From modest beginnings in Savona, Liguria, the della Rovere family rose to prominence through the nepotism and ambitious marriages arranged by two Della Rovere popes, Francesco della Rovere, who ruled as Pope Sixtus IV, 1471-1484, and his nephew, Giuliano della Rovere, Pope Julius II, 1503-1513.

The most successful match made a line of Della Rovere dukes of Urbino; that dynasty ended in 1626, when Pope Urban VIII incorporated Urbino into the papal dominions, the gift of the weary last Della Rovere duke, Francesco Maria II., in retirement after the assassination of his heir, Francesco Ubaldo.

Family Tree

1. Leonardo (Beltramo) of Savona (born c 1430)
   1. Francesco della Rovere (1414-1484), Pope Sixtus IV
   2. Luchina (1415-1495), married in 1433 Giovanni Basso, marchese di Bistagno e di Monastero (died 1481). Their issue took the surname Basso della Rovere.
   3. Franchetta (1417- ca 1485) married in 1435 Bartolomeo Armoino (died ca 1470).
   4. Pellina (1418-1470) married in 1435 Nobile Pietro Giuppo (died 1490). Their issue took the surname Giuppo della Rovere.
   5. Maria (1420-ca 1490) married in 1436 Giacomo Basso dei marchesi di Bistagno e Monastero, the younger brother of Luchina’s husband (died 1465).
   6. Bianca (1421-1473) married in 1440 Paolo Riario (died 1460).Their issue took the surname Riario della Rovere.
   7. Raffaele della Rovere (1423-1477), made Senator of Rome, married in 1442 Teodora Manirolo (died ca 1480)
      1. Giuliano della Rovere, (1443-1513), Pope Julius II
      2. Leonardo della Rovere (1445-1475), duke of Arce 1472 and Sora 1474, Prefect of Rome 1473, married in 1474 Giovanna d’Aragona, the natural daughter of King Ferrante I of Naples
      3. Giovanni della Rovere (died 1501)
         1. Francesco Maria I della Rovere (1490-1538), duke of Urbino
            1. Guidobaldo I della Rovere (1517-1574), duke of Urbino
               1. Francesco Maria II della Rovere (1549-1631), duke from 1574 to 1621, and again briefly in 1623, gives Urbino to the pope in 1626
                  1. Federico Ubaldo della Rovere (1605-1625), duke of Urbino
                     1. Vittoria della Rovere (1622-1694)
            2. Giulio della Rovere (died 1578), cardinal
               1. Ippolito della Rovere (illegitimate, died 1620), marchgrave of San Lorenzo
                  1. Livia della Rovere, married her cousin Francesco Maria II della Rovere, duke of Urbino
                  2. Giulio della Rovere (died 1636)
            3. Giulia della Rovere (died 1563)
      4. Bartolomeo della Rovere (1447-1494), Bishop of Massa 1472 and Ferrara 1474.
      5. Luchina (1451-15150 married the first time in 1468 Gian Francesco Franciotti (died 1475). Their issue took the surname Franciotti della Rovere. She married secondly, in 1477 Nobile Gabriele Gara (died 1506). Their issue took the name Gara della Rovere.

References

• Genealogy of Leonardo della Rovere

Italian people | Papal families

Della Rovere | Della Rovere | დელა როვერე (დინასტია) | Della Rovere