A restless and courageous leader who navigated the complexities of Italian warfare
Astorre Manfredi (Astorgio Manfredi), Lord of Faenza, Fusignano, Brisighella, Savignano sul Panaro, Solarolo, Granarolo, Russi, Donegaglia, Montemaggiore, Gesso, San Procolo, Rocca San Casciano, and Sassuolo. He was the son of Giovanni Manfredi, the brother of Francesco Manfredi, and the son-in-law of both Guido da Polenta and Antonio da Montefeltro.
Born: 1345
Death: 1405, November
| Year/Month | State. Comp. Ventura | Opponent | Conduct | Area of Activity | Actions Taken and Other Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1356 | |||||
| Dec. | Veneto | Is given as a hostage along with his older brother Francesco to the lord of Padua, Francesco da Carrara, when his father Giovanni is forced to surrender Faenza to the pontificals. After a few years, he moves to Bagnacavallo with his brother Francesco and his father. | |||
| 1361 | Milano | Church | Romagna | Serves with his father Giovanni and his brother Francesco for the lord of Milan, Bernabò Visconti, against the Visconti. | |
| 1364 | Milano | Church | Veneto Romagna Lombardia | Goes to Chioggia and meets there with Sinibaldo Ordelaffi; the following night he goes to Ravenna, hosted by Guido da Polenta; he also plots with him against the state of the Church. Immediately afterward, he heads to Milan and returns to the pay of the Visconti. | |
| 1371 | Ordelaffi | Church | Romagna Toscana | Joins Sinibaldo Ordelaffi in a vain attempt on Forlì. Upon the action’s failure, he takes refuge in Pistoia: the pontificals seize the last family possessions (Bagnacavallo and Torre di Calamello). He escapes to Milan. | |
| 1375 | |||||
| Aug. | Firenze | Church | Romagna | Romagna rebels against the pontificals; Astorre Manfredi wastes no time. With the help of the Florentines, he occupies Massa degli Alidosi (Massa) near Imola. He is besieged there by enemies who build two bastions nearby. | |
| Oct. | Romagna | Is forced by the pontificals to surrender Massa. | |||
| Dec. | Romagna | Recovers Rontano and Torre di Calamello, which had rebelled against the state of the Church. Raids in the Faenza area. | |||
| 1376 | |||||
| Mar. | Romagna | Leaves Cotignola with his brother Francesco, bribes the castellan of Granarolo, and takes over this important position. Initially moves against John Hawkwood (Giovanni Acuto): Astorre Manfredi is saved because a counterorder arrives for the English commander, called to quell the rebellion in Faenza which ends with the slaughter of 4000 men. | |||
| May-Sep. | Bologna | Church | Captain of lances | Romagna | Driven by necessity, Astorre reconciles with Giovanni di Alberghettino Manfredi who serves under the pay of Bologna; he too passes to the pay of the commune and gains command of the men-at-arms. He fortifies in Granarolo; risks only a few sorties against the castles of Val di Lamone; occupies Pieve Cesato. In early September, he obtains the castle of Laderchio from the inhabitants; the valley residents help him spontaneously due to fear of the raids by the Company of Bretons. In the same month, he seizes, at the expense of the pontificals, the castle of Rontana near Bagnacavallo. |
| 1377 | |||||
| Mar. | Romagna | Occupies Montegattoli. | |||
| May | Firenze | Church | Romagna | By treaty, takes Solarolo: attacked by Bernardon De Serres (Bernardo della Sala) and the Company of Bretons, he puts the opponents to flight, who suffer the loss of 300 horses, dead and prisoners. Takes a fortress controlled by the counts of Cunio; with Antonio da Montefeltro and Sinibaldo Ordelaffi, helps the lord of Ravenna Guido da Polenta to occupy Cesena, from which Galeotto Malatesta is expelled. | |
