Barbara Manfredi
Encyclopedia
Barbara Manfredi was the wife of Pino III Ordelaffi
, lord of Forlì
(Italy
).
She was born in Faenza
, current Emilia-Romagna
, to Astorre II Manfredi
, seignior of that city. At the age seven she was bethrothed to the powerful Pino III Ordelaffi
, who married her in 1462.
The following year Pino became ill. His brother Francesco
(Cecco) was suspected of poisoning him, but the Forlivese lord survived. However, when in 1466 Francesco fell ill in turn, and Barbara attempted to poison him. Cecco was in the end assassinated by one of his officers, and Pino could be the sole lord of the city, maintaining that position thanks the support of Venice
.
However, when Barbara suddenly died, the jealous Pino was accused by Astorre of poisoning her. The magnificent sepulchre that her husband commissioned her (now in the Abbey of San Mercuriale in Forlì) was seen as a proof of his guilty conscience.
Pino III Ordelaffi
Pino III Ordelaffi was an Italian condottiero and lord of Forlì. He was a member of the Ordelaffi family.The son of Antonio I Ordelaffi, he was the brother of Francesco IV Ordelaffi, lord of Forlì from 1448...
, lord of Forlì
Forlì
Forlì is a comune and city in Emilia-Romagna, Italy, and is the capital of the province of Forlì-Cesena. The city is situated along the Via Emilia, to the right of the Montone river, and is an important agricultural centre...
(Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
).
She was born in Faenza
Faenza
Faenza is an Italian city and comune, in the province of Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna, situated 50 km southeast of Bologna.Faenza is noted for its manufacture of majolica ware glazed earthenware pottery, known from the name of the town as "faience"....
, current Emilia-Romagna
Emilia-Romagna
Emilia–Romagna is an administrative region of Northern Italy comprising the two historic regions of Emilia and Romagna. The capital is Bologna; it has an area of and about 4.4 million inhabitants....
, to Astorre II Manfredi
Astorre II Manfredi
Astorre II Manfredi was lord of Imola from 1439 and of Faenza from 1443.He was born in Faenza, the son of Gian Galeazzo I Manfredi. Apart Faenza and Imola, he was Papal vicar at Fusignano and other lands in Romagna together with his brother Gian Galeazzo II...
, seignior of that city. At the age seven she was bethrothed to the powerful Pino III Ordelaffi
Pino III Ordelaffi
Pino III Ordelaffi was an Italian condottiero and lord of Forlì. He was a member of the Ordelaffi family.The son of Antonio I Ordelaffi, he was the brother of Francesco IV Ordelaffi, lord of Forlì from 1448...
, who married her in 1462.
The following year Pino became ill. His brother Francesco
Francesco IV Ordelaffi
Francesco IV Ordelaffi , also known as Cecco IV, was lord of Forlì from 1448 until his death. He was a member of the Ordelaffi family....
(Cecco) was suspected of poisoning him, but the Forlivese lord survived. However, when in 1466 Francesco fell ill in turn, and Barbara attempted to poison him. Cecco was in the end assassinated by one of his officers, and Pino could be the sole lord of the city, maintaining that position thanks the support of Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
.
However, when Barbara suddenly died, the jealous Pino was accused by Astorre of poisoning her. The magnificent sepulchre that her husband commissioned her (now in the Abbey of San Mercuriale in Forlì) was seen as a proof of his guilty conscience.