 The head of the house, Ferrante Della Marra, a notably cultured man, took over in 1607 as Duke of Guardia.With the end of Austrian domination, Guardia became part of the Ultra Principality of the Kingdom of Naples.The dukes were from the Ruffo di Calabria family, whose head, Guglielmo Antonio Ruffo I, had married Silvia Della Marra.