Fulco Ruffo di Calabria

Fulco VIII, Prince of Ruffo di Calabria (Naples august 12 1884 - Ronchi di Apuana august 23 1946) was an Italian prince, a World War I flying ace and father-in-law of King Albert II of Belgium.

Biography

Fulco was the son of Beniamino Tristano Ruffo di Calabria (Genua 9-7-1848 - Naples 28-4-1901) and Laura Mosselmann du Chenoy, a Belgian noblewoman.

Fulco was made by decret of 15-5-1928 Prince Ruffo di Calabria, which made him head of the family. He was the 13th Duke of Guardia-Lombardy and 17th Count of Spinopoli.

The Prince fought in the First World War as a fighter pilot in the Italian Air Service. He shot down 20 enemy airplanes, bringing him on rank 5 on the list of Italian flying aces. After the death of Francesco Baracca in June 1918, Fulco assumed command of the 91a Squadriglia, the renowned 'Squadron of Aces'. Di Calabria was awarded the prestigious Medaglia d'Oro al Valor Militaire.

On June 30 1919 he married in Turin Luisa, Gravin Gazelli di Rossana e di Sebastiano. She was a daughter of Augusto, graaf Rossana e San Sebastiano and Maria Gravin Rignon. Luisa was a Lady-in-waiting at the Italian Court.

They had seven children :

• Maria Cristina Ruffo di Calabria (1920-2003), Marquesses di Fontanetto con San Germano
• Laura Ruffo di Calabria (1921-1972), Baroness Ricasoli Firidolfi
• Fabrizio Ruffo di Calabria (1922 - 2005), Prince Ruffo di Calabria, 14th Duke of Guardia Lombardy (1946), 18th Count Sinopoli (1946), 19th Marquis of Licodia (1975), 14th Prince of Palazzolo (1975) and 14th Prince of Scilla (1975), married to Maria Vaciago.
  • Fulco Ruffo di Calabria, born 29-7-1954, Prince Ruffo di Calabria
  • Augusto Ruffo di Calabria, born 1-10-1955, married to Christiana of Windisch-Graetz.
• Augusto Ruffo di Calabria (1925 -1943), killed in the Battle of Pescara
• Giovannella Ruffo di Calabria (1927-1941), food poisoning
• Antonello Ruffo di Calabria, born 1930, married to Rosa Maria Mastrogiovanni Tasca
• Paola Ruffo di Calabria, born 1937, sixth Queen of the Belgians, married to King Albert II of Belgium.

Links

• Fulco Ruffo di Calabria
• Fighter Pilot in WWI