Antonio Tocco

Don Antonio Tocco (16 August 1618 – 5 March 1678) was the last titular Despot of Epirus and Count Palatine of Cephalonia and Zakynthos, claiming these titles from the death of his father Leonardo V Tocco in 1641 until he abandoned them in 1642, substituting them for the Neapolitan title of Prince of Achaea, which he used until his death in 1678.

Antonio's change in titulature is owed to his descent in the female line from Centurione II Zaccaria, who had reigned more than two centuries before Antonio assumed this style of title. He did this in exchange for his patrimonial titles of Despot of Epirus and Count Palatine of Cephalonia and Zakynthos.^[2] This was not the same sovereign princely title held by rulers of the Principality of Achaea, but a Neapolitan nobility title to honour him as a descendant.^[3]

The change in titulature was respected by his contemporaries, and confirmed through a diploma by Philip IV of Spain on 4 November 1642. Antonio also worked to further increase his family's standing in the Italian nobility, acquiring various fiefs in Italy through purchasing them and through his marriage to his relative, Donna Porzia di Tocco, which ensured that he inherited various fiefs from his father-in-law, Carlo di Tocco, including the town of Montemiletto. From Antonio's time onwards, the Tocco family mainly identified themselves through their ownership of Montemiletto, titling themselves as 'Princes of Montemiletto'.

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