Bernardino della Carda and the Bloody Rivalry with Niccolò Fortebraccio
BERNARDINO DEGLI UBALDINI DELLA CARDA
From Apecchio. Count of Apecchio. Lord of Apecchio, Frontone, Vespolate, and Urbania (Castel Durante). Probably the father of Federico of Montefeltro and of Francesco degli Ubaldini. Son-in-law of Guidantonio of Montefeltro, nephew of the lord of Fabriano Chiavello Chiavelli, and brother-in-law of Ruggero Cane Ranieri.
Born: 1390 ca.
Death: 1437, September
| Year, Month | State, Comp. ventura | Opponent | Command | Area of Activity | Actions Undertaken and Other Salient Facts |
| 1410 | Naples | Antipope | Serves under the pay of the King of Naples Ladislaus of Anjou (Ladislao d’Angiò). | ||
| 1411 | Camerino | Rimini | Marche | In the service of the Lord of Camerino Rodolfo da Varano. | |
| 1412 | Brescia | Lombardy | In the pay of the Lord of Brescia Pandolfo Malatesta. | ||
| 1414 | Ancona | Pesaro | Marche | He is hired by the Anconetans in place of Carlo da Montaboddo to counter the Malatesta of Pesaro. He asks the municipality that the son of the latter, Roberto, not be depicted with his father hanged by the feet as a traitor on the facade of the Palazzo Pubblico. | |
| 1415 | |||||
| Jan. Feb. | Fermo | Rimini | 200 lances | Marche | In the pay of the Lord of Fermo Ludovico Migliorati against the Malatesta; with Ludovico da Buscareto and Cherubino da Perugia, he commands 200 lances. In Fermo. He fails to prevent the fall of Montolmo (Corridonia), Montegiorgio, Monteverde, and Monteleone di Fermo to the opponents. |
| Aug. | Marche | Upon signing a three-month truce with Andrea Malatesta, he leaves Fermo, stays in the Tenna plains, and finally returns to Apecchio. | |||
| 1416 | |||||
| Mar. Sept. | Fermo | Rimini | Marche | Resumes the conflict with the Malatesta. Still under the orders of the Lord of Fermo, he distinguishes himself in the recovery of Monteverde and Montegiorgio. | |
| Nov. | Urbino | Marche | In Fermo for the funeral of Ludovico Migliorati‘s wife, Belfiore da Varano. During this period, he enters the pay of the Count of Urbino Guidantonio da Montefeltro. | ||
| 1417 | |||||
| Aug. | Brescia | Milan | Lombardy | Leaves Urbino to be sent by Guidantonio da Montefeltro to assist the Lord of Brescia Pandolfo Malatesta: the goal is to face the troops of the Duke of Milan Filippo Maria Visconti in Lombardy. | |
| 1418 | |||||
| Mar. | Lombardy | He is defeated by Carmagnola at Olginate. The opponents capture 400 horses from his company. | |||
| Sept. | 500 horses | Veneto | He asks the Venetians to enter the pay of the Serenissima for a compensation of 4000 ducats. The request is accepted. The review of his company is held near Verona. | ||
| 1419 | |||||
| Mar. Sept. | Church Urbino | Perugia | Marche and Umbria | Braccio di Montone is now Lord of Perugia, while Bernardino degli Ubaldini della Carda serves Guidantonio da Montefeltro. Guarding Cagli, he repels attacks on the city by Niccolò Piccinino, Castellano dalla Rosa, Danese da Siena, Tigrino da Cremona, Giovanni da Sesto, and Pietro Tedesco. He attempts to ambush Piccinino at the confluence of the Burano and Bosso rivers near Cagli. Wounded in the neck by a sword blow from his rival, he is saved by Mengaccio da Fano, who prevents his capture and transports him into Cagli for treatment. Once recovered, in September he faces the troops of Braccio di Montone in the territory of Gubbio with Conte da Carrara, Angelo della Pergola, Lionello, and Ludovico dei Michelotti. Together with the papal forces, he threatens the Perugian territory with 2000 horses and numerous infantry. | |
| Oct. | Umbria | Mid-month, he approaches Assisi at night near the convent of San Francesco, where a friar shows the attackers an unguarded small door between the basilica and the convent gardens. This is opened, and Bernardino degli Ubaldini della Carda bursts into the city with 2000 horses and 1200 infantry; he reaches the main square; the soldiers scatter to attack the houses of the Bracceschi supporters. The supporters of the Lord of Perugia manage to take refuge in the two fortresses. Upon hearing this, Braccio di Montone leaves his camp (where he was engaged with Muzio Attendolo Sforza) at night with 1000 men and reaches Spello, joined by part of his troops besieging Spoleto. False news of the reconquest of Assisi, communicated via celebrations and illuminations in Todi, halts the advance of the papal army under Muzio Attendolo Sforza. Thus, after only three days, Braccio di Montone arrives at Assisi; he demolishes the wall near the small fortress and digs a ditch between the fortresses and the town. Battle follows. Bernardino degli Ubaldini della Carda is defeated with other condottieri in a five-hour fight costing the papals 200 dead and 400 prisoners. | |||