| June | Manfredi | Manfredi | Romagna | Is at Castiglioncello, which belongs to Giovanni di Alberghettino Manfredi; causes serious damage to the neighboring territory. Joins Acuto in attacking Faenza. | |
| July | Firenze | Church | Romagna | At the end of the month, he breaks into Faenza at night through a sewer leading to the monastery of Sant’Ippolito, previously cut by his supporters. The Estensi, who had bought Faenza the previous March from Giovanni Acuto for 40000 florins, try in vain to resist. Astorre Manfredi lays siege to the fortress with the support of Acuto (who has left the pay of the pontificals for that of Florence and Milan); defeats the ecclesiastical militias sent from Cesena and obtains the surrender of Selvatico Boiardi after twenty days. With the victory, he proclaims himself lord of the city. | |
| Aug. | Marche | With Piero del Bianco, defeats the lord of Camerino Rodolfo da Varano in a clash lasting 12 hours: 150 horses and 50 infantry are captured. | |||
| 1378 | |||||
| ………. | Faenza | Manfredi | Romagna | Takes over Castelmaggiore at the expense of Giovanni di Alberghettino Manfredi. | |
| ……….. | Faenza | Forlì | Romagna | Attempts to expand on Cesena when the court of Avignon wants to sell the city to some local lord. Moves with 2000 infantry and 1000 cavalry towards the location: his march is repelled by Sinibaldo Ordelaffi, lord of Forlì, who forces him to retreat. Has several clashes with the Forlì people in one of which his brother Francesco is captured. | |
| 1379 | |||||
| Apr. | Faenza | Comp. Ventura | General Captain | Romagna | Is attacked by the company of John Hawkwood (Giovanni Acuto). |
| May | Attacks Bagnacavallo; John Hawkwood (Giovanni Acuto) responds by attacking Faenza with 300 lances in turn. Florence and Bologna intervene. Receives aid from Guido da Polenta, lord of Ravenna, from Antonio da Montefeltro, lord of Urbino, and from Francesco Ordelaffi, lord of Forlì. Galeotto Malatesta supports Acuto. Astorre Manfredi sacks the countryside of Bagnacavallo; reaches with his raids up to the gates of Rimini. In the same days, through mediation by Guido da Polenta, he reconciles with the Marquis d’Este: he recognizes a sum of 24000 florins to be paid over eight years with collateral from the commune of Faenza and some Florentine merchants. Within two months he must deliver the city to an officer of the marquis to exercise some acts of absolute jurisdiction; after three/four days the same official must return Faenza to Astorre Manfredi as a fief of the Estensi. From then on, for 8 years, Manfredi commits to offering the Marquis of Ferrara Niccolò d’Este, as a sign of vassalage, a fine steed with a rich red cloth caparison on the day of Saint Peter. Manfredi hurries to obtain ratification from the pope for the renewed lordship; Urban VI grants it to him and names him vicar of Faenza for ten years. | ||||
| June | Milano Venezia | Genova | Emilia and Liguria | Founds at Soragna the Company of the Stella, strong of 600 lances and 2000 infantry recruited among the Bolognese exiles (including the Pepoli) and the Romagnol adventurers. His intention is to reach Faenza and from there to attack Rimini and Bologna. The Bolognese ask for and receive help from Niccolò d’Este, gather 800/900 lances, to which some soldiers sent by Galeotto Malatesta and 200 lances from Florence are added. The Bolognese army and that of the allies, commanded by Alberto Galluzzi, await the adventurers in the Modenese, whose borders, moreover, are well protected by good fortifications prepared by the same marquis of Ferrara. Astorre Manfredi then goes into the pay of Bernabò Visconti, concentrates his forces in the territory of Parma, crosses the Apennines, and launches an attack on Genoa. | |
