Obizzo da Polenta
Encyclopedia
Obizzo da Polenta was a lord of Ravenna
of the da Polenta family.
Obizzo and his brothers had their father Guido III da Polenta
imprisoned in 1389. However, all his brothers died in sequence (probably assassinated by him) in the following years; when also Aldobrandino
died in 1406, Obizzo managed to gain the undisputed power in Ravenna.
In 1404 he signed a treaty with the much stronger neighbour, the Republic of Venice
, by which he received help against the Este of Ferrara
, in exchange of help in the Venetian war against the Carraresi. Obizzo was imprisoned during the latter campaign, being freed after payment of 8,000 ducats. In 1406 he asked Venice to send a podestà
in Ravenna as protection for him and his sons; in exchange, the Ravennate lands would go to Venice in the event of the childless death of a Polentani.
He died in 1431, succeeded by his son Ostasio
under the Venetian regency. However, when Ostasio abandoned the alliance with Venice, the latter ousted him and annexed 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...
of the da Polenta family.
Obizzo and his brothers had their father Guido III da Polenta
Guido III da Polenta
Guido III da Polenta was a lord of Ravenna, Italy and a member of the da Polenta family.He peacefully held the city's government for 30 years after the death of his father, Bernardino I. Guido married the daughter of Obizzo III d'Este of Ferrara, Elisa d'Este, who gave him numerous children...
imprisoned in 1389. However, all his brothers died in sequence (probably assassinated by him) in the following years; when also Aldobrandino
Aldobrandino da Polenta
Aldobrandino da Polenta was the a lord of Ravenna of the da Polenta family.He was the son of Guido III da Polenta: Aldobrandino and his brothers imprisoned him in 1389 to seize the power in the city. When Aldobrandino died in 1406, the last surviving brother, Obizzo, inherited the sole rule in...
died in 1406, Obizzo managed to gain the undisputed power in Ravenna.
In 1404 he signed a treaty with the much stronger neighbour, the Republic of Venice
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
, by which he received help against the Este of Ferrara
Ferrara
Ferrara is a city and comune in Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy, capital city of the Province of Ferrara. It is situated 50 km north-northeast of Bologna, on the Po di Volano, a branch channel of the main stream of the Po River, located 5 km north...
, in exchange of help in the Venetian war against the Carraresi. Obizzo was imprisoned during the latter campaign, being freed after payment of 8,000 ducats. In 1406 he asked Venice to send a podestà
Podestà
Podestà is the name given to certain high officials in many Italian cities, since the later Middle Ages, mainly as Chief magistrate of a city state , but also as a local administrator, the representative of the Emperor.The term derives from the Latin word potestas, meaning power...
in Ravenna as protection for him and his sons; in exchange, the Ravennate lands would go to Venice in the event of the childless death of a Polentani.
He died in 1431, succeeded by his son Ostasio
Ostasio III da Polenta
Ostasio III da Polenta was the last lord of Ravenna of the da Polenta family.The son of Obizzo da Polenta, he inherited Ravenna but under the control of a proveditore from the nearby Republic of Venice...
under the Venetian regency. However, when Ostasio abandoned the alliance with Venice, the latter ousted him and annexed Ravenna.