Malatesta II Malatesta
Encyclopedia
Malatesta II Malatesta, best known as Guastafamiglia (Italian: "the Ruiner of the Family", c. 1299 –
August 18, 1364) was an Italian condottiero and lord of Rimini
.
, lord of Pesaro
, Fano
, Senigallia
and Rimini.
Together with Pandolfo, he participated in the "crusade" declared by Pope John XII
against Federico I of Urbino
, being protagonist of massacres and ravages. He probably took part in the assassination of both Rinaldo da Polenta, lord of Ravenna
, and Uberto Malatesta. When Pandolfo died in 1326, the seigniory went to his nephew Ferrantino
. Guastafamiglia obtained Pesaro; later, through a complicate series of intrigues, he had the Papal legate ban Ferrantino from Rimini. Captured by the Este in the battle of Ferrara (April 14, 1333), Malatesta and Galeotto were freed to fight against the Papal troops. They reconquered much of Romagna, initially re-establishing Ferrantino in Rimini and capturing Fossombrone
and Fano
. However, they soon imprisoned Ferrantino by treason in the Castle of Gradara
, and assumed the dominio of Rimini and its countryside.
In 1336 Ferrantino was liberated by Nolfo da Montefeltro
, and a long war ensued. Situation changed when Pisa and the Visconti
of Milan
declared war to Florence
; in 1342 Malatesta and Galeotto were hired to command the Florentine army at the head of 200 men-at-arms, but with scarce success. In the same year the two brothers signed a peace with the Pope, being confirmed in their territories: Galeotto had Fano, Malatesta Rimini, while his sons Pandolfo
and Malatesta Ungaro were settled in Pesaro. However, their treacherous and wavering attitudes were again apparent when they housed King Louis I of Hungary in his campaign in Italy against the Pope. When the latter fled to Avignon
, they also turned Ghibellines and obtained the title of Imperial vicars, managing soon to capture Ancona
, Jesi
, Ascoli
and Senigallia, and stripping Ferrantino of his last possession, Montiano
.
In 1351 Galeotto returned from the Holy Land, and they were called to the Kingdom of Naples to suppress the ruthless Grande Compagnia led by Fra' Moriale
. When the latter revenged attacking Romagna during their absence, Rimini itself was in peril. The following year they agreed to pay a ransom of 40,000 ducati to save the situation.
At the same time, Pope Innocent VI
sent the strong Cardinal and general Gil de Albornoz to settle forever the anarchy in the Papal Romagna. The Malatestas allied with Francesco II Ordelaffi
of Forlì
and Gentile da Fogliano to stand him. After an initial success with the conquest of Fermo
, however, all their cities were captured by the Papal forces. Malatesta had to submit, but maintained most of his lands with the nominal title of vicar; he thenceforth collaborated in the Papal suppression of the remaining independent petty lords of Romagna, as well as in the war against Bernabò Visconti
in the defence of Bologna
, at the command of an army mostly composed of Hungarian mercenaries. After another number of the slaughters for which he had become famous, Malatesta repeatedly defeated the Milanese army. However, in 1363 he retired, leaving his son Ungaro in command and handing over Rimini to Galeotto.
August 18, 1364) was an Italian condottiero and lord of Rimini
Rimini
Rimini is a medium-sized city of 142,579 inhabitants in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, and capital city of the Province of Rimini. It is located on the Adriatic Sea, on the coast between the rivers Marecchia and Ausa...
.
Biography
He was the son of Pandolfo IPandolfo I Malatesta
Pandolfo I Malatesta , son of Malatesta da Verucchio, was an Italian condottiero and Lord of Rimini from 1317.In 1304, at the death of Pope Boniface VIII, he captured Pesaro, Fano, Senigallia and Fossombrone, which he lost and recovered in the following years.In 1317 he became lord of Rimini and...
, lord of Pesaro
Pesaro
Pesaro is a town and comune in the Italian region of the Marche, capital of the Pesaro e Urbino province, on the Adriatic. According to the 2007 census, its population was 92,206....
