Ramberto Malatesta
Encyclopedia
Ramberto Malatesta was a son of the ill-fated Paolo 'il Bello' Malatesta
and brother of the Archpriest Guido Malatesta.
Around 1323, Ramberto was approached by his cousin Uberto, Count of Giaggolo and invited into a conspiracy to overthrow their uncle Pandolfo I Malatesta
, Lord of Rimini
and head of the Malatesta family
. But Uberto da Giaggolo was the son of the Giovanni 'Gianciotto'
, who had murdered Ramberto's father Paolo 'il Bello'
in a bout of jealousy back in 1285. Pretending to play along, Ramberto arranged for a banquet in his home for the conspirators, and then fell upon and killed Uberto, a belated vengeance for his father's murder.
At the death of Pandolfo I
in 1326, the succession to the Malatesta dominions was partitioned between Ramberto's cousins, Malatesta II 'Guastafamiglia'
getting Pesaro
and Ferrantino 'di Malatestino'
receiving Rimini
, leaving Ramberto out in the cold.
But Ramberto was not a man to be ignored. In July 1326, shortly after the succession, Ramberto arranged for another banquet at his home in Rimini
, inviting his cousins and their families. Alas, Malatesta II
himself was unable to attend, foiling Ramberto's plans for what was likely to be a family mass murder. Ramberto opted for the half-measure of releasing the members of Malatesta II's family, and imprisoning only Ferrantino
's family, hoping Malatesta II could be persuaded to join him in the conspiracy. It is possible Malatesta II contemplated it. But Polentisana da Polenta, wife of Ferrantino's son Malatestino Novello, rallied the people of Rimini and appealed to her own Polentani family, in an effort to release her husband from Ramberto's clutches. Malatesta II
entered Rimini with his army, and forced the captives' release. Ramberto escaped to his countryside castles.
In 1327, Cardinal Pouget
managed to reconcile Ramberto with the rest of the Malatesta
. But the very next year, Ramberto and his brother the Archpriest Guido conspired with the exiled Parcitadi family, long-time enemies of the Malatesta
, in an assault on Rimini
. Once again it failed, and once again a reconciliation was negotiated.
But Malatestino Novello (son of Ferrantino) had had enough of Ramberto's plots and intrigues. In January 1330, he lured Ramberto on a hunting trip to his castle in Poggiano. Soon upon arrival, Ramberto fell on his knees and begged Malatestino's forgiveness for his past treacheries. Malatestino's only reply was to pull out his dagger and plunge it into Ramberto's neck, killing him instantly.
Paolo Malatesta
Paolo Malatesta was the third son of Malatesta da Verucchio, lord of Rimini. He is best known for the story of his affair with Francesca da Polenta, portrayed by Dante in a famous episode of his Inferno...
and brother of the Archpriest Guido Malatesta.
Around 1323, Ramberto was approached by his cousin Uberto, Count of Giaggolo and invited into a conspiracy to overthrow their uncle Pandolfo I Malatesta
Pandolfo 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 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...
and head of the Malatesta family
House of Malatesta
The House of Malatesta was an Italian family that ruled over Rimini from 1295 until 1500, as well as other lands and towns in Romagna.Malatesta da Verucchio The House of Malatesta was an Italian family that ruled over Rimini from 1295 until 1500, as well as (in different periods) other lands and...
. But Uberto da Giaggolo was the son of the Giovanni 'Gianciotto'
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...
, who had murdered Ramberto's father Paolo 'il Bello'
Paolo Malatesta
Paolo Malatesta was the third son of Malatesta da Verucchio, lord of Rimini. He is best known for the story of his affair with Francesca da Polenta, portrayed by Dante in a famous episode of his Inferno...
in a bout of jealousy back in 1285. Pretending to play along, Ramberto arranged for a banquet in his home for the conspirators, and then fell upon and killed Uberto, a belated vengeance for his father's murder.
At the death of Pandolfo I
Pandolfo 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...
in 1326, the succession to the Malatesta dominions was partitioned between Ramberto's cousins, Malatesta II 'Guastafamiglia'
Malatesta II Malatesta
Malatesta II Malatesta, best known as Guastafamiglia was an Italian condottiero and lord of Rimini.-Biography:...
getting 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....
and Ferrantino 'di Malatestino'
Ferrantino Malatesta
Ferrantino Malatesta was a lord of Rimini and several other lands in northern Italy, a member of the Malatesta family....
receiving 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...
, leaving Ramberto out in the cold.
But Ramberto was not a man to be ignored. In July 1326, shortly after the succession, Ramberto arranged for another banquet at his home in 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...
, inviting his cousins and their families. Alas, Malatesta II
Malatesta II Malatesta
Malatesta II Malatesta, best known as Guastafamiglia was an Italian condottiero and lord of Rimini.-Biography:...
himself was unable to attend, foiling Ramberto's plans for what was likely to be a family mass murder. Ramberto opted for the half-measure of releasing the members of Malatesta II's family, and imprisoning only Ferrantino
Ferrantino Malatesta
Ferrantino Malatesta was a lord of Rimini and several other lands in northern Italy, a member of the Malatesta family....
's family, hoping Malatesta II could be persuaded to join him in the conspiracy. It is possible Malatesta II contemplated it. But Polentisana da Polenta, wife of Ferrantino's son Malatestino Novello, rallied the people of Rimini and appealed to her own Polentani family, in an effort to release her husband from Ramberto's clutches. Malatesta II
Malatesta II Malatesta
Malatesta II Malatesta, best known as Guastafamiglia was an Italian condottiero and lord of Rimini.-Biography:...
entered Rimini with his army, and forced the captives' release. Ramberto escaped to his countryside castles.
In 1327, Cardinal Pouget
Bertrand du Pouget
Bertrand du Pouget was a French papal diplomat and Cardinal.He may have been a nephew of Pope John XXII. As cardinal he was closely involved in dealing with the practical consequences of the migration of the papacy to Avignon, and also in striving to uphold papal prestige in Italy, for example by...
managed to reconcile Ramberto with the rest of the Malatesta
House of Malatesta
The House of Malatesta was an Italian family that ruled over Rimini from 1295 until 1500, as well as other lands and towns in Romagna.Malatesta da Verucchio The House of Malatesta was an Italian family that ruled over Rimini from 1295 until 1500, as well as (in different periods) other lands and...
. But the very next year, Ramberto and his brother the Archpriest Guido conspired with the exiled Parcitadi family, long-time enemies of the Malatesta
House of Malatesta
The House of Malatesta was an Italian family that ruled over Rimini from 1295 until 1500, as well as other lands and towns in Romagna.Malatesta da Verucchio The House of Malatesta was an Italian family that ruled over Rimini from 1295 until 1500, as well as (in different periods) other lands and...
, in an assault on 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...
. Once again it failed, and once again a reconciliation was negotiated.
But Malatestino Novello (son of Ferrantino) had had enough of Ramberto's plots and intrigues. In January 1330, he lured Ramberto on a hunting trip to his castle in Poggiano. Soon upon arrival, Ramberto fell on his knees and begged Malatestino's forgiveness for his past treacheries. Malatestino's only reply was to pull out his dagger and plunge it into Ramberto's neck, killing him instantly.
Sources
- J. Larner (1965) The Lords of Romagna: Romagnol society and the origins of the Signorie, Ithaca: Cornell University Press, p. 70-71
- P. H. Wicksteed and E.G. Gardner, (1902) Dante and Giovanni del Virgilio, Westminster: Archibald Constable, p. 249