Ludovico Chigi Albani della Rovere

Who was Ludovico Chigi Albani della Rovere?

Fra' Ludovico Chigi Albani della Rovere was the 76th Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta from 1931 to 1951.

Chigi was born in Ariccia, the son of Prince Mario Chigi della Rovere Albani, Prince of the Holy Roman Empire, and of his wife, Princess Antoinette zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn. His father's family the Chigi-Albani was among the most prominent princely families of Rome.

On 5 June 1893, in Rome, Chigi married Donna Anna Aldobrandini, daughter of Pietro, Prince Aldobrandini, Prince of Sarsina, and of his wife, Françoise Charlotte Victorine Marie de La Rochefoucauld. They had two children:

Prince Sigismondo Chigi della Rovere Albani, 9th Prince of the Holy Roman Empire

Princesse Laura Maria Caterina Chigi della Rovere

Chigi's wife died 17 September 1898.

On 4 November 1914, Chigi's father died and he succeeded as Prince of the Holy Roman Empire, 8th Prince of Farnese and Campagnano, 4th Prince of Soriano, 8th Duke of Ariccia and of Formello, Marquess of Magliano Pecorareccio, Hereditary Marshall of the Holy Roman Church and Guardian of the Conclave. Chigi was responsible for three papal conclaves. He was an honorary member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.