Carafa or Caraffa is the name of an old and influential Neapolitan aristocratic family of Italian nobles, clergy, and men of arts, known from the 12th century.[1][2]
The House of Carafa is a cadet branch of the noble House of Caracciolo, one of the most prominent families of the Neapolitan nobility. The family rose to prominence in the Kingdom of Naples during the 14th century and established itself as one of the leading noble families of southern Italy in the 15th century. Across the time, the family split in many lines, the most important being the Princes of Roccella, the Dukes of Andria and Counts of Ruvo, the Princes of Stigliano, the Dukes of Maddaloni, the Dukes of Nocera and the Dukes of Noja. The family gave sixteen cardinals to the Catholic Church, including one pope, Paul IV.[3][4]
Fabrizio Carafa (died 1590), Duke of Andria; murdered by composer Carlo Gesualdo (1566–1613), Prince of Venosa and Count of Conza, for having an affair with Gesualdo's wife
Girolamo Caraffa (1564–1633), Marquis of Montenegro, a general in Spanish and Imperial service
Giuseppe Carafa (died 1647), Neapolitan aristocrat who was killed in July 1647 during the early stages of the Revolt of Masaniello against Spanish Habsburg rule
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