CARPI, a principality of Modena in Italy, lying about four leagues from that city. It formerly belonged to the house of Pio; the elder sons of which bore the title of Princes of St Gregory. In the beginning of the 14th century, Manfroy was the first prince of Carpi; but in the 16th, the emperor Charles V. gave the principality to Alfonzo duke of Ferrara.
This nobleman, in recompense, gave to Albert Pio, to whom the principality of Carpi belonged of right, the town of Sassuolo and some other lands. Albert was, however, at last obliged to retire to Paris; where, being stripped of all his estates, he died in 1538, with the reputation of being one of the best and bravest men of his age. The family of Pio is yet in being, and continues attached to the French court. Some of them have even been raised to the purple, and still make a figure in Europe.