Ercole Branciforte, 1st Duke of San Giovanni ( â 1616), also 7th Count of Cammarata, was an Italian aristocrat and diplomat who served as ambassador to Emperor Rudolf.
Branciforte was born in in Palermo into the noble Branciforte family. He was eldest son of Girolamo Branciforte, 6th Count of Cammarata (âÂÂ1568) and Ippolita Settimo (b. ). After his father's death, his mother married Giuseppe Francesco Landriani and had Vittoria Landriani (wife of Tommaso di Carpegna, Count of Carpegna), Ercole's younger half-sister.
His paternal grandparents were Blasco Branciforte, Baron of Tavi, and Margherita Abbatellis, Countess of Cammarata. His maternal aunt, Belladama Branciforte, married Carlo Barrese, 1st Marquess of Militello. Through his half-sister Vittoria, he was uncle to Bishop Pietro Carpegna and Cardinal Ulderico Carpegna. His maternal grandparents were Michele Settimo, Marquess of Giarratana, and Belladama Barrese.
From his father, he inherited the fiefdoms of Vultano, Buonanotte Pietranigra, La Bruca, Giuffrè, lo Chiuppo, lo Gulfo, Chirubò and il Daini, formerly belonging to Motta S. Agata, and today aggregated to the County of Cammarata. In October 1572, he sold the fiefdom of Pasquale to Andrea Ortulano.
In 1587, the Duchy of San Giovanni was established by King Philip II of Spain and Branciforte was made the first Duke. In 1603, he was Governor of Bianchi di Palermo and was Deputy of the Kingdom in 1615.
Branciforte served as ambassador to Emperor Rudolf and was a Knight of the Order of Saint James of the Sword.
In 1580 Branciforte was married to Isabella Tagliavia dâÂÂAragona (âÂÂ), a daughter of Carlo d'Aragona Tagliavia, 1st Prince of Castelvetrano, 2nd Duke of Terranova, and Margherita Ventimiglia e Moncada (daughter of Simone Ventimiglia, 5th Marquess of Geraci). Together, they were the parents of:
In , Branciforte remarried to Agata ( Lanza) Branciforte (b. 1568). The widow of Giuseppe Branciforte Moncanda, 5th Count of Raccuja, Agata was the daughter of Ottavio Lanza, 1st Prince of Trabia, 2nd Count of Mussomeli, and Giovanna Orteca Gioeni, Baroness of Valcorrente and Pietratagliata. Together, they were the parents of:
Branciforte died in 1616 and was buried at the Church of Saint Zita in Palermo.
Through his son Girolamo, he was a grandfather of Francesco Branciforte, 3rd Duke of San Giovanni (âÂÂ1652), who married Antonia Gaetani and Antonia Notarbartolo, 2nd Princess of Villanova.