A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fregosi family of Italy.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Coupé-enté de sa. sur arg. Cq. cour. C.: quatre pl. d'aut.: de sa., d'arg., d'arg. et de sa. D.: NI MATAR ME, NI ESPANTAR ME.”
The Fregosi arms were recorded in Gènes, c. 1775.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Italy in this period.
Reigning in Italy when the Fregosi arms are first recorded.
In the Italian states, coats of arms were often used by noble families to show their status and history. These symbols were passed down through the generations to all legitimate male descendants. Younger branches of a family usually kept the original design but sometimes added small changes to distinguish their specific line from the main branch.
The Fregosi family rose to prominence in the Republic of Genoa during the late Middle Ages, establishing themselves as a powerful political force in Northern Italy. They were deeply involved in the complex factional struggles of the city, often aligning with the Ghibelline party to influence local governance. Over several generations, members of the family held significant positions of authority, including the role of Doge, which allowed them to shape the maritime and commercial policies of the Genoese state. By the time the family was firmly established in the city records by 1775, they had already built a long legacy of civic leadership and social influence. Their history is closely tied to the development of Genoa as a major Mediterranean power, reflecting the ambitions of noble families who sought to control the city's trade routes and political destiny.
To rub, scrape, or chafe against a surface.