| 1420 | |||||
| Jan. | Umbria and Marche | Defending Gubbio with Pietro da Bagno, Perugino dal Lago, Ludovico dei Michelotti, and Ludovico d’Assisi. The city is attacked by Braccio di Montone and Niccolò da Piccinino. Three days of bitter fighting follow, after which Braccio di Montone, blocked by his actions in the lower part of the city, abandons operations, burning the suburbs of Porta Marmorea and Porta Santa Lucia. Following the victory, Bernardino degli Ubaldini della Carda leaves Gubbio to monitor the territory of Serra Sant’Abbondio, where Niccolò Piccinino‘s men remain. | |||
| Mar. | Church | Bologna | Emilia | Alongside Guidantonio da Montefeltro in Bologna, which had rebelled against the papals. | |
| June | Umbria | By order of the Count of Urbino, he captures Cecciolo Gabrielli and his followers; he also recovers the castle of Frontone from his brother, Gabriele. | |||
| July Oct. | Urbino Urbino | Gabrielli Milan | 150 lances | Marche Emilia Lombardy | By order of the Count of Urbino, he captures Cecciolo Gabrielli and his followers. He also recovers the castle of Frontone from his brother, Gabriele. At the end of the month, he leaves Urbino with his company to join the Lord of Fermo Ludovico Migliorati at Cattolica to aid the Lord of Brescia Pandolfo Malatesta. In October, he is defeated by the Visconti forces under Carmagnola at Montichiari. |
| 1421 | |||||
| Aug. | Marche | He marries Aura da Montefeltro, daughter of Guidantonio. | |||
| 1422 | |||||
| July | Perugia | C. di Castello | Umbria | Supports Braccio di Montone at the siege of Città di Castello. | |
| 1423 | |||||
| ………… | Negotiations between the Venetians and Guidantonio da Montefeltro, which were to include a contract for 120 lances for him, fail to conclude. He then returns to the service of Braccio di Montone. | ||||
| June | King of Aragon | Naples Church | 400 horses | Campania | He is sent to Capua by Braccio di Montone with Jacopo Caldora, Arrigo della Tacca, Paolo Orsini, and Riccio da Montechiaro (1200 horses and 1000 infantry) to support the landing of Catalan troops from Barcelona; from there, he takes to the sea, crosses the mouth of the Volturno with the help of the Aragonese fleet, and enters Naples. |
| Sept. | Campania | Opposes the troops of Muzio Attendolo Sforza and Louis of Anjou (Luigi d’Angiò). He is besieged in Naples. The Sforza army approaches Porta Marina. Bernardino degli Ubaldini della Carda, with Jacopo Caldora and Orso Orsini, sounds the city bells to give the alarm. He faces the opponents; after 4 hours of fighting, he must retreat toward Porta del Carmine. | |||
| Oct. | Campania | Leaves Naples with Arrigo della Tacca, Jacopo Caldora, and Paolo Orsini while Alfonso of Aragon (Alfonso d’Aragona) leaves the city by fleet: reaching the Maddalena bridge on the Sebeto, he clashes with the troops of Francesco Sforza. He is forced to re-enter Naples, where he is besieged by Sforza by land and Guido Torelli by sea. | |||
| 1424 | |||||
| Jan. | Campania and Abruzzi | Abandons Naples under the pretext of delayed pay; reaches Braccio di Montone in the Abruzzi with a safe-conduct from Muzio Attendolo Sforza. | |||
| July | Florence | Milan | Romagna | With the death of Braccio di Montone at the Battle of L’Aquila, he enters the pay of the Florentines. Under the orders of the Lord of Rimini Carlo Malatesta, he participates in the Battle of Zagonara. | |
| Sept. | Urbino | Brancaleoni | Marche | Recovers Castel Durante (Urbania) on behalf of Guidantonio da Montefeltro. Galeotto and Alberico Brancaleoni are driven out. | |
| 1425 | |||||
| July | Florence | Milan | 350 lances and 250 infantry | He is rehired by the Florentines. | |
| Sept. | Marche and Umbria | From Montefeltro, he descends into the Tiber Valley. With his cousin Galizio degli Ubaldini and Ardizzone da Carrara, he faces Guido Torelli and Fabrizio da Capua. | |||
