Raimondo de' Cabanni

Raimondo de' Cabanni (died October 1334) was a Neapolitan knight of black African origin who rose from slavery to the highest office in the Angevin royal household. Boccaccio says the Ethiopian boy was sold by pirates to the provost of the royal kitchens, who freed and baptized him and made him his heir.

In 1304 or 1305 he married Philippa of Catania, wet nurse of the royal children, and rose to be chamberlain to Charles of Calabria, then seneschal of the royal hospice. He was buried in Santa Chiara, resting place of the Angevin kings, under an effigy of a knight at prayer.

His family's swift ruin is the theme of Boccaccio's tale: in 1345 Philippa and his son Roberto were accused of murdering Andrew, Duke of Calabria; Philippa died in prison and Roberto was executed.