| July | Liguria | Sacks Sampierdarena; at the same time, the Venetian galleys must attack Genoa by sea. The doge Niccolò Guarco recognizes the company a bounty of 19000 florins so that they cease devastation and robbery. Astorre Manfredi moves away from the vicinity. He simulates a failure to save face in front of the Visconti and Venetians who financed his expedition. | |||
| Aug. | Comp. Ventura Milano | Bologna Genova | Emilia and Liguria | Returns to the Reggio area; arrives in Parma and Soragna where he completes the company’s roster. His march in the Bolognese is still blocked by 1000 lances led by Egano Lambertini; he again attacks Genoa with 400 lances and 3000 infantry on behalf of the Visconti and Venetians. Moves into the Riviera di Levante, occupies the hill of Albaro, and penetrates the Val di Bisagno up to the monastery of Sant’Agnese and the church of San Francesco. | |
| Sept. | Liguria | The Genoese this time react under the orders of Isnardo Guarco, brother of the doge. 7 galleys block the mouth of the river. The troops of the lord of Faenza are surprised in their sleep, camped in the bed of the Bisagno. The soldiers surrender. 1572 prisoners are made. 3 banners of the Biscione and of San Marco are carried in triumph through the streets of the city. All members of the captured company will be tried the following year; some are tortured and killed immediately, including Antonio Visconti, nephew of the lord of Milan Bernabò (tied to a column and, like Saint Sebastian, targeted with spears and other weapons) and Giovanni di San Miniato. A hand is cut off and an eye gouged out from the latter; the following day the operation is repeated with the other hand and the other eye. Astorre Manfredi saves himself with the help of a peasant, to whom he promises a reward of 10000 ducats (in reality, he will deliver only 200). There are great celebrations in Bologna for his defeat and equally in Genoa: the event is remembered for years by the inhabitants of the latter locality with the delivery of a golden palio to the church of San Giorgio. |
| 1380 | |||||
| ………… | Romagna | The return to Faenza is marked by the rebellion of his brother Francesco, who, during his absence, tried to take over the lordship of the city. Astorre imprisons him in the fortress of Solarolo. Francesco’s supporters free him, and he takes possession of that castle. | |||
| Apr. | Faenza | Forlì, Imola | Romagna | Forms alliances against the lord of Forlì and the lord of Imola, Bertrando Alidosi. | |
| 1381 | |||||
| Jan.-Feb. | Faenza | Comp. Ventura | Romagna, Emilia | His conflicts with Acuto in Romagna become more frequent; the Florentines intervene. In February, he contacts Brigante and Boino in Bologna to hire their company of 1200 horses. | |
| Mar. | Faenza | Forlì | Toscana | Goes to Florence and negotiates a two-year truce with Acuto. Allies with the Bolognese and fights the Ordelaffis: a new attempt to harm Cesena fails. | |
| Apr. | Faenza | Manfredi | Romagna | Attacks his brother Francesco in Solarolo. Francesco negotiates with the Bolognese and cedes the location to the commune in exchange for 3000 florins, a monthly pension of another 60 florins, and the ownership of a palace in Bologna. Astorre does not dare to attack Solarolo when he sees the commune’s banners flying there. | |
| ………… | Faenza | Ravenna | Romagna | With Ettore and Maghinardo da Perugia (100 lances), occupies Russi at the expense of the lord of Ravenna, Guido da Polenta, who supports the cause of the antipope Clement VII. Strengthens the defenses of that castle. | |
| 1384 | |||||
| Jul. | Faenza | Comp. Ventura | Romagna | Attacks the bastion of Sezada. Repelled, he renews the truce with Acuto for another two years. | |
