Europe (c.1400-1458)

62. Italy: Rimini

Italy: Rimini 285 the name of Federico.824 But when he entered into marriage and had a legitimate son, he transferred his attention to him and enlisted Federico, though still a boy, in the army, where he remained until manhood. Then, when Oddantonio died, Federico was summoned by the people and made lord of Urbino.825 He was a distinguished man, superbly trained in the military arts, who never lacked judgment in the conduct of war or courage in facing dangers , and who was as famous for his loyalty as he was for his deeds. This became most evident during the war in the Marches, when he steadfastly helped and supported Francesco Sforza, who had taken refuge with him, having been all but abandoned by the winds of fortune. He certainly did not deserve to lose his right eye in a jousting tournament.826 62 ITALY: RIMINI 256. IN RIMINI, a city of Emilia, Sigismondo Malatesta, a man notorious for his crimes, held power.827 After uniting in marriage with Francesco Sforza’s daughter, he supported Francesco’s side in the war in the Marches for some time, then served under the church. He campaigned in the north against the Venetians and in 824. Federico da Montefeltro (1422–82) was raised as the son of Bernardo, but later acknowledged by Guidantonio as his natural son. 825. Federico became lord of Urbino in 1444 and was named duke in 1474. He was one of the most successful and sought after condottieri of quattrocento Italy. For more on him, see DBI, vol. 45. 826. The tournament was hosted by the new duke of Milan, Francesco Sforza, in 1450. 827. Sigismondo Malatesta (1417–68), the illegitimate son of Pandolfo Malatesta of Fano, became lord of Rimini in 1432 on his uncle Carlo’s death and married Polissena Sforza in 1441. He served Francesco Sforza and Pope Eugenius IV as condottiere. Pius’s Commentaries are filled with colorful descriptions of Sigismondo’s many crimes, for which Aeneas, as pope, took the unusual step of condemning his soul to hell while the man still lived (see Meserve and Simonetta, vol. 1: 326–31; Gragg and Gabel, vol. 2: 167–70; vol. 3: 374–76; 380). 286 Italy: Faenza, Fabriano Tuscany against the king of Aragon.828 This later caused him much harm. For when negotiations were held in Naples to achieve peace throughout Italy, the king remembered this insult and wanted Sigismondo to be excluded from the general peace, since he had not remained loyal to him. He then sent a force against him under Count Jacopo Piccinino and Federico, lord of Urbino, who deprived him of several important towns and laid waste to his land with sword and fire. After vainly begging for help from all quarters, Sigismondo finally decided to settle his differences with Alfonso and sent an emissary,829 which was his only means of salvation. His pleas have yet to be heeded, though the king’s clemency has aroused no little hope of an agreement.830 63 ITALY: FAENZA, FABRIANO 257. IN FAENZA, on the death of Guidantonio, of whom there are reported many illustrious feats in war, his brother Astorre,831 who was also well-known as a soldier, seized the rulership. Because he campaigned for the Florentines against the king, he was declared an enemy by Alfonso, just like Sigismondo, and excluded from the general peace.832 258. The people of Fabriano, who had long been oppressed by 828. Malatesta had been hired and paid by Alfonso to assist him in his Tuscan campaign in 1447, but he failed to appear, taking up arms on Florence’s behalf instead in 1448; Ryder, Alfonso, 277–80. 829. Adding nuntio (Urb. Lat. 885) to van Heck’s text, misso ad eum. 830. Alfonso obtained a loophole in the Peace of Lodi (1454), which allowed him to attack Sigismondo at will for his disloyalty in 1447. Federico da Montefeltro was eager to curb his neighbor Sigismondo’s power and campaigned with Piccinino (who was being funded by Alfonso) in Sigismondo’s territories in late 1457. Sigismondo, meanwhile, sought to appease Alfonso, but only the latter’s death in June 1458 saved him; see Ryder, Alfonso, 405. 831. Astorre II Manfredi (r. 1448–68). 832. Astorre, like Sigismondo, had reneged on an agreement with Alfonso and was not protected by the Peace of Lodi (1454). ...