, Fano
Fano
Fano is a town and comune of the province of Pesaro and Urbino in the Marche region of Italy. It is a beach resort 12 km southeast of Pesaro, located where the Via Flaminia reaches the Adriatic Sea...
, Senigallia
Senigallia
Senigallia is a comune and port town on Italy's Adriatic coast, 25 km by rail north of Ancona, in the Marche region, province of Ancona....
and Rimini.
Together with Pandolfo, he participated in the "crusade" declared by Pope John XII
Pope John XII
Pope John XII , born Octavianus, was Pope from December 16, 955, to May 14, 964. The son of Alberic II, Patrician of Rome , and his stepsister Alda of Vienne, he was a seventh generation descendant of Charlemagne on his mother's side.Before his death, Alberic administered an oath to the Roman...
against Federico I of Urbino
Urbino
Urbino is a walled city in the Marche region of Italy, south-west of Pesaro, a World Heritage Site notable for a remarkable historical legacy of independent Renaissance culture, especially under the patronage of Federico da Montefeltro, duke of Urbino from 1444 to 1482...
, being protagonist of massacres and ravages. He probably took part in the assassination of both Rinaldo da Polenta, lord of Ravenna
Ravenna
Ravenna is the capital city of the Province of Ravenna in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy and the second largest comune in Italy by land area, although, at , it is little more than half the size of the largest comune, Rome...
, and Uberto Malatesta. When Pandolfo died in 1326, the seigniory went to his nephew Ferrantino
Ferrantino Malatesta
Ferrantino Malatesta was a lord of Rimini and several other lands in northern Italy, a member of the Malatesta family....
. Guastafamiglia obtained Pesaro; later, through a complicate series of intrigues, he had the Papal legate ban Ferrantino from Rimini. Captured by the Este in the battle of Ferrara (April 14, 1333), Malatesta and Galeotto were freed to fight against the Papal troops. They reconquered much of Romagna, initially re-establishing Ferrantino in Rimini and capturing Fossombrone
Fossombrone
Fossombrone is a town and comune in the province of Pesaro e Urbino .-History:The ancient Roman colony of Forum Sempronii took its name from Gaius Sempronius Gracchus....
and Fano
Fano
Fano is a town and comune of the province of Pesaro and Urbino in the Marche region of Italy. It is a beach resort 12 km southeast of Pesaro, located where the Via Flaminia reaches the Adriatic Sea...
. However, they soon imprisoned Ferrantino by treason in the Castle of Gradara
Gradara
Gradara is a town and comune in the province of Pesaro and Urbino, in the region of Marche in central Italy. It is located 25 km from Rimini and 13 km from Pesaro....
, and assumed the dominio of Rimini and its countryside.
In 1336 Ferrantino was liberated by Nolfo da Montefeltro
Nolfo da Montefeltro
Nolfo da Montefeltro was count of Montefeltro from 1323 to 1360. He was the son of Federico I da Montefeltro, who had been slain by the people of the city in revolt against him....
, and a long war ensued. Situation changed when Pisa and the Visconti
House of Visconti
Visconti is the family name of two important Italian noble dynasties of the Middle Ages. There are two distinct Visconti families: The first one in the Republic of Pisa in the mid twelfth century who achieved prominence first in Pisa, then in Sardinia where they became rulers of Gallura...
of Milan
Duchy of Milan
The Duchy of Milan , was created on the 1st of may 1395, when Gian Galeazzo Visconti, Lord of Milan, purchased a diploma for 100,000 Florins from King Wenceslaus. It was this diploma that installed, Gian Galeazzo as Duke of Milan and Count of Pavia...
declared war to Florence
Republic of Florence
The Republic of Florence , or the Florentine Republic, was a city-state that was centered on the city of Florence, located in modern Tuscany, Italy. The republic was founded in 1115, when the Florentine people rebelled against the Margraviate of Tuscany upon Margravine Matilda's death. The...
