PIO DI SAVOIA  , an

ancient noble Italian family, first mentioned by good authorities in the 14th century . From the house of Este (q.v.) they received the lordship of Carpi, and later they acquired the fiefs of Meldola, Sassuolo, &c . Many members of the family were distinguished as condottieri, diplomats and ecclesiastics . Alberto Pio obtained from the house of Savoy in 1450 the privilege of adding " di Savoia" to his name as a reward for his military services . Another Alberto Pio (1475-1J31), who was French ambassador in Rome, won fame as a man of learning, and Cardinal Rodolfo Pio (1516-1564) was a trusted adviser to Pius III. and helped to establish the Inquisition at Milan . Ascanio Pio (d . 1649) was a dramatic poet of some merit . Spain conferred the title of prince on the family, and one branch of it is to this day established in Spain . See P . Litta, Le Famiglie celebri italiane (Milan) ; G . Campori 1llenzorie storiche di Marco Pio di Savoia (Modena, 1876) ; A . Ceriani and G .

Porro, " Il Rotolo epistografo dei principi Pio di Savoia," in the Archivio storico

lombardo, ser . II. an . XI. fast . 1, ser . III. an . VIII . 96, and ser . III. an . XIX . 453 .