House of Borromeo

Borromeo
Noble family
Motto: Humility to the Name (Latin: Humilitas nomini)
Country	Duchy of Milan Golden Ambrosian Republic Transpadane Republic Cisalpine Republic Italian Republic Kingdom of Italy Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia Kingdom of Italy
Current region	Italy  European Union
Place of origin	Rome
Founded	1445; 579 years ago (1445)
Founder	Vitaliano I
Current head	Vitaliano XI
Titles	Prince of Angera Marquess of Romagnano Count of Arona Count of Peschiera Lord of Cannobio and Vergante Lord of Vogogna and Val Vigezzo
Style(s)	Don or Donna
Estate(s)	Rocca d'Angera Palazzo Borromeo, Milan Castel of Peschiera Borromeo Borromean Islands Villa Borromeo, Arcore
Deposition	1797 (1797)
Cadet branches	Borromeo Arese

The aristocratic House of Borromeo were merchants in San Miniato around 1300 and became bankers in Milan after 1370. Vitaliano de' Vitaliani, who acquired the name of Borromeo from his uncle Giovanni, became the count of Arona in 1445. His descendants played important roles in the politics of the Duchy of Milan and as cardinals in the Catholic Reformation. In 1916, the head of the family was granted the title Prince of Angera by the King of Italy.

The best known members of the family were the cardinals and archbishops of Milan, Carlo (1538–1584), who was canonized by Pope Paul V in 1610, and Federico (1564–1631), who founded the Ambrosian Library. The figure of the Borromean rings, which forms part of the family's coat of arms, is well known in the diverse fields of topology, psychoanalysis, and theology.