| Oct. | Romagna | Astorre Manfredi allied with the lords of Rimini (Galeotto Malatesta), Forlì (Sinibaldo Ordelaffi), and Imola (Bertrando Alidosi) with the aim of supporting Pope Urban VI against Charles of Durazzo (Carlo di Durazzo), King of Naples. | |||
| Dec. | Romagna | Considered by the Florentines as their adherent. | |||
| 1386 | |||||
| Jan.-Apr. | Romagna | Sinibaldo Ordelaffi is ousted from his lordship in Forlì by his nephews Cecco and Pino. Giovanni Ordelaffi turns to Manfredi to expel the usurpers from the city. However, new events distract the lord of Faenza from aiding his ally: the counts Giovanni and Rinaldo da Barbiano have, in fact, occupied the castle of Barbiano from the Bolognese. The commune is forced to leave them in that possession due to the betrayal of their commander Lucio Lando. Moreover, at the beginning of April, Lando will be a guest of Manfredi in Faenza. | |||
| Apr.-May | Firenze | Urbino | Hired by the Florentines for two months, plus one of goodwill, to fight Antonio da Montefeltro with his bands of Hungarians and English. | ||
| Jun. | Faenza | Bologna | Emilia, Romagna | Assists Taddeo Pepoli in his attempt to return to Bologna: is immediately attacked by 700 lances and many infantry commanded by Egano Lambertini. The opponents position themselves at the bridge of San Procolo and build a strong bastion there. Manfredi gathers 500 lances and with the help of Lucio Lando repeatedly defeats the Bolognese, capturing 200 horses in a skirmish. Devastates several localities and gathers much provisions; the Bolognese raid the Faentino area. | |
| Jul. | Ordelaffi | Forlì | Romagna | Supports Giovanni Ordelaffi in his attempt to take the lordship of Forlì from his relatives. | |
| Aug. | Envoys from the Count of Virtù, Gian Galeazzo Visconti, intervene in the conflict against the Bolognese: they impose peace on the contenders. Following the Milanese settlement, Manfredi must hand over the fortress of Montemaggiore to Visconti, and Lucio Lando must clear the Faentino within fifteen days. Prisoners are released on both sides. The Bolognese have the possibility to keep the possession of the bastion of San Procolo with as much space around it as marked by a shot of a crossbow. | ||||
| 1387 | |||||
| Sept. | Sends some men-at-arms to the pope to escort him in his move from Lucca to Perugia. | ||||
| 1388 | |||||
| Feb. | Romagna | Lends 700 ducats to the condottiero Sandrino Trotti, who serves for the Estensi. | |||
| ………… | Emilia | Goes to Bologna. Is lodged in San Domenico. | |||
| 1389 | |||||
| ………… | The new pope Boniface IX recognizes his vicariate of Faenza for ten years. | ||||
| Mar. | Emilia, Lombardia | Still in Bologna; is again hosted in San Domenico. Heads to Milan to meet Gian Galeazzo Visconti; on the way back, he stops again in Bologna. | |||
| 1390 | |||||
| Jun. | Firenze, Bologna | Milano | 70 lances, 400 infantry | Emilia, Romagna | Is in the field in the Bolognese with his company of men-at-arms and 400 infantry from Val di Lamone: in Bologna, he is welcomed with great honors at the house of Egano Lambertini. With Anderlino Trotti, has a skirmish between Faenza and Imola with Ramazzotto and Carlo della Mella, who command 100 lances for the Visconti. |
| Jul.- Aug. | Romagna | With Giovanni Ordelaffi and Giovanni di Pallacino, organizes a treaty to take over Cesena: an innkeeper and his son, who are tasked with guarding a water conduit leading to Porta Figarola, let in numerous of his soldiers. The inhabitants notice the noise of something unusual happening; they attack the assailants and capture 40. The innkeeper and his son are immediately hanged. The Bolognese cede to Manfredi the bastion of the bridge of San Procolo and gift him a palace in the city. | |||
| Oct. | Romagna | Occupies Fusignano at night; on the return, clashes at Bagnacavallo with the Estensi. Many prisoners are taken to Faenza. | |||
