What is "vitelli"

1. n. nutritive material of an ovum stored for the nutrition of an embryo (especially the yellow mass of a bird or reptile egg) [syn: yolk]

2. [also: vitelli (pl)]

See vitellus

The Vitelli, among other families so named, were a prominent family of Umbria, rulers of Città di Castello and lesser rocche. In spite of ambitious genealogies, there is no demonstrable connection with the ancient Roman Vitellius (gens). The Vitelli had been rich merchants of Città di Castello, who made themselves masters of the town in the early fourteenth century, after civic confrontations with the rival Guelf faction of the Brancaleone, and henceforward wielded political and military influence disproportionate to their small territory, as supporters of the Papacy.