ANCESTRAL FROM 1783, NINE GENERATIONS AND A LEGAL TURNAROUND: BRAZILIAN DISCOVERS IN FAMILY'S PAST THE PATH TO OBTAIN ITALIAN CITIZENSHIP

ANCESTRAL FROM 1783, NINE GENERATIONS AND A LEGAL TURNAROUND: BRAZILIAN DISCOVERS IN FAMILY’S PAST THE PATH TO OBTAIN ITALIAN CITIZENSHIP

Written by Viviane Alves

Published on 19/05/2026 at 17:06

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Genoa Court recognized Italian citizenship of Brazilian woman and her children after analysis of ancestor born before the unification of Italy, but who died already during the Kingdom of Italy.

A historic decision involving Italian citizenship by descent drew attention in Italy and Brazil.

The Genoa Court recognized the right to Italian citizenship of a 49-year-old Brazilian woman and her two children, aged 19 and 7.

The case was based on the ancestor Carlo De Maria, born in 1783, in Borgio, in the current Liguria region, in northern Italy.

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Genoa Court decision placed ancestor from 1783 at the center of the process

The ruling signed by Judge Silvia Amoretti considered a decisive point: Carlo De Maria was born before the Italian unification, but remained alive after the official creation of the Kingdom of Italy.

Italy was unified on March 17, 1861. From that date, Carlo was considered an Italian citizen by judicial understanding.

This detail was crucial to ensure the recognition of Italian citizenship iure sanguinis to the Brazilian descendants.

The Italian Ministry of the Interior had questioned the validity of the request. However, the Genoa Court understood that the ancestor met the necessary historical criteria.

Carlo De Maria’s trajectory helped to prove the family lineage

Carlo De Maria was born when Borgio was still part of the old Republic of Genoa.

At that time, modern Italy did not yet exist as a unified state. The territory was divided between kingdoms, duchies, and independent republics.

Years later, Carlo emigrated to Gibraltar, where he married and had a son.

Then, he moved with his family to Brazil. Later, he returned to Italy, already integrated into the Kingdom of Italy, where he passed away.

Italian law does not impose a limit on generations, but requires attention to the historical period

Group of Italian immigrants posing with suitcases and children in an industrial urban area during the historical period of immigration to other countries in the early 20th century. — Italian families appear gathered with suitcases and belongings during the period of European immigration, depicting the reality faced by descendants who decades later would seek recognition of Italian citizenship.

Italian citizenship by descent has no official limit on generations.

The rule, however, requires that the so-called dante causa, responsible for the transmission of citizenship, lived after the Italian unification.

An ancestor who died before March 17, 1861 cannot transmit Italian citizenship, as the modern concept of citizenship did not yet exist.

This limitation prevents indefinite searches for very ancient ancestors without a legal connection to the Italian state.

Documents remain a decisive step for Brazilian descendants

Documentary proof remains one of the biggest challenges for those seeking recognition of Italian citizenship.

The process requires certificates of birth, marriage, and death of all the ancestors in the family line.

All documentation must demonstrate a direct connection between the applicant and the Italian ancestor.

In the case of Mariana B.D. and her children, the documents allowed the family to be linked to Carlo De Maria, even 241 years after his birth.

Case rekindles interest in Italian citizenship by descent

The decision reinforces how old family stories can still produce relevant legal effects today.

The case also shows that the central point is not just the distance between generations, but the ability to prove the lineage and historical connection with unified Italy.

In light of this decision involving Italian citizenship, an ancestor from 1783 and nine generations, how many Brazilian families can still discover a hidden right in their own family documents?

ANCESTRAL FROM 1783, NINE GENERATIONS AND A LEGAL TURNAROUND: BRAZILIAN DISCOVERS IN FAMILY’S PAST THE PATH TO OBTAIN ITALIAN CITIZENSHIP

Genoa Court recognized Italian citizenship of Brazilian woman and her children after analysis of ancestor born before the unification of Italy, but who died already during the Kingdom of Italy.

Genoa Court decision placed ancestor from 1783 at the center of the process

Carlo De Maria’s trajectory helped to prove the family lineage

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Italian law does not impose a limit on generations, but requires attention to the historical period

Documents remain a decisive step for Brazilian descendants

Case rekindles interest in Italian citizenship by descent

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ANCESTRAL FROM 1783, NINE GENERATIONS AND A LEGAL TURNAROUND: BRAZILIAN DISCOVERS IN FAMILY’S PAST THE PATH TO OBTAIN ITALIAN CITIZENSHIP

Genoa Court recognized Italian citizenship of Brazilian woman and her children after analysis of ancestor born before the unification of Italy, but who died already during the Kingdom of Italy.

Genoa Court decision placed ancestor from 1783 at the center of the process

Carlo De Maria’s trajectory helped to prove the family lineage

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Italian law does not impose a limit on generations, but requires attention to the historical period

Documents remain a decisive step for Brazilian descendants

Case rekindles interest in Italian citizenship by descent

While an average building in London or New York takes three years to be completed, in China a 26-story tower went up in five days with about 100 workers, and the global modular construction market already moves US$ 95 billion per year.

Australia installs giant concrete structures on the seabed 800 meters from the shore to create an ocean intake for desalination that will draw in saltwater and produce 30 million liters of drinking water per day.

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