Hebrew-English Guide to Soncino

21 THE HISTORY OF SONCINO THE STAMPA FAMILY, THE MARQUISES OF SONCINO The founder of the family was Massimiliano Stampa, counselor of the last Sforza duke and lord of the Castello Sforzesco of Milan. He stayed in Milan after Sforza’s expulsion and he was a trustee of the emperor Carl Vwho enfeoffed him the city and the castle of Son- cino on 5th November 1536. The long period of Stampa’s enfeoffment was wealthy and prospe- rous because of the flourishing of the manufactures and the com- mercial trades. The production of woolen fabrics, also called pannilana, was very important and that’s the reason why the marquises promoted the development of silk factories and the farming of the silkworms. After centuries of domination, the Austrians left the castle of Son- cino on 14th June 1859 and, finally, the village became part of the newborn Reign of Italy. In 1876 Massimiliano Cesare Stampa, the last marquis of Soncino, died and left the Rocca to the municipality. The Stampa’s possessions were transferred to the Casati family that joined its surname with the one of the extinguished family becoming Casati – Stampa.