Prospero Colonna di Paliano

Prospero Colonna, Duke of Rignano, Prince of Sonnino (18 July 1858 – 16 September 1937) was an Italian politician and aristocrat. He was twice mayor of Rome (1899–1905, 1914–1919). He served in the Chamber of Deputies and Senate of the Kingdom of Italy.

For other uses, see Prospero Colonna (disambiguation).
The Honourable
Prospero Colonna
SMOM
Mayor of Rome
In office
6 July 1914 – 8 June 1919
Preceded byErnesto Nathan
Succeeded byAdolfo Apolloni
In office
December 1899 – October 1904
Preceded byEmanuele Ruspoli
Succeeded byEnrico Cruciani Alibrandi
Senator of the Kingdom
In office
16 June 1900 – 16 September 1937
MonarchUmberto I
Member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies
In office
10 June 1895 – 17 May 1900
ConstituencyAnagni
Personal details
Born(1858-07-18)18 July 1858
Naples, Two Sicilies
Died16 September 1937(1937-09-16) (aged 79)
Rome, Italy
SpouseMaria Ignazia Massimo
Children
  • Mario
  • Pietro
  • Fabrizio
ProfessionLandowner, military officer

Biography

Prospero was born in Naples, son of Giovanni Andrea I Colonna, a landowner, and Isabella Alvarez di Toledo. He was descended from the House of Colonna, an ancient aristocratic family.

In his youth, he married Maria Ignazia Massimo. They had 3 children: Mario, Piero (future Fascist politician) and Fabrizio.

In 1895, Colonna was elected to the Chamber of Deputies as the representative of Anagni. He supported the Historical Right. He resigned his charge in 1900. In the same year, Colonna became both a Senator and the Mayor of Rome.

During his term, Rome completed a streetcar line, including a passage under the Quirinal Hill.[1]

In June 1904 the IOC's President Pierre de Coubertin chose Rome as the host for the IV Olympic Games, but Colonna refused due to the difficult status of the city treasury. Although he reached out to the government, the Prime Minister Giovanni Giolitti refused to help the city. Finally, Colonna resigned his office.[2]

When the First World War started, Colonna joined in the Italian Royal Army as cavalry colonel. However, he never participated in battles, as he was appointed "military" mayor of Rome. In 1919, he resigned the office again and retired from politics. He died in 1937.

References
  1. Alla presenza del sindaco Prospero Colonna, rotto il diaframma sotto il Quirinale. Il Traforo sarà pronto in due anni, Corriere della Sera, 13 January 1901
  2. Tito Forcellese (2013). L'Italia e i giochi olimpici: un secolo di candidature : politica, istituzioni e diplomazia sportiva. FrancoAngeli.
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