Sartori of Vicenza

Sartori is an ancient noble family of Italy. It was founded in 1295 in Vicenza, where they were feudatories attached to the episcopal vassalage. Before 1500, they were admitted to the civic patriciate. The family made their fortune mainly in the logging and timber trade, accumulating a huge financial and land holdings. From the 16th century on, they established their main headquarters in Bassano del Grappa, and launched other branches to other cities in Veneto, Trentino, Austria, and Brazil. The family is very prolific and branched, producing several outstanding members. The different branches of the family held many titles: they were feudal lords in Roana, Foza, Castegnero and Meledo Alto; nobles in Vicenza, Roana, Bassano del Grappa, Belluno and Primiero; patricians in Vicenza, Roana, Asiago, Lusiana, Foza, Asolo, Valstagna, Longarone and Bassano del Grappa. The surname can be spelled as Sartore, Sartor, or Sartorio. The Sartori descend from Florentines who arrived in Vicenza along with Bishop Andrea dei Mozzi, a member of one of the most illustrious families of Florentine magnates in the Middle Ages who was transferred to Vicenza after being involved in a major scandal, whose nature is still poorly understood. Anyhow, he arrived in Vicenza in late 1295, but he was already ill and died in less than a year, probably in August 1296. Before Andrea died, he distributed fiefs among some of his servants, including members of a family whose original surname is unknown, and who came to adopt the surname Sartori in Vicenza. The Sartori received fiefs in Roana, one of the Seven Communes situated on the Vicentine plateau that constituted a semi-independent federation that, although it was subject to the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Diocese of Vicenza and the civil administration of Vicenza, maintained a delegate in Asiago, the capital of the Federation. At the same time, the bishop enrolled them as vassals of the Episcopal Table, naturalizing them as Vincentian nobles, remaining under successive bishops.