Sebastiano Nicolo Buonaparte

Sebastiano-Nicolo di Buonaparte (September 29, 1683, Ajaccio–November 24, 1760, Ajaccio) was the father of Giuseppe Maria Buonaparte, grandfather of Carlo Buonaparte and great-grandfather of Napoleon I of France.

Family and ancestry

He was a son of a senior Giuseppe Maria Buonaparte (1663 - 1703) and Maria Colonna Bozzi (c. 1668–October 16, 1704). His father had served as an Elder of the council of Ajaccio.

His paternal grandparents were Carlo Maria Buonaparte (1637–1692), also an Elder, and his wife Virginia Odone. Carlo had served as an Elder of the council of Ajaccio for various terms from 1666 to his death. Virginia was a daughter of merchant Pietro Odone by noble Constanza Pozzo di Borgo.

His maternal grandparents were Antonio Colonna di Bozzi, Signori dell Altu Taravu and his wife Giustina Lomellini. Whether they had any relation to the Colonna family family, of which Pope Martin V was a member, is uncertain.

His namesake great-grandfather Sebastiano Buonaparte (1603–1642/1643) had served as Elder in the council from 1620. He became a Chancellor of Ajaccio in 1633. His great-grandmother was Maria Rastelli, daughter of Domenico Rastelli.

Sebastiano was a son of Francesco Buonaparte (c. 1570–1633) and Camilla Catacciolo. Francesco has served as an officer in the military forces of the Republic of Genoa. He was appointed a "Colonel Commander" of his own Regiment in Corsica. His rank was the equivalent of a Brigadier.

Francesco was a son of politician Geronimo Buonaparte (c. 1550–1650) and his wife Pellegrina Calvari. A centenarian at his time of death, Francesco had served in various positions in the council of Ajaccio and the Senate of Ajaccio throughout his life. He became the Head of the Council in 1594.

Geronimo was a son of Gabriele Buonaparte (d. 1589) and a daughter of Francesco Montano, a Patrician.

Gabriele was a son of a senior Francesco Buonaparte (d. 1540), nick-named "il Mauro" (the Moor) and his wife Caterinada Castelletto. Francesco was a nobleman from Sarzana and had served as a mercenary horse arbalester in the army of the Banco di S. Giorgio. He was assigned to Corsica in 1490 and married his wife there a year later. She was a daughter of Guido da Castelletto, the local representative of San Giorgio. Francesco retired in the 1510s and settled permanently in Corsica, becoming the founder of the Corsican line of Buonapartes.

The Buonapartes were a branch of the Cadolingi di Borgonuovo family, lords of Fucecchio in Tuscany from the 10th century onwards. Their line had settled in Sarzana since before 1264.

Life

Sebastiano was named an Elder of the council of Ajaccio in 1720.

On 17 December, 1708, Sebastiano married Maria-Anna Tusilo di Bocognano (1690–17 September, 1760. They had six children:

  • Paola Maria Buonaparte (born 25 August, 1710). Married first Pietro Ternano, secondly General Michele Angelo Durazzo Fozzani and thirdly Gaetano Alata.
  • Maddalena Buonaparte (born c. 1712). Married Frederick Drost, Baron of Moersbruck.
  • Giuseppe Maria Buonaparte (31 May, 1713, Ajaccio–13 December, 1763).
  • Napoleone Buonaparte (c. 1717–17 August, 1767/1768). Chief of the Council of Elders of Ajaccio since 1764. Killed in battle against the invading French forces attempting to capture Corsica.
  • Luciano Buonaparte (8 January, 1718–15 October, 1791). Archdeacon of the Diocese of Ajaccio.
  • Carlo Sebastiano Buonaparte (19 October–20 October, 1720).