The Theotokis family (
Greek: Θεοτόκης, Theotókēs), in Italian and older English literature Theotochi or Teotochi, is a
Greekaristocratic family from
Corfu.
History
The family are an old landowning family in
Corfu,
Greece, several members of which have been prominent politicians. They originally hailed from
Constantinople, whence they fled following its
fall to the Ottomans, eventually settling in Corfu. The painter
El Greco (Domenico Theotokopoulos) was descended from a branch of the same family that fled to
Crete. The Corfiote branch was ennobled by the
Republic of Venice and was entered in the
Libro d'Oro; they used to be commonly referred to as Counts (Cónte), but their titles lapsed when the
Ionian islands became part of the
Kingdom of Greece, which did not recognise noble titles.
As the family prospered, nicknames were devised to distinguish between the various male-line Theotokis. The Greek genealogist
Evgenios Rizos-Rangavis [
el] distinguished the following branches:
The Calocardarei (Καλοκαρδαρέοι) or Spilia (της Σπηλιάς, "of the cave"), from a quarter of the
city of Corfu where they resided. Its members bore the title of count.
The Stathachi (Σταθάκοι) or del Santo (του Αγίου, "of the Saint"), due to the proximity of their residence to the church of Corfu's patron,
Saint Spyridon. Its members bore the title of baron.
The Sclebuni (Σκλεμπούνοι)
The Zammarco (Ζαμμάρκο, του Σαν Μάρκο), from
Saint Mark (San Marco in Italian), the patron of
Venice.
The D'Aviazzo (Νταβιάτζο) or Politikoí (Πολιτικοί), who became a distinguished political dynasty in Greece.
The Andrucelli (Ανδρουτσέλλοι). Its members bore the title of count.
Alexander Theotokis (Αλέξανδρος Θεοτόκης, 1516–1600), soldier, fought in the
Siege of Corfu (1537), taken captive by the Ottomans until ransomed in 1573, later provedditore in Venetian service.
Nicholas Theotokis, son of George (Νικόλαος Γ. Θεοτόκης, died 1603), nephew of the above, Venetian governor of
Parga in 1591
Nicholas Theotokis, son of Mark (Νικόλαος Μ. Θεοτόκης, 1631–1686), grandson of the above, as reward for his service during the
War of Candia, in 1699 his descendants received the title of count.
Count George Theotokis (Γεώργιος Θεοτόκης, 1677–1734), soldier and statesman, son of the above, fought at the
Siege of Corfu (1716) with his brothers Mark and Giambattista.
Count Nicholas-Alvise Theotokis (Νικόλαος Αλοΐσιος Θεοτόκης, 1702–1762), son of the above, ambassador to Venice from 1746
Countess
Isabella Teotochi Albrizzi, daughter of Anthony (Ισαβέλλα Θεοτόκη-Αλμπρίτζι, Corfu 1760 – Venice 1836), niece of the above, writer and art lover, held a notable literary salon at Venice
Count Alvise Theotokis (Αλοΐσιος Θεοτόκης, 1766–1828), brother of the previous
Count Mark-Alvise Theotokis, son of Spyridon (Μάρκος-Αλοΐσιος Θεοτόκης, 1824–1912), grandson of the above, historian and director of the Senate archives at Corfu
Dimitrios Theotokis (Δημήτριος Θεοτόκης, 1874–1923), brother of the above, officer, fought in the
Asia Minor Campaign as commander of the
Independent Division.
Spyridon Theotokis (Σπυρίδων Θεοτόκης, 1876–1940), brother of the above, historian, director of the Senate archives at Corfu and of the Archives of Venice
Stathachi branch
This branch received the title of
baron in primogeniture by
Napoleon I on 7 February 1812[1]
Baron
Emmanuel Theotokis [
el], son of Eustathios (Εμμανουήλ Θεοτόκης, 1777–1837), nephew of the above, president of the
Ionian Senate, named baron by Napoleon I in 1812, awarded a knighthood by the British in 1818
Baron Andreas Theotokis (Ανδρέας Θεοτόκης, 1802–1889), son of the above, scholar and deputy of the
Ionian Assembly
Spyros Theotokis (Σπύρος Θεοτόκης, 1908–1980), son of the above, politician
Elisabeth (Lulu) Theotoky (Ελισάβετ Θεοτόκη, 1924-2013), daughter of the above, choreographer and researcher
Joanna Poyago-Theotoky (Ιωάννα (Τζοάννα) Πογιάγο-Θεοτόκη), daughter of the above, Professor of economics
George Theotoky (Γεώργιος Θεοτόκης, 1926-2021), businessman
Zaïra Ralli, née Theotoki (Ζαΐρα Θεοτόκη-Ράλλη), sister of Nikolaos and John, wife of Prime Minister
Ioannis Rallis, mother of Prime Minister
Georgios Rallis
The Theotokis family (
Greek: Θεοτόκης, Theotókēs), in Italian and older English literature Theotochi or Teotochi, is a
Greekaristocratic family from
Corfu.
