The Orsini and the Colonna families descend from the heroes or brigands of the Middle Ages.

That of Caetani dates from 730.

The houses of Massimo, Santa-Croce, and Muti, go back to Livy in search of their founders.
Prince Massimo bears in his shield the trace of the marchings and counter-marchings of Fabius Maximus, otherwise called Cunctator.

His motto is, _Cunctando restituit_.

Santa-Croce boasts of being an offshoot of Valerius Publicola.