| Nov. | Romagna | Reconciles with the Marquis of Ferrara, Niccolò d’Este. | |||
| Dec. | Emilia, Veneto | Leaves Bologna and heads to Padova with 50 lances to continue the war in the Veronese and Vicentino areas. | |||
| 1391 | |||||
| Jan. | 100 lances | Veneto | Leaves Padova with Giovanni Acuto. | ||
| Feb. | Veneto | Moves under Verona: suddenly abandons the field because suspected of acting in favor of the Visconti and intending to kill, during a council of war, Giovanni Acuto and Francesco Novello da Carrara. | |||
| Jun. | Emilia | Goes to Bologna; in the city, he has talks with Alberto d’Este and Francesco Gonzaga. Is lodged in San Procolo. During this period, he buys another palace in the locality for 2000 ducats, previously owned by the Pepoli and Pope Gregory XI who used it as Gregorian College: on the door, he paints his coat of arms and a High Saxon motto translated in two ways, “I will do as much as I hope” and “I will do as much as I can.” To provide for the new purchase, he offers in exchange, besides cash, also the Conoscenti palace, which had previously been gifted to him by the commune. | |||
| Jul. | Romagna | Acknowledges to the Holy See the annual census he owes, 1500 florins. | |||
| Sept. | Participates in efforts to reach a truce between the Visconti on one side and the Florentines and their allies on the other: the terms of the same are negotiated, respectively, by Niccolò d’Este and Francesco Novello da Carrara. | ||||
| 1392 | |||||
| Jul. | Emilia | In Bologna, for a new reconciliation with the Marquis of Ferrara. | |||
| 1393 | |||||
| Aug. | Faenza | Forlì | Romagna | Allied with the Malatesta, fights the Ordelaffis: blocks the passes of his state and prevents aid from reaching the opponents. | |
| Oct. | |||||
| Nov. | Lazio, Romagna | Arrives in Rome. The pope reaffirms him in the vicariate of Faenza: the census is maintained at 1500 florins per year; Astorre Manfredi is awarded the Golden Rose, a precious jewel with a large sapphire at the center. Around the central rose are arranged six other similar flowers, also in gold, four open and two closed: in the middle of the central rose, the name of the pontiff is read. On returning to Faenza, Manfredi donates the jewel to the cathedral of his city. | |||
| 1394 | |||||
| Aug. | Romagna | Orders the destruction of the loggia of the communal palace in Faenza, which rests on wooden columns. | |||
| Nov. | Lombardia | In Mantua, to attend the wedding of Francesco Gonzaga. On the way back, he stops in Bologna with Carlo Malatesta; is hosted by Egano Lambertini. |
| 1395 | |||||
| Feb. | Firenze | Este | General Captain | Romagna | Appointed general captain by Marquis Niccolò III d’Este, the Bolognese, Florentines, Gonzagas, Carraras, and Venetians to confront Count Giovanni da Barbiano and Azzo d’Este. His army consists of 600 horses and 1000 Este infantry, 300 lances and 500 Bolognese infantry led by Nanne Gozzadini, 90 Gonzaga horses and 80 infantry, 150 Carrara horses and 100 infantry, and other troops from Florence (50 men-at-arms). Manfredi attempts to seize the castle of Barbiano but is blocked by the Count of Virtù who grants his protection to the Counts of Cunio. He unsuccessfully besieges Lugo, pillages the countryside, builds a strong bastion at Buonconforto, and defeats the opponents at Argenta. |
