Malaspina family

House of Malaspina
Cybo-Malaspina (since 1553)
House of Malaspina; Cybo-Malaspina (since 1553)
Marcher noble family
	Flowered thorns of the Malaspina's main branch
Parent family	Obertenghi
Country	Kingdom of Italy (HRE); Republic of Genoa; Duchy of Massa and Carrara; Kingdom of Sardinia
Etymology	Alberto Obertenghi's nickname "Malaspina" ("bad thorn")
Founded	12th century
Founder	Alberto "Malaspina" Obertenghi
Current head	Not extinct.
Final ruler	Maria Theresa, Duchess of Massa
Titles	Duke/Duchess of Massa; 1529–1790); Prince/Princess of Carrara; 1529–1790); Lord of Massa and Carrara; 1492–1529); Marquis of Fosdinovo; 1355–1797); Marquis Malaspina; 12th century – 1790);
Connected families	Este; Pallavicini; Cybo;
Motto	Sum Mala Spina Malis. Sum Bona Spina Bonis; ("A bad thorn for the bad. A good thorn for the good.")
Estate(s)	Malaspina Castle (seat, Massa); Palazzo Cybo-Malaspina (seat, Carrara); Castle of Serravalle (Sardinian stronghold)
Dissolution	1790
Cadet branches	Malaspina "of the Dry Thorn" (still existing)

The House of Malaspina was a noble Italian family of Longobard origin that descended from Boniface I, through the Obertenghi line, that ruled Lunigiana from the 13th to the 14th centuries, and the marquisate of Massa and lordship of Carrara (which later became the Duchy of Massa and Carrara and at a later time the Principality of Massa and the Marquisate of Carrara) since the 14th century.