Guido II da Polenta also known as Guido Novello, was 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...

 from 1316 until 1322.

The nephew of Lamberto I da Polenta

Lamberto I da Polenta

Lamberto I da Polenta was lord of Ravenna from 1297 until his death.The son of Guido I da Polenta, he inherited the lordship of Ravenna after the latter's death, while his brother Bernardino became lord of Cervia....

, he acquired the lordship of the city after the latter's death. In 1316–1321 he was host of Dante Alighieri

Dante Alighieri

Durante degli Alighieri, mononymously referred to as Dante , was an Italian poet, prose writer, literary theorist, moral philosopher, and political thinker. He is best known for the monumental epic poem La commedia, later named La divina commedia ...

. In 1322 he was named capitano del popolo

Capitano del popolo

The capitano del popolo was an administrative title used in Italy during the Middle Ages.It was created in the early 13th century when the populares, the increasing wealthy classes of merchants, professionals, craftsmen and, in maritime cities, ship-owners, who were of non-noble origin, were able...

of Bologna and left the government of Ravenna to his brother Rinaldo, who was archbishop of the city though without the Papal confirmation. Ostasio I da Polenta

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...

, from the family line 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...

, profited of the situation to kill Rinaldo and seize the power for himself.

Guido Novello died in 1330 after trying in vain to reconquer Ravenna.

See also

• Da Polenta