| Apr. | Romagna and Emilia | Informed that many peasants from the Polesine of San Giorgio are marching united on Ferrara and, at the same time, Azzo d’Este has left Lugo with 300 horses and 1200 infantry to join them. Joined by 600 men-at-arms led by Count Corrado di Altinberg and Ugo di Monforte, defeats Conselice da Barbiano who captains 500 Romagnols at Consandalo. Awaiting the rest of the Este army at San Nicolò Ferrarese, attacks Azzo d’Este’s 8000 mercenaries at Portomaggiore; defeats his rival, forcing him first to barricade himself in the castle and then to surrender under terms. The clash lasts several hours: 100 horses killed on one side, 600 men and 1072 peasants on the other, with another 2000 peasants taken prisoner. Azzo d’Este, captured by Corrado Lando, is imprisoned in the fortress of Faenza. With the liberation of Niccolò Roberti, a prisoner at Portomaggiore of the rebels, Manfredi reaches San Nicolò Ferrarese, Gaibana, and arrives in Ferrara. His soldiers engage in systematic looting of the territory, making no distinction between friends and foes. To placate him, Marquis Niccolò d’Este grants the lord of Faenza the properties owned by the Estensi in Migliaro and promises a substantial sum of money for the expenses incurred. As collateral for this operation, he is granted the temporary lordship of Sassuolo. Also obtains Savignano sul Panaro, which he must renounce the following year due to Giordano da Savignano. | |||
| May | Romagna | Leaves Faenza with 2000 horses and more than 2000 infantry; invades the lands of Giovanni da Barbiano, besieges Barbiano; builds a bastion between the locality and Lugo and similarly ruins the crops and vineyards between Lugo and Conselice. | |||
| Aug. | Firenze | Forlì | Romagna | Waits with 300 horses at San Martino; connects with Rodolfo da Varano to devastate Forlì together and thus punish the Ordelaffis who have helped the defenders of Castrocaro Terme resist the Florentines. The conflict is soon suspended under pressure from the Venetians. Astorre Manfredi is tasked as arbitrator to settle a dispute that arose between Francesco da Sassuolo and the Estensi. | |
| 1397 | |||||
| ………… | Romagna | His son Giovanni Galeazzo marries Gentile Malatesta. | |||
| ………… | Faenza | Ravenna | Romagna | Hires the Forlì native Andrea Barsa dei Quirioli with five corporals and 600 horses to fight the Ravennans. Each lance is paid a monthly wage of 13 florins. | |
| 1398 | |||||
| Feb. | Romagna | Pino Ordelaffi resolves through his mediation the ongoing war between Astorre Manfredi and the da Polenta. Boniface IX renews his vicariate of Faenza and that of the Val di Lamone. | |||
| Jul. | Lombardy and Emilia | In Milan and Modena. In the latter locality, he is welcomed by Gherardo Aldighieri who escorts him to Parma. | |||
| Aug. | |||||
| Oct. | Romagna | Obtains from the pontiffs the vicariate of the lands of Montemaggiore, Fusignano, and Donegaglia against an annual census of a pound of wax to be delivered on the day of Saints Peter and Paul. | |||
| ………… | |||||
| 1399 | |||||
| Feb. | Romagna | At the urging of the Serenissima, concludes a one-year truce with Obizzo and Pietro da Polenta. | |||
| Mar. | Bologna | Bentivoglio | Emilia | Supports in Bologna the maltraversi faction against the Bentivoglio who want to take over the city. Defeats Giovanni da Barbiano and Nanne Gozzadini. | |
| May | Faenza | Comp. Ventura | Marche | Joins the Malatesta in the March of Ancona against the company of Ceccolo Broglia and Conte da Carrara. With Ottobono Terzi and Fuzzolino Tedesco (800 horses and 1200 Bolognese infantry), is defeated at Cingoli after nine hours of combat. | |
| Sept. | Emilia | Executes Giovanni da Barbiano with his sons Ludovico and Conselice in Bologna. | |||
| ………… | Faenza | Forlì | Romagna | Supports the Malatesta with 200 lances against the Ordelaffi. | |
| Dec. | Romagna | Obtains the castle of Solarolo from the Bolognese captains Gaspare Bernardini and Antonio dalle Caselle, involved in the tumults linked to the city factions: refuses to give them the previously agreed reward and threatens to hang them immediately if they continue their claims. In Bologna, meanwhile, the Bentivoglio prevail. The city senate condemns the two captains of Solarolo to exile, razes their houses to make way for a square for the sale of donkeys. | |||
