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The Barbaro family came from Rome to Istria, settling in Trieste, then finally to Venice in 868.

ANCIENT HISTORY

The Barbaro family of Venice is an ancient noble family who has its roots in early Rome. They are one of the few Italian families who can authentically trace their history to the Julii, making them one of the oldest families of Western Civilization. The Barbaro's earliest recorded ancestor is Sextus Julius Caesar, the cousin to the father of Julius Caesar, Rome's first dictator.

Sextus was later adopted into the Roman consular family Catulus of the gens Lutatius. Two Catulans of the Sextus line would later become Roman consuls under the same name Quintus Lutatius Catulus. Hence, the Barbaros are often described as descending from the "twin consuls" of the Julii.

During the era of Rome's persecution of the Christians (c.303-311 A.D.), a Catulan Julii chose to take a stand against Diocletian's policies by addressing the emperor with the Catulan battle cry Vitus Barbarus (I shun the uncivilized). The gesture began a revolt of the old families against the emperor resulting in many of the prominent citizens leaving Rome. This exodus would forever immortalize the nickname barbarus to the Catulan Julii as the ones who took a stand against the "barbarian" Diocletian.

After leaving Rome, The Catulan Julii first went to Istria and then settled in Trieste c.706A.D. They arrived in Venice in the year 868A.D.

BECOMING VENETIAN NOBILITY

Many of Rome's old noble families chose to come to Venice and build a new republic based on the ancient Roman model. Those families who arrived in Venice before the 10th century became known as the Case Vecchie (the old families), and the Catulan Julii were one of them.

When the Catulan Julii were inscribed into Venice's Golden Book, they followed the tradition of those who were inscribed before them by taking on a new name, often based on a pre-established nickname. The new name was symbolic of being adopted into a new republic. The Catulan Julii were inscribed as Barbaro.

The Barbaros first used the only noble title that was allowed in Venice, Patrician of Venice. This was abreviated by writing N.H., short for nobilis homo(nobleman) or N.D., short for nobildona (noblewoman).

The original Barbaro coat of arms was two red fesse (a horizonal bar) on a silver or white field . The arms symbolized the double red-striped tunics worn by the patricians in the senate house of Rome.

The original family motto was Vitus Barbarus

EARLY BARBARO PATRICIANS

JOHANNES BARBARO: One of the earliest patricians of the house of Barbaro who may have been the mysterious Prester John of medieval myth. Johannes is credited with paying for the building of the church of San Zorzi in Venice, and documentation with his signature as "Johannes the Prester" was recorded in 982A.D.

MARCO BARBARO: Marco Barbaro is referred to as the father of the Barbaro family, and he was responsible for earning the current coat of arms the Barbaros use today. When serving as Venice's Provveditore Generale da Mar (commander of the Venetian armada) off the coast of Jaffa, he was engaged in a bloody battle in 1121A.D. that resulted in the opposing commander's hand being chopped off. With the bloody stump, Marco drew a circle on a silver outstreched turban and then proceeded to fly it as a banner of victory. The ring symbolized ouroborus, an ancient Roman emblem meaning conquered.

When Marco Barbaro arrived in Venice, Doge Michiel recognized it as a symbol of Venetian victory. By a senatorial ordinace in 1123A.D., the red ring on a silver or white field became the official Barbaro coat-of-arms. A painting depicting Marco Barbaro victorious in Jaffa was also created to hang in the Doge's palace.

When conflict later arose in Romania, Marco was again asked to serve as a commander. This battle resulted in Marco having lost the Barbaro standard. In a last ditch effort to save Romania from falling, Marco made a makeshift standard from the bloody bandage tied in a loop around his head and raised it on a spear. With the battle cry "Aeternus Barbarus" (The Barbaro Eternal), Marco then proceeded to rally the cavalry to a miraculous victory.

The Romanian victory is especially important to the Barbaro family since it will be the beginning of a long history with Romania as well as provide the poetry for the family's symbolism. The ring of blood now stands for the family that will live forever, and the official Barbaro motto is Aeternus (Eternal). Moreover, since both the Julii and the Catulus families claim to be descendants of gods, the former from the godess Venus and the latter from the god Mars, the Barbaros can say that there is really no official beginning to their family as well as history ensuring that there will be no official end.

The Barbaro mystique is that they are the only family without a beginning and without an end, eternal.

• Donato Barbaro about 1259.
• Giosafat Barbaro (1413-1494)
• Marcantonio Barbaro (1518–1595)
• Daniele Barbaro (1513-70), brother of Marcantonio; they owned Villa Barbaro
• Zaccaria Barbaro
• Antonio Barbaro died in 1679
• Ermolao Barbaro
• Marco Barbaro (1511–1570)
• Francesco Barbaro an important humanist
• Jacopo Barbaro (1440-1515), artist and engraver
• Vitus Barbaro (1973- ) aerospace engineer/ automobile designer

External links

• Italian families
• Roman Catholic families