BIOGRAPHY
In 1191 Giacinto Orsini was elected to the pontifical throne. As Pope Celestine III (1191-1198) he was extremely generous to members of his family, presenting them with church lands and titles. His grandnephew Matteo Rosso Orsini, grandson of his brother Orso, became the lord of Mugnano, Monterorondo, Galeria and San Angelo in 1195. With his wife Gemma di Monticelli, daughter of Oddo di Monticelli, he had three sons of whom two would have progeny and the third, Giovanni Gaetano, entered the Church.

In 1241 Matteo was appointed senator of Rome and valiantly defended the city against the Emperor Friedrich II and his Roman allies, the Colonna family. The rivalry between the Orsini and Colonna families was to last for generations. In spite of this conflict, both families frequently intermarried.

Matteo Rosso Orsini died in 1246. His son, Cardinal Giovanni Gaetano Orsini was elected in 1277 to become Pope Nicholas III (1277-1280).