| 1400 | |||||
| Jan. – May | Faenza | Bologna | Romagna | Astorre Manfredi is attacked by all his enemies, led by the Bolognese and Forlì with Pino Ordelaffi. He offers to deliver Solarolo to the Bolognese; his proposal is not accepted. | |
| Jun. | Faenza | Cunio Bologna | Romagna | Furiously attacked in the Faentino by Alberico da Barbiano eager to avenge his brother’s death: the Florentines, albeit reluctantly, send 100 lances to Astorre Manfredi’s aid. The commander has frequent skirmishes with opponents who have 2000 horses against the 1000 serving under his command. | |
| Jul. | Romagna and Veneto | Distressed by the consequences of the war, he increasingly demands money from the Marquis of Ferrara for the custody of Azzo d’Este; threatens to release him if his demands are not met. At the invitation of the Serenissima, he is granted 5000 ducats per year; despite this, he increases his demands and renews his threats. Niccolò d’Este then has his son Carlo, who is disguised and sailing on the Po, captured and taken to the castle of Ferrara. Manfredi rushes to Venice to complain; meanwhile, Pino Ordelaffi, paid by the Bolognese, devastates the Faentino and blocks the capital by erecting two bastions, one on the Via Flaminia at Castelfranco, not far from Castel Bolognese, and one at the entrance to the Val di Lamone. Famine looms over Faenza: Manfredi cedes the lordship of the city to his son Giovanni Galeazzo and moves to Brisighella hoping that the Bolognese and Alberico da Barbiano will cease their action. | |||
| Aug. | Romagna | His son is freed in Venice; Manfredi hands over Azzo d’Este, who is confined to Candia by the Venetians. Manfredi is recognized 2000 florins: in exchange, he must lease his properties in Migliaro and some houses he owns in Ferrara to the marquis. | |||
| Sept. | Romagna | Increasingly pressed by his opponents, he seeks help through Carlo Malatesta from Gian Galeazzo Visconti: for this purpose, he sends his eldest son to Pavia. | |||
| 1401 | |||||
| ………… | Emilia | In Bologna: the city has just come under the power of the pontiffs. | |||
| 1403 | |||||
| ………… | Romagna and Marche | The agreements are not honored by Cardinal Legate Baldassarre Cossa; Manfredi withdraws to Forlì where he lives under the protection of Carlo Malatesta. He then moves to Ancona, hosted by the city captain Egano Lambertini, and to Urbino at the home of Guidantonio da Montefeltro. | |||
| 1404 | |||||
| ………… | Faenza | Cunio | Romagna | Is again attacked in Faenza by Alberico da Barbiano. | |
| Oct. | Romagna | His situation becomes so precarious that in order not to fall into the hands of his opponents, he leases Faenza to the Church State for ten years for 25000 ducats; the transaction also includes the fortresses of the Val di Lamone leased to the pontiffs for five years. He is promised a monthly allowance of 200 florins and absolution from any ecclesiastical penalty for himself and his followers. | |||
| 1405 | |||||
| Jun. | Chiesa | Cunio | Emilia | Is allowed to return to Brisighella and the Val di Lamone. Joins the payroll of Cardinal Cossa; counters the militias of Alberico da Barbiano at Castel Bolognese. | |
| Sept. | Chiesa | Forlì | Romagna | With the murder of Cecco Ordelaffi in Forlì, he is sent to the city to take possession for the pontiffs. Reveals to the inhabitants the real intentions of Cardinal Cossa and invites them to resist. | |
