Roberto Malatesta
Encyclopedia
Roberto Malatesta was an Italian condottiero and lord of Rimini
, a member of the House of Malatesta
.
, Roberto was an illegitimate son of Sigismondo Pandolfo and his lover Vannetta dei Toschi di Fano
, but had been legitimated to the succession by Pope Nicholas V
in 1450.
Malatesta debuted as papal diplomat in southern Italy (1457) to sign a treaty of peace with Alfonso V of Aragon
. As a condottiero, in 1460 he fought for his father against Ancona
in the war for Jesi
. In 1461-1463 he fought against Pope Pius II
's troops in the Marche
, led by Federico III da Montefeltro; in 1461 Sigismondo Pandolfo and Roberto were the victorious at the battle of Castelleone di Suasa
. After several reverses of fortune, with some other victories by Roberto, the war ended with the lost of Fano for the Malatestas of Rimini in 1463. During Sigismondo's period as Venetian commander in Morea
, Roberto fought for Francesco Sforza of Milan.
At the death of his uncle, Malatesta Novello
(1465), he captured Cesena
. Soon Federico da Montefeltro besieged it and Roberto was forced to abandon it, in exchange of a small fiefdom nearby for himself. Once returned to Rimini, in 1466, Sigismondo Pandolfo named his other son Sallustio Malatesta as heir of Rimini.
In 1468, after his father's death, he was sent to capture Rimini, which was held by Sigismondo's lover and later third wife Isotta degli Atti
in the behalf of Sallustio, who was designated by his father as his heir. According to the tradition, he entered the Rocca ("Citadel") of the city disguised as a peasant, and took the city in the name of the Pope, but soon started to act independently. On 30 August 1469, thanks to the support of Federico da Montefeltro, he decisively defeated the Papal troops sent to oust him. In the following years he is said to have poisoned both his stepmother Isotta and his half-brothers Sallustio (whom he had initially associated in the government of Rimini) and Valerio. In 1475 he was finally invested with the vicariate of Rimini by the new pope, Sixtus IV; in the same year he was married to Federico's daughter, Elisabetta. Hired by Florence after a period as Papal commander, in 1479 he defeated near Perugia
the allied troops of Girolamo Riario
, a nephew of the pope who was trying to establish a lordship in Imola
and Faenza
, and the King of Naples. In the course of the so-called War of Ferrara, Malatesta, who had re-conciliated with the pope, fought as Venetian
commander. His great achievement was the liberation of Rome by the victory of Campo Morto
(21 August 1482), when, at the head of the Venetian-Papal forces, he completely defeated the royal army of Naples under the command of Duke Alfonso of Calabria.
In the following month, Roberto died in Rome after falling ill of (most likely malaria) fever while pursuing the campaign.
His son Pandolfo
, nicknamed Pandolfaccio ("Bad Pandolfo") for his cruelty, was expelled from Rimini by Cesare Borgia
in 1500. After several brief restorations of the Malatestas, the city was finally incorporated into the Papal States in 1528.
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...
, a member of the House of 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...
.
Biography
Born at FanoFano
Fano is a town and comune of the province of Pesaro and Urbino in the Marche region of Italy. It is a beach resort 12 km southeast of Pesaro, located where the Via Flaminia reaches the Adriatic Sea...
, Roberto was an illegitimate son of Sigismondo Pandolfo and his lover Vannetta dei Toschi di Fano
Fano
Fano is a town and comune of the province of Pesaro and Urbino in the Marche region of Italy. It is a beach resort 12 km southeast of Pesaro, located where the Via Flaminia reaches the Adriatic Sea...
, but had been legitimated to the succession by Pope Nicholas V
Pope Nicholas V
Pope Nicholas V , born Tommaso Parentucelli, was Pope from March 6, 1447 to his death in 1455.-Biography:He was born at Sarzana, Liguria, where his father was a physician...
in 1450.
Alfonso V of Aragon
Alfonso the Magnanimous KG was the King of Aragon , Valencia , Majorca, Sardinia and Corsica , and Sicily and Count of Barcelona from 1416 and King of Naples from 1442 until his death...
. As a condottiero, in 1460 he fought for his father against Ancona
Ancona
Ancona is a city and a seaport in the Marche region, in central Italy, with a population of 101,909 . Ancona is the capital of the province of Ancona and of the region....
in the war for Jesi
Jesi
thumb|250px|Teatro Pergolesi.Iesi is a town and comune of the province of Ancona in the Marche, Italy.It is an important industrial and artistic center in the floodplain on the left bank of the Esino river before its mouth on the Adriatic Sea.-History:Iesi was one of the last towns of the Umbri...
. In 1461-1463 he fought against Pope Pius II
Pope Pius II
Pope Pius II, born Enea Silvio Piccolomini was Pope from August 19, 1458 until his death in 1464. Pius II was born at Corsignano in the Sienese territory of a noble but decayed family...
's troops in the Marche
Marche
The population density in the region is below the national average. In 2008, it was 161.5 inhabitants per km2, compared to the national figure of 198.8. It is highest in the province of Ancona , and lowest in the province of Macerata...