; in 1342 Malatesta and Galeotto were hired to command the Florentine army at the head of 200 men-at-arms, but with scarce success. In the same year the two brothers signed a peace with the Pope, being confirmed in their territories: Galeotto had Fano, Malatesta Rimini, while his sons Pandolfo
Pandolfo II Malatesta
Pandolfo II Malatesta was an Italian condottiero.The son of Malatesta II Malatesta, he fought under Werner von Urslingen and Gil de Albornoz. Later served Galeazzo II Visconti of Milan, but raised the jealousy of Bernabò Visconti and fled to the Marche. Later held a condotta for Florence against...
and Malatesta Ungaro were settled in Pesaro. However, their treacherous and wavering attitudes were again apparent when they housed King Louis I of Hungary in his campaign in Italy against the Pope. When the latter fled to Avignon
Avignon
Avignon is a French commune in southeastern France in the départment of the Vaucluse bordered by the left bank of the Rhône river. Of the 94,787 inhabitants of the city on 1 January 2010, 12 000 live in the ancient town centre surrounded by its medieval ramparts.Often referred to as the...
, they also turned Ghibellines and obtained the title of Imperial vicars, managing soon to capture Ancona
Ancona
Ancona is a city and a seaport in the Marche region, in central Italy, with a population of 101,909 . Ancona is the capital of the province of Ancona and of the region....
, Jesi
Jesi
thumb|250px|Teatro Pergolesi.Iesi is a town and comune of the province of Ancona in the Marche, Italy.It is an important industrial and artistic center in the floodplain on the left bank of the Esino river before its mouth on the Adriatic Sea.-History:Iesi was one of the last towns of the Umbri...
, Ascoli
Ascoli Piceno
Ascoli Piceno is a town and comune in the Marche region of Italy, capital of the province of the same name. Its population is c. 51,400.-Geography:...
and Senigallia, and stripping Ferrantino of his last possession, Montiano
Montiano
Montiano is a comune in the Province of Forlì-Cesena in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 90 km southeast of Bologna and about 25 km southeast of Forlì...
.
In 1351 Galeotto returned from the Holy Land, and they were called to the Kingdom of Naples to suppress the ruthless Grande Compagnia led by Fra' Moriale
Fra' Moriale
Giovanni Moriale d'Albarno, also known as Fra' Moriale was a French mercenary and condottiero....
. When the latter revenged attacking Romagna during their absence, Rimini itself was in peril. The following year they agreed to pay a ransom of 40,000 ducati to save the situation.
At the same time, Pope Innocent VI
Pope Innocent VI
Pope Innocent VI , born Étienne Aubert; his father was Adhemar Aubert seigneur de Montel-De-Gelas in Limousin province. His niece was Catherine Aubert, Dame de Boutheon, also the wife of Randon II baron de Joyeuse; she is La Fayette's ancestor...
sent the strong Cardinal and general Gil de Albornoz to settle forever the anarchy in the Papal Romagna. The Malatestas allied with Francesco II Ordelaffi
Francesco II Ordelaffi
Francesco II Ordelaffi , also known as Cecco II, was a lord of Forlì, the son of Sinibaldo Ordelaffi and Orestina Calboli, and the grandson of Teobaldo I Ordelaffi....
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...
and Gentile da Fogliano to stand him. After an initial success with the conquest of Fermo
Fermo
Fermo is a town and comune of the Marche, Italy, in the Province of Fermo.Fermo is located on a hill, the Sabulo with a fine view, on a branch from Porto San Giorgio on the Adriatic coast railway....
, however, all their cities were captured by the Papal forces. Malatesta had to submit, but maintained most of his lands with the nominal title of vicar; he thenceforth collaborated in the Papal suppression of the remaining independent petty lords of Romagna, as well as in the war against Bernabò Visconti
Bernabo Visconti
Bernabò Visconti was an Italian soldier and statesman, who was Lord of Milan.-Life:He was born in Milan, the son of Stefano Visconti and Valentina Doria. From 1346 to 1349 he lived in exile, until he was called back by his uncle Giovanni Visconti...
in the defence of Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
, at the command of an army mostly composed of Hungarian mercenaries. After another number of the slaughters for which he had become famous, Malatesta repeatedly defeated the Milanese army. However, in 1363 he retired, leaving his son Ungaro in command and handing over Rimini to Galeotto.