinciguerra, last heir of the counts Antonini di Alatri. The family continues to exist in Rome and Milan.