A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Imperial family of Italy.
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mindJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'or à l'aigle de sa., cour. d'or.”
The Imperial arms were recorded in Naples, c. 1775.
Naples was the largest city in Italy and the seat of a kingdom. Its noble houses were numerous, and the kingdom kept formal lists of the families entitled to arms, which is why so many appear in the records.
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 Imperial 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 family name Imperial carries a strong historical connection to the vibrant culture of Naples during the late eighteenth century. By 1775, records indicate that members of the family were already established residents within the city. During this period, Naples served as a major intellectual and artistic hub in Europe under the rule of the Bourbon kings. Families living in the city at that time were often deeply involved in the local trade, administrative, or professional life that defined the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. While the name itself suggests a link to the grand traditions of the Roman Empire, the family likely functioned as part of the growing urban middle class or the local nobility that managed the daily affairs of the Neapolitan state. Their presence in the city during this era reflects a time of significant social change and architectural growth in southern Italy.
Latin term meaning command, authority, or supreme power.
