Duke of Avezzano

Duke of Avezzano (Italian: Duca di Avezzano) is a noble title of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, and later the new Kingdom of united Italy. It was created on 15 October 1849 by Pope Pius IX for the Italian soldier and statesman Giosue Iezzi (26 March 1807 - 14 August 1868), in recognition of his service to King Ferdinand II's campaign to suppress the Revolutions of 1848 in Sicily specifically through his victories in Reggio Calabria and Messina, as well as his part in securing the safety of the Pope himself when he was forced to flee Rome following similar revolutionary disturbances. The title referred to lands in the Eastern Abruzzo region of Italy. Giosue was born in Girona, Spain, the second cousin of Infante Carlos, Conde de Montemolín, husband of Princess Maria Carolina Ferdinanda of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, fifth daughter of Francis I of the Two Sicilies and his second wife Maria Isabella of Spain.
Upon the death of Giosue on 14 August 1868, the title passed to Angelo Enrico Iezzi, 2nd Duke of Avezzano (20 July 1832 - 3 September 1885). Ironically, Angelo fought with the Garibaldians in the army of the newly formed united Kingdom of Italy against the Papal forces in September 1870, was on hand when Rome was captured by Victor Emmanuel II, and was instrumental in the establishment of the new capital there on 2 July 1871.
Angelo was succeeded by Claudio Allesandro Iezzi, 3rd Duke of Avezzano (29 July 1863 - 30 February 1912). Claudio was among the men who accompanied Prince Luigi Amedea, Duke of the Abruzzi in 1893 when he was sent to Italian Somaliland to quell the unrest there and guard the port of Mogadishu. In 1895 Claudio served under General Oreste Baratieri in the First Italo-Ethiopian War and was seriously wounded in the Battle of Adwa on 1 March 1896. Baratieri marched on the Ethiopians at Adwa, where they outnumbered his command of 17,700 men over six to one, taking heavy losses. After the battle, Claudio returned to Italy to recuperate.
Claudio was succeeded by Vittorio Paulo Iezzi, 4th Duke of Avezzano (19 May 1883 - 21 August 1952), a childhood friend and schoolmate of Benito Mussolini. However, when Mussolini left for Switzerland in 1902 to avoid military service, Vittorio continued his family's tradition, serving as a cavalry officer until 1908. Vittorio was the eldest son of Claudio, and the Duchess Mariannina, daughter of Berardino Biordi, a Patrician of Arezzo. Upon the death of Vittorio in 1952, he was succeeded by Rudolph Walter Iezzi, 5th Duke of Avezzano (21 March 1910 - 8 August 1958).
Rudolph died in a drowning accident on 8 August 1958, and having no heirs, the title passed to his sister, Eleanor Charlotte Iezzi-Delaney, 6th Duchess of Avezzano (21 March 1913 - 10 October 2007). Eleanor was succeeded in 2007 by her daughter, and only child, Patricia Eleanor Iezzi-Doyle, 7th Duchess of Avezzano (14 March 1940 -). Patricia has a son, and only child, Robert Lawrence David Iezzi-Doyle (6 September 1969 -), who holds the courtesy title, Count of Sirente (Italian: Conte di Sirente). Robert has a daughter and only child, Katherine Alexandra Iezzi-Doyle Navarrete (27 September 1994 -) who holds the courtesy title Baroness Ofena (Italian: Baronessa di Ofena).
The titles of Duca di Avezzano, Conte di Sirente, and Barone di Ofena were recognised for Claudio Allesandro and his successors by ministerial decrees of the new Kingdom of united Italy dated 1890, 1913 and 1939. The titles remain extant.
Dukes of Avezzano
Giosue Iezzi, 1st Duca di Avezzano (1807-1868)
Angelo Enrico Iezzi, 2nd Duca di Avezzano (1832-1885)
Claudio Allesandro Iezzi, 3rd Duca di Avezzano (1863-1912)
Vittorio Paulo Iezzi, 4th Duca di Avezzano (1883-1952)
Rudolph Walter Iezzi, 5th Duca di Avezzano (1910-1958)
Eleanor Charlotte Iezzi-Delaney, 6th Duchessa di Avezzano (1913-2007)
Patricia Eleanor Iezzi-Doyle, 7th Duchessa di Avezzano (1940 - )

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