centuries. From the ordinary nobility, the whole family was upgraded to the civilian senate. A Mario Caridi (born ) was registered in the nobility books of 1587–1610. He had the title of 'Misser' i.e. a graduate doctor (7). He was married to Maria Marullo, descendant of an important nobility family from Messina. Galuppi also mentions a Giovan Pietro Cariddi who was one of the founders of the Ordine dei Cavalieri della Stella. This was a military order which started in Messina in 1595 and became extinct in 1687. It consisted of 100 'nobilissimi cavalieri' (most nobile knights) who, to join, had to show a record of an unbroken family lineage of belonging to the nobility for at least 200 years. This places the date of origin of the Messina branch to about 1390. Greek branch In later years, a Gianni Cariddi was mentioned as being a noble in Malvasia (Greece) in 1552 and his sons were nobles after him. Then, two brothers, Nicolo and Leo, Counts Caridi moved to Cephallonia, in the Ionian Islands (8). During 1590 were given further nobility titles, according to the Livre d'or De la Noblesse Ionienne (9). In Cephallonia the original head of the family was a marquis (10), a title given to him by the Venetian government. A Gianni Caridi () had the nobility title 'Gabellator' given to him and his branch by the Doge of Venice 1552 (9). A Pantazi Caridi (1710–1781) became Regent of the Ionian Islands. From Cephallonia, a branch moved to Lefkada, Greece and another to Larnaca, Cyprus during the early 18th century. The head of this branch was Giovanni Caridi (born in Cephallonia), with his two sons Christodulos (born ) and Pietro () who was a medical doctor (11). Christodulos had the nobility title 'Kaminaris' given to him while briefly living in Hungary. One of Christodulos's sons, Constadinos, became Bishop Athanasios of Nikomidea and subsequently a holy martyr of the Greek Orthodox Church. Pietro's son, Adronicos, was a Cypriot dragoman of the Imperial Majesty the Queen of Hungary. There are several descending lines of the Cyprus branch still living on the island including a line descending from Maria Caridi (-1870). She was married to Demetrios Pieridis, of the current Pieridis Museum and Cultural Foundation in Cyprus (11). Notable contemporary Caridis: Carmine Caridi - Actor Joseph Caridi - Mobster Olivia Caridi - News Anchor, The Bachelor contestant Tony Caridi -