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Lithograph "Genoa, Balbi Street, Durazzo-Pallavicini Palace,"

dated 1845, published by Jeannin, Place du Louvre
(France, 19th c.)
Magos Foundation Collection

THE DURAZZO-PALLAVICINI PALACE, GUARDIAN OF THE SWORD OF THE LAST KING OF GRANADA, ATTRIBUTE OF THE HEAD OF THE NAZARI SOVEREIGN HOUSE.

The Durazzo-Pallavicini Palace, property of Matilde Giustiniani, Marquess of the Generalife, has become the guardian of one of the most important treasures of the Nazari dynasty, the golden sword of King Boabdil, which fell into the hands of Isabel the Catholic after the capture of the last King of Granada. The Catholic Kings offered this ceremonial sword as a scepter, a symbol of supreme authority, to the one they would recognize as head of the Nazari Sovereign House, Don Pedro de Granada Venegas (grandson of King Yusuf IV). Don Pedro de Granada Venegas's will suggests that to be a guardian of this sword means to be a worthy heir of the Nazari royal attributes of power ("para ser digno tenedor de tal attributo de realeza"). Having no children, Matilde Giustiniani, widow of the 19th Marques of Campotejar, heir of the "Casa Real Nazari", adopted her niece Carlotta Giustiniani, Marquess Cattaeo Adorno, who inherited her fortune. Carlotta, known as "the last Queen of Genoa," archaeologist by training, an art expert, knew how to cohabit in the Durazzo-Pallavivini palace, the Van Dick, Rubens, Titian with this Nazari treasure. At his death, his son, Giacomo Cattaeo Adorno, Marquess of Gabiano, became the custodian of the ultimate attribute of power of the Nazari Sovereign House.