| Oct. | Tuscany | He is reported at Anghiari; in the camp, a dispute arises with Ardizzone da Carrara. A man-at-arms of one captain kills a man-at-arms of the other; after a riot in camp between the two formations, he deserts to Borgo San Sepolcro (Sansepolcro) where the opposing army under Guido Torelli is stationed. The Visconti commander is informed of the disorder in the Florentine camp and provokes the opponents to battle. One of his squads leads a chase, and Bernardino degli Ubaldini della Carda falls into a pre-arranged ambush. He defends himself fiercely with Galizio degli Ubaldini; he loses control of the troops; he receives no help from Ardizzone da Carrara; he retreats; wounded by a lance in the side, he falls from his mount and is taken prisoner with Galizio degli Ubaldini. The Florentines are defeated with the loss of 300 horses and 500 infantry. | |||
| Nov. | Romagna Lombardy | He is taken to Forlì by men-at-arms of Fabrizio da Capua; from there, he is taken to Milan to be imprisoned first in a prison called Malastalla and then in the Forni of Monza. | |||
| 1426 | |||||
| Apr. | Lombardy | He is released from the Forni of Monza. | |||
| 1427 | |||||
| ………… | Lombardy | He has his father-in-law Guidantonio da Montefeltro, whose natural daughter Aura he married, send him some opium pills; he tells his guards they are an effective remedy for rheumatism. He persuades the sentries, who complain of similar ailments, to take the medicine, takes advantage of their sleep, and escapes to Brescia to the Venetians. | |||
| ………… | Urbino | Montone | Umbria | Supports his father-in-law in an attempt to seize Montone by treaty from the widow of Braccio di Montone, Nicolina da Varano. | |
| July | Florence | Milan | Lombardy | Distinguishes himself at the Battle of Castelsecco. | |
| Oct. | Lombardy | Participates in the Battle of Maclodio: Carmagnola places him with Niccolò da Tolentino in a woods flanking an embankment cutting through marshy ground. The Venetians retreat behind a bridge followed by the Visconti forces; Bernardino degli Ubaldini della Carda leaves his position and with Niccolò da Tolentino blocks the opponents’ retreat. | |||
| Nov. | Lombardy | Present in Milan for the signing of a league between the Duke of Milan Filippo Maria Visconti and Count Amadeus of Savoy (Amedeo di Savoia). | |||
| 1429 | |||||
| Autumn | Florence | Volterra | Tuscany | Reported in the territory of Volterra with Bernaino Fornaino and Bartolomeo da Gualdo. Suppresses a local rebellion caused by increased land taxes. Ravages the Val di Strove. | |
| Nov. | Florence | Lucca Milan | 150 lances | Tuscany | Fights the Lucchese under the orders of Niccolò Fortebraccio. Moves toward Pietrasanta; takes possession of Camaiore, Carrara, and other locations. |
| Dic. | Tuscany | With Rodolfo Oddi and Bernaino Fornaino, occupies Ponte San Pietro. | |||
| 1430 | |||||
| Feb. | Tuscany | His relations with Niccolò Fortebraccio become increasingly conflicted; the two commanders camp separately under Lucca, Ubaldini della Carda in a fortification toward Pontetetto, between Porta di San Lazzaro and the outer gate, and Fortebraccio toward Capannori. Attacked by the Lucchese, Bernardino degli Ubaldini della Carda repels the assault, suffering a hand wound from a sword blow. In the same days, with Cantiano da Cantiano, il Falza, and Girolamo d’Anghiari, he acts as guarantor for 2000 florins for Baldaccio d’Anghiari, who, as a prisoner, must present himself in Florence to the Dieci di Balia. | |||
| May | Tuscany | With Ranieri Vibi del Frogia, he does not intervene to help Niccolò Fortebraccio when the latter is attacked in the fortification toward Treponti where he recently moved. | |||
| ………… | Tuscany | The conflicts between Bernardino degli Ubaldini della Carda and Niccolò Fortebraccio are such that the Florentines choose Guidantonio da Montefeltro as their new captain general. | |||
| Dec. | Tuscany | Takes part in the Battle of the Serchio against the troops of Niccolò Piccinino. Commands the third line of 500 horses; his banner consists of two horse bits held in a blue field. Involved in the defeat, he manages to save his father-in-law Guidantonio da Montefeltro from capture and flees toward Pisa after suffering significant losses. Among the Florentines, 1500 horses are captured; artillery, ammunition, and large quantities of weapons are lost. | |||
| 1431 | |||||