, led by Federico III da Montefeltro; in 1461 Sigismondo Pandolfo and Roberto were the victorious at the battle of Castelleone di Suasa
Castelleone di Suasa
Castelleone di Suasa is a town and comune within the Province of Ancona, in the Marche region of Italy.It is well known for the archaeological park of Suasa, an ancient Roman town....
. After several reverses of fortune, with some other victories by Roberto, the war ended with the lost of Fano for the Malatestas of Rimini in 1463. During Sigismondo's period as Venetian commander in Morea
Morea
The Morea was the name of the Peloponnese peninsula in southern Greece during the Middle Ages and the early modern period. It also referred to a Byzantine province in the region, known as the Despotate of Morea.-Origins of the name:...
, Roberto fought for Francesco Sforza of Milan.
At the death of his uncle, Malatesta Novello
Malatesta Novello
Domenico Malatesta, best known as Malatesta Novello was an Italian condottiero, a member of the Malatesta family.-Biography:He was born at Brescia, the son of Pandolfo III Malatesta and Antonia da Barignano...
(1465), he captured Cesena
Cesena
Cesena is a city and comune in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, south of Ravenna and west of Rimini, on the Savio River, co-chief of the Province of Forlì-Cesena. It is at the foot of the Apennines, and about 15 km from the Adriatic Sea.-History:Cesena was originally an Umbrian...
. Soon Federico da Montefeltro besieged it and Roberto was forced to abandon it, in exchange of a small fiefdom nearby for himself. Once returned to Rimini, in 1466, Sigismondo Pandolfo named his other son Sallustio Malatesta as heir of Rimini.
In 1468, after his father's death, he was sent to capture Rimini, which was held by Sigismondo's lover and later third wife Isotta degli Atti
Isotta degli Atti
Isotta degli Atti was an Italian Renaissance woman, who was the mistress and later wife of the condottiero and lord of Rimini Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta...
in the behalf of Sallustio, who was designated by his father as his heir. According to the tradition, he entered the Rocca ("Citadel") of the city disguised as a peasant, and took the city in the name of the Pope, but soon started to act independently. On 30 August 1469, thanks to the support of Federico da Montefeltro, he decisively defeated the Papal troops sent to oust him. In the following years he is said to have poisoned both his stepmother Isotta and his half-brothers Sallustio (whom he had initially associated in the government of Rimini) and Valerio. In 1475 he was finally invested with the vicariate of Rimini by the new pope, Sixtus IV; in the same year he was married to Federico's daughter, Elisabetta. Hired by Florence after a period as Papal commander, in 1479 he defeated near Perugia
Perugia
Perugia is the capital city of the region of Umbria in central Italy, near the River Tiber, and the capital of the province of Perugia. The city is located about north of Rome. It covers a high hilltop and part of the valleys around the area....
the allied troops of Girolamo Riario
Girolamo Riario
Girolamo Riario was Lord of Imola and Forlì in the 15th century.- Biography :Born in Savona, Riario was the son of Paolo Riario and Bianca della Rovere...
, a nephew of the pope who was trying to establish a lordship in Imola
Imola
thumb|250px|The Cathedral of Imola.Imola is a town and comune in the province of Bologna, located on the Santerno river, in the Emilia-Romagna region of north-central Italy...
and Faenza
Faenza
Faenza is an Italian city and comune, in the province of Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna, situated 50 km southeast of Bologna.Faenza is noted for its manufacture of majolica ware glazed earthenware pottery, known from the name of the town as "faience"....
, and the King of Naples. In the course of the so-called War of Ferrara, Malatesta, who had re-conciliated with the pope, fought as Venetian
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...
commander. His great achievement was the liberation of Rome by the victory of Campo Morto
Battle of Campomorto
The Battle of Campomorto is a battle fought near Frosinone, in the Lazio on August 21, 1482, in the course of the War of Ferrara.It saw the Papal army, led by the famous condottiero Roberto Malatesta, face King Ferdinand I of Naples's army, under the command of Alfonso, Duke of Calabria.Malatesta...
(21 August 1482), when, at the head of the Venetian-Papal forces, he completely defeated the royal army of Naples under the command of Duke Alfonso of Calabria.
In the following month, Roberto died in Rome after falling ill of (most likely malaria) fever while pursuing the campaign.
His son Pandolfo
Pandolfo IV Malatesta
Pandolfo IV Malatesta, nicknamed Pandolfaccio was an Italian condottiero and lord of Rimini and other cities in Romagna. He was a member of the House of Malatesta and a minor player in the Italian Wars....
, nicknamed Pandolfaccio ("Bad Pandolfo") for his cruelty, was expelled from Rimini by Cesare Borgia
Cesare Borgia
Cesare Borgia , Duke of Valentinois, was an Italian condottiero, nobleman, politician, and cardinal. He was the son of Pope Alexander VI and his long-term mistress Vannozza dei Cattanei. He was the brother of Lucrezia Borgia; Giovanni Borgia , Duke of Gandia; and Gioffre Borgia , Prince of Squillace...
in 1500. After several brief restorations of the Malatestas, the city was finally incorporated into the Papal States in 1528.