PEPOLI, FAMILY. - The first P. of whom there is certain knowledge is the Blessed NICCOLÒ, a Franciscan who lived in the 13th century; but only a little later did this family begin to intervene in the turbulent events of the Commune of Bologna, leading the Geremei faction and aiming to obtain lordship at the beginning of the fourteenth century: the attempt was however cut short by riots, which led to the flight of the P. from the city.
In 1337 TADDEO P., having cleverly insinuated himself among the factions and taking advantage of the failure of the efforts of John of Bohemia and Bertrand du Pouget, obtained to be acclaimed lord during the General Parliament of the Commune: he then assumed the significant title of conservator of peace and justice and even managed to obtain the vicariate from Benedict XII. Taddeo’s sons, GIACOMO and GIOVANNI, could not resist the advance of the Visconti and, abandoned by Hector de Durfort, general of the States of the Church, ceded for 200,000 florins the lordship to Giovanni Visconti, returning to private life. In the 15th century three P. were professors at Bologna; during the 16th century, UGO P. fought alongside Giovanni de’ Medici, and in the 18th century notable literary works were produced by CORNELIO and ALESSANDRO (1757–96), the latter also founding a printing house in Venice. In the 19th century the following are remembered: CARLO (1796–1881), for having participated in the uprisings of ’31 alongside the Napoleonic exiles and for being a deputy in the Roman Consultation of ’48; ANNA (1783–1844), sister of the former and author of important works aimed at the education of women; GIOACCHINO NAPOLEONE (1825–81), who fought in the papal army of ’48, cooperated with Cavour in securing Napoleon III’s support for Piedmontese policy, and served as Minister of Agriculture under Rattazzi (1862).