History
The family are an old landowning family in
Corfu,
Greece, several members of which have been prominent politicians. They originally hailed from
Constantinople, whence they fled following its
fall to the Ottomans, eventually settling in Corfu. The painter
El Greco (Domenico Theotokopoulos) was descended from a branch of the same family that fled to
Crete. The Corfiote branch was ennobled by the
Republic of Venice and was entered in the
Libro d'Oro; they used to be commonly referred to as Counts (Cónte), but their titles lapsed when the
Ionian islands became part of the
Kingdom of Greece, which did not recognise noble titles.
As the family prospered, nicknames were devised to distinguish between the various male-line Theotokis. The Greek genealogist
Evgenios Rizos-Rangavis [
el] distinguished the following branches:
The Calocardarei (Καλοκαρδαρέοι) or Spilia (της Σπηλιάς, "of the cave"), from a quarter of the
city of Corfu where they resided. Its members bore the title of count.
The Stathachi (Σταθάκοι) or del Santo (του Αγίου, "of the Saint"), due to the proximity of their residence to the church of Corfu's patron,
Saint Spyridon. Its members bore the title of baron.
The Sclebuni (Σκλεμπούνοι)
The Zammarco (Ζαμμάρκο, του Σαν Μάρκο), from
Saint Mark (San Marco in Italian), the patron of
Venice.
The D'Aviazzo (Νταβιάτζο) or Politikoí (Πολιτικοί), who became a distinguished political dynasty in Greece.
The Andrucelli (Ανδρουτσέλλοι). Its members bore the title of count.
Alexander Theotokis (Αλέξανδρος Θεοτόκης, 1516–1600), soldier, fought in the
Siege of Corfu (1537), taken captive by the Ottomans until ransomed in 1573, later provedditore in Venetian service.
Nicholas Theotokis, son of George (Νικόλαος Γ. Θεοτόκης, died 1603), nephew of the above, Venetian governor of
Parga in 1591
Nicholas Theotokis, son of Mark (Νικόλαος Μ. Θεοτόκης, 1631–1686), grandson of the above, as reward for his service during the
War of Candia, in 1699 his descendants received the title of count.
Count George Theotokis (Γεώργιος Θεοτόκης, 1677–1734), soldier and statesman, son of the above, fought at the
Siege of Corfu (1716) with his brothers Mark and Giambattista.
Count Nicholas-Alvise Theotokis (Νικόλαος Αλοΐσιος Θεοτόκης, 1702–1762), son of the above, ambassador to Venice from 1746
Countess
Isabella Teotochi Albrizzi, daughter of Anthony (Ισαβέλλα Θεοτόκη-Αλμπρίτζι, Corfu 1760 – Venice 1836), niece of the above, writer and art lover, held a notable literary salon at Venice
Count Alvise Theotokis (Αλοΐσιος Θεοτόκης, 1766–1828), brother of the previous
Count Mark-Alvise Theotokis, son of Spyridon (Μάρκος-Αλοΐσιος Θεοτόκης, 1824–1912), grandson of the above, historian and director of the Senate archives at Corfu
Dimitrios Theotokis (Δημήτριος Θεοτόκης, 1874–1923), brother of the above, officer, fought in the
Asia Minor Campaign as commander of the
Independent Division.
Spyridon Theotokis (Σπυρίδων Θεοτόκης, 1876–1940), brother of the above, historian, director of the Senate archives at Corfu and of the Archives of Venice
Stathachi branch
This branch received the title of
baron in primogeniture by
Napoleon I on 7 February 1812[1]
Baron
Emmanuel Theotokis [
el], son of Eustathios (Εμμανουήλ Θεοτόκης, 1777–1837), nephew of the above, president of the
Ionian Senate, named baron by Napoleon I in 1812, awarded a knighthood by the British in 1818
Baron Andreas Theotokis (Ανδρέας Θεοτόκης, 1802–1889), son of the above, scholar and deputy of the
Ionian Assembly
Spyros Theotokis (Σπύρος Θεοτόκης, 1908–1980), son of the above, politician
Elisabeth (Lulu) Theotoky (Ελισάβετ Θεοτόκη, 1924-2013), daughter of the above, choreographer and researcher
Joanna Poyago-Theotoky (Ιωάννα (Τζοάννα) Πογιάγο-Θεοτόκη), daughter of the above, Professor of economics
George Theotoky (Γεώργιος Θεοτόκης, 1926-2021), businessman
Zaïra Ralli, née Theotoki (Ζαΐρα Θεοτόκη-Ράλλη), sister of Nikolaos and John, wife of Prime Minister
Ioannis Rallis, mother of Prime Minister
Georgios Rallis