In 1417, it was granted to Francesco Orsini, who was created a duke in 1436; his descendant holds the title today, and represents the remaining branch of the Orsini family.
Among the Orsini dukes, Pietro Francesco resigned his temporal dignities in 1667 to become a Dominican, and subsequently ascended the papal throne as Pope Benedict XIII.
His nephew, Duke Domenico II, was created cardinal.
Francesco (d. 1503) also achieved notoriety by being strangled while a captive of Cesare Borgia.
Don Federico Carlos (1756–1806), a Spanish grandee and son of the Duke of San Miguel, also used the title of Duke of Gravina.