giovanni forti natoli or gianforte natoli was a sicilian nobleman, the son of blasco natoli lanza and domenica giambruno perna. he was baron of s. bartolomeo and belice. on 20 august 1597 he bought the barony of sperlinga from giovanni ventimiglia, marquis of gerace, for 30,834 ounces of gold. natoli was granted a "licentia populandi cum privilegium aedificandi" ("licence to populate and build") by the king of sicily, philip ii of spain. in 1627 he was made prince of sperlinga by philip iv of spain.