| Jan. | Florence | Marradi | Captain Gen. 300 lances and 200 infantry | Tuscany and Umbria | Heads to the Arezzo area with 400 lances; goes to Poggibonsi; leaves there to counter the Visconti forces commanded by Alberico da Barbiano in Val d’Elsa with commissioner Bartolomeo Ridolfi. Cruel clashes occur until the opponents are forced to leave. Captures Niccolò da Pisa, exiled by the Florentines, and delivers him to commissioner Ridolfi. Purchases some farms at Colombaia (he is a citizen of Florence) and rests for a few days. Recalled to service to take Marradi from the relatives of Ludovico Manfredi (who is held in prison in Florence) with commissioner Averardo dei Medici. The location surrenders on terms after a few bombard shots: he specifically promises the release of Manfredi with Medici‘s backing. Leaves Pisa with his men, rides toward San Miniato, touches Valdarno and Arezzo. Meets his father-in-law at Città di Castello. |
| Feb. | Pesaro | Church | Marche | Assists the Lord of Pesaro Carlo Malatesta in countering Sante Carillo; with 1500 horses and infantry, he occupies some castles in the vicariate of Mondavio. | |
| Apr. May | Florence | Siena | Tuscany | Recovers Cignano. Mid-May, he is in Arezzo. Quells a rebellion attempt fomented by Mariotto Griffolino di Valenzano. The latter is hanged. | |
| July Sept. | Florence Urbino Church | Comp. ventura Comp. ventura | Umbria Tuscany Marche | On behalf of the Florentines, he moves with Francesco Vibi (1200 horses, 3000 infantry, and levies) to aid Città di Castello following threats from Niccolò del Fortebraccio. He requests the regency. Upon refusal, he returns to Arezzo, where he has been appointed governor. Again opposes the Manfredi of Marradi, who rebelled against the Florentines. He learns that the pacts he signed the previous January were not respected by the Florentines. Ludovico Manfredi has not been released, nor is Niccolò da Pisa handed over to him as requested. Indignant, he returns to Urbino (September) and leaves the pay of Florence, pursued by accusations of misappropriating 30,000 florins. Meanwhile, Fortebraccio tightens the siege of Città di Castello. The inhabitants now ask for help from Ubaldini, now in the service of Guidantonio da Montefeltro. The commander gathers 4000 horses in the territory of Apecchio; leads them via Lamoli and faces Fortebraccio. The latter avoids battle, retreats from the siege, and takes refuge in Montone. Bernardino degli Ubaldini della Carda enters Città di Castello, remaining until the arrival of Francesco degli Atti di Sassoferrato, lieutenant of the Count of Urbino. | |
| 1432 | |||||
| Feb. Mar. | Pesaro | Church | Marche | Supports the Lord of Pesaro Galeazzo Malatesta against the papals. Remains in the Pesaro area in March. | |
| Apr. | Milan | Florence | Captain Gen. | Marche and Tuscany | Leaves Urbino to be sent by Filippo Maria Visconti to aid the Sienese. Attacks the Florentines with 400 lances; enters the Arezzo area. Attacks the Upper Valdarno and seizes Caposelvi, San Leolino, San Giovanni Valdarno, Terranova Bracciolini. Moves under Marciano della Chiana with Antonio da Pontedera and Antonio Petrucci. His soldiers seize the fortress while he is discussing with the castellan Amerigo Zati, who appeared on a balcony. Subsequently obtains Uliveto Terme, Ambra, and Linari, always without harming the property of his opponents. His conquests in these areas are marked by scrupulous respect for private property. When a commoner from Siena burns a house belonging to Piero Ardinghelli against his orders, he has him seized and thrown into the same fire. Stays at Tignano; his foragers raid as far as Montecalvoli; conquers Bibbona and Gambassi after many assaults. The Florentines under Micheletto Attendolo offer no resistance. |
| May | Tuscany | Escorts Emperor Sigismund of Hungary (Sigismondo d’Ungheria) into Sienese territory with 1220 horses and 400 infantry; accompanies him to Lucca, currently besieged by the Florentines. Clashes with Micheletto Attendolo and Niccolò da Tolentino. Raids the Florentine territory with Antonio da Pontedera and Giacomo di Vico. | |||
| June | Tuscany | Withdraws with Francesco Piccinino to Le Capanne, near Castel del Bosco. Hearing of Niccolò da Tolentino‘s advance, he orders his men-at-arms; he positions infantry on the hills to strike the opponents’ flanks with bolts and arrows. Antonio da Pontedera opposes this tactic, preferring a classic heavy