Girardin as its surname. According to a well-documented historical event referring to Peter and Lotto, sons of Noldo of the Gherardinis, in August 1343, they followed Walter VI of Brienne, Duke of Athens, to France. According to some sources, they were granted the Signoria of Marail in the Champagne region. Peter died on 9 September 1393 and is buried in the Church of Marail (Castle of Hervì). The Marquis René de Girardin (1735–1808), owner of the Château d'Ermenonville and friend of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, claimed to belong to this branch. Other members of the Girardin family included Louis Stanislas de Girardin, Émile de Girardin, and Delphine de Girardin, and the remaining Girardins in Paris. The Irish branch of the family started by Thomas, Gerard and Maurice, sons of Gherardino, still exist today and is headed by the Duke of Leinster. This branch left with Henry II of England to go and conquer Ireland where they initiated the House of FitzGerald, one of the oldest dynasty of Ireland. The FitzGerald Dukes and the Gherardinis of Montagliari are known to be in touch since at least the 15th century and were featured recently in "Sette" magazine of Corriere della Sera. Alliances Lisa Gherardini married to Francesco del Giocondo, whose family were silk merchants. He was previously married to a member of the Rucellai family, owners of Palazzo Rucellai. One of Francesco's relative was Giannetto Giocondo, who had business dealings with Amerigo Vespucci, the explorer who gave his name to America. His relative was an assistant of Machievelli and both the Gherardinis and Machiavellis came from the parish of Santa Trinita. The family married four times with members of the Medici family of Florence. The marriages were as follow; Venna de Medici married to Francesco Gherardini, Leonarda de Medici married to Guelfo Gherardini, Giuliano de Medici married to Tita Gherardini, and Nicolo Rosso de Medici married to Clemenza Gherardini. Leonarda was a member of the family of Salvestro de' Medici, a second cousin of Averardo de' Medici, father of Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici, the founder of the Medici Bank. Giuliano was Castellan of the Fortress of Sansepolcro, and son of a Magistrate. His great-grandfathers were Niccolo de Medici, also a descendant of the Averardo branch, and Bice Strozzi, a member of the House of Strozzi. His great-aunt was Aurelia de Medici, who married Luca di Maso degli Albizzi, brother of Rinaldo degli Albizzi,