| Oct. | Romagna | His betrayal is discovered through the interception of some of his letters and the denunciation by a Forlì exile named Giovanni Pietro da Lardiano. Summoned by Cardinal Cossa, who feigns illness, Manfredi is imprisoned; accused, he confesses his guilt and is sentenced to death by the judge of Malefici Antonio Pagani. | |||
| Nov. | Romagna | In mid-November, he is beheaded in the public square of Faenza by the city’s podestà, the Bolognese Aldovrandino degli Ariosti, and by the judge of maleficio, on behalf of the Church State, the Arezzo native Antonio di Pagani. He is buried in the local church of San Francesco. Modernizes the center of Faenza according to the canons of his time with the portico of the Public Palace and the Loggia dei Mercanti. Author of sonnets and a prayer of 44 triplets dedicated to the Madonna. Friend of Franco Sacchetti, podestà of Faenza between 1396 and 1397. Later, Sacchetti will remember Manfredi in some stories. Friend of Coluccio Salutati (with whom he has extensive correspondence on issues of Latin literature) and other humanists such as Fazio Caffarelli, Giovanni Baldo de Tambenis, and F. Sadoleto; he also exchanges letters with the Bolognese Pellegrino Zambeccari. Marries Leta da Polenta, daughter of Guido, widow of Francesco Gonzaga. |
Sources
-“Huomo molto savio, e nell’armi prode, onde sovente riportò gloriose vittorie di nemici eserciti..Diede grand’accrescimento alle mura della città, e le fece attorniare d’un cupo, e largo fosso. Et fece fare molto bello il palagio de signori.” ALBERTI
-“Huomo molto savio et nell’arme prode, onde sovente riportò gloriose vittorie di nemici esserciti, essendo capitano de signori.” SANSOVINO
-“Di spiriti irrequieti e ardimentosi. Uomo di mala fede.” MESSERI-CALZI
-“Il signore di cui parlo ha nome Astore,/ padre possente in guerra, pro’ e saggio;/ a chi gli fa dannaggio/ incontro a lui il suo poter aopra./ D’Astore ha condizion questo signore,/ ché, come egli è uccel di gran coraggio,/ per vendicar l’oltraggio/ sempre percote e rimane al di sopra;/ costanza e fortezza par che il copra/ e da quel non si muta/ per alto, o per caduta./ Giusto, e circospetto i suo’ governa/ conforme al stil del Re di vita eterna.” SACCHETTI
-“Uomo di gran coraggio.” VOCINO
-“Uomo ardito e di valore.” G. BONOLI
-“Homo de apitito insaçiabile.” G. DI M. PEDRINO
-“Giovine valoroso e di grande ardire.” MUZZI
-“Era di quella militare perizia e valore, che l’Italia sapeva.” RIGHI
-Con Guidantonio Manfredi “Che tutti i due fuorono dui valorosi signori e capitanii.” BROGLIO
-“Il Manfredi fu per Faenza un signore colto e attento: nonostante una vita trascorsa in imprese di guerra, ebbe grande consapevolezza della dignità della sua causa e del suo valore simbolico; intraprese iniziative edilizie e monumentali di respiro, incentrate soprattutto sul complesso residenziale dinastico.” LAZZARINI
-“Il nome di questo capitano di ventura, legato alla “Compagnia della Stella”, costituisce, rispetto ad Alberico da Barbiano, l’altra faccia dell’attività mercenaria in Italia tra la fine del Trecento e i primi anni del Quattrocento: è la figura emblematica del signore defraudato che cerca nella ventura il mezzo per riscattare la sua signoria, si fa intrigante ai vertici di un potere che infine lo schiaccia.” RENDINA
-“Un desiderio di fasto accende Astorre in quest’ora di maggior potenza ed egli appare il primo dei Manfredi a sentire l’influenza dei tempi. Un istinto spesso feroce e sinistro della lotta si associa in lui ad un non trascurabile amore per l’arte, e questo amore lo ispira ad abbellire anzitutto il suo palazzo.” ZAMA
-“Magnitudine animiet bellorum industria prestantissimus.” VERGEZIO
-“Astorgio si mostrò più intraprendente del fratello maggiore. Come tanti nobili esuli e fuoriusciti, egli abbracciava la professione militare in un momento in cui l’arte della guerra era un mestiere lautamente retribuito dai governi.” RENZI
