Da Polenta family
Encyclopedia
The Da Polenta, or Polentani, were an old noble Italian family whose name derives from the Castle of Polenta near Bertinoro
in Romagna
.
The founder of the house is said to have been Guido
, surnamed l'Antico or the Elder, who wielded great authority in Ravenna in the 13th century. His grandson Guido Novello upheld the power of the house and was also capitano del popolo at Bologna
; he was overthrown in 1322. His chief claim to renown lies in the fact that in 1321 he gave hospitality to the poet Dante
, who immortalized the tragic history of Guido the Elder's daughter Francesca da Rimini
, unhappily married to Giovanni Malatesta
, lord of Rimini
, in an episode of The Inferno.
Guido's kinsman Ostasio I
was lord of Cervia
and Ravenna
from 1322 to 1329. After being recognized as a vassal of the Holy See
, he again became independent and went over to the house of Este, whom he served faithfully in their struggles with the Church until his death in 1346. His son Bernardino
, who succeeded him as lord of Ravenna in 1346, was deposed in 1347 by his brothers, Pandolfo
and Lamberto II
, but was reinstated a few months later and ruled until his death in 1359; he was famous for his profligacy and cruelty.
His son Guido III
ruled more mildly and died in 1390. Then followed Ostasio II
(died 1396), Bernardino
(died 1400), Obizzo
(died 1431), Pietro (died 1404), Aldobrandino
(d. 1406), all sons of Guido III. Ostasio III
(or V), son of Obizzo, was at first allied with the Venetians; later he went over to the Milanese, and, although he again joined the Venetians, the latter never forgave his intrigue with their enemies, and in 1441 they deprived him of his dominions. He died in a monastery in 1447.
Bertinoro
Bertinoro is a town and comune in the province of Forlì-Cesena, Emilia-Romagna . It is located on hill, Mount Cesubeo, in Romagna, a few kilometers from the Via Emilia.-History:...
in Romagna
Romagna
Romagna is an Italian historical region that approximately corresponds to the south-eastern portion of present-day Emilia-Romagna. Traditionally, it is limited by the Apennines to the south-west, the Adriatic to the east, and the rivers Reno and Sillaro to the north and west...
.
The founder of the house is said to have been Guido
Guido I da Polenta
Guido I da Polenta was lord of Ravenna from 1275 until his death.The son of Lamberto da Polenta, he was ousted from Ravenna by the imperial troops in 1240. When the city was returned to the Papal States in 1248, Guido was able to return and was made chief of the local council...
, surnamed l'Antico or the Elder, who wielded great authority in Ravenna in the 13th century. His grandson Guido Novello upheld the power of the house and was also capitano del popolo at 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,...
; he was overthrown in 1322. His chief claim to renown lies in the fact that in 1321 he gave hospitality to the poet Dante
DANTE
Delivery of Advanced Network Technology to Europe is a not-for-profit organisation that plans, builds and operates the international networks that interconnect the various national research and education networks in Europe and surrounding regions...
, who immortalized the tragic history of Guido the Elder's daughter Francesca da Rimini
Francesca da Rimini
Francesca da Rimini or Francesca da Polenta was the daughter of Guido da Polenta, lord of Ravenna. She was a historical contemporary of Dante Alighieri, who portrayed her as a character in the Divine Comedy.-Arranged marriage:...
, unhappily married to Giovanni Malatesta
Giovanni Malatesta
Giovanni Malatesta , known, from his lameness, as Gianciotto, or Giovanni, lo Sciancato, was the eldest son of Malatesta da Verucchio of Rimini.From 1275 onwards he played an active part in the Romagnole Wars and factions...
, 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...
, in an episode of The Inferno.
Guido's kinsman Ostasio I
Ostasio I da Polenta
Ostasio I da Polenta was lord of Ravenna from 1322 until his death.He was the son of Bernardino da Polenta, lord of Cervia. On September 20, 1322 he profited from the absence of Guido Novello da Polenta to seize power in Ravenna, killing the archbishop Rinaldo da Polenta...
was lord of Cervia
Cervia
Cervia is a town and comune in the province of Ravenna , central Italy.-History:Originally called Ficocle, it was probably of Greek origin and was located midway from current Cervia and Ravenna...
and 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...
from 1322 to 1329. After being recognized as a vassal of the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
, he again became independent and went over to the house of Este, whom he served faithfully in their struggles with the Church until his death in 1346. His son Bernardino
Bernardino da Polenta
Bernardino da Polenta was lord of Cervia from 1297 until his death. He was the son of Guido I da Polenta.In 1302–1305, he waged war to Cesena for the possession of Cesenatico, and in 1303 fought with Florence in Mugello...
, who succeeded him as lord of Ravenna in 1346, was deposed in 1347 by his brothers, Pandolfo
Pandolfo da Polenta
Pandolfo da Polenta was for a short time the lord of Ravenna and Cervia from 1346 until his death.He was the son of Ostasio I da Polenta. In 1346 he inherited the family lordships together with his brothers Bernardino I and Lamberto II. The former, however, had both Pandolfo and Lamberto...
and Lamberto II
Lamberto II da Polenta
Lamberto II da Polenta was shortly lord of Ravenna and Cervia from 1346 until his death.He was the son of Ostasio I da Polenta. In 1346 he inherited the family lordships together with his brothers Bernardino I and Lamberto II...
, but was reinstated a few months later and ruled until his death in 1359; he was famous for his profligacy and cruelty.
His son Guido III
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...
ruled more mildly and died in 1390. Then followed Ostasio II
Ostasio II da Polenta
-Biography:Ostasio was the son of Guido III da Polenta, lord of Ravenna.He served under the Angevines in 1382. Four years later he fought at the orders of his brother-in-law, Antonio della Scala, lord of Verona, against Francesco da Carrara of Padua...
(died 1396), Bernardino
Bernardino II da Polenta
Bernardino II da Polenta was lord of Ravenna, Italy from 1389 to 1400. He was the son of Guido III da Polenta, grandson of Bernardino I and a member of the da Polenta family. Bernardino's mother was Elisa d'Este, the daughter of Obizzo III d'Este of Ferrara, who gave him numerous children...
(died 1400), Obizzo
Obizzo da Polenta
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...
(died 1431), Pietro (died 1404), 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...
(d. 1406), all sons of Guido III. Ostasio III
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...
(or V), son of Obizzo, was at first allied with the Venetians; later he went over to the Milanese, and, although he again joined the Venetians, the latter never forgave his intrigue with their enemies, and in 1441 they deprived him of his dominions. He died in a monastery in 1447.