Roberto Malatesta
Roberto Malatesta (c. 1441/42[1] – 10 September [1] 1482) was an Italian condottiero, or mercenary captain, lord of Rimini, and a member of the House of Malatesta.
Early life
Born at Fano,[2] 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.
Career
Malatesta debuted as papal diplomat in southern Italy (1457) to sign a treaty of peace with
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.[2] Once back 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
Death
In the following month, Roberto died in Rome after falling ill of (most likely malaria[1]) fever while pursuing the campaign.[1]
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.
See also
References
- ^ Enciclopedia Italiana. Retrieved 27 April 2011.
- ^ Enciclopedia Italiana. Retrieved 27 April 2011.
Sources
- Rendina, Claudio (1994). I capitani di ventura. Rome: Newton Compton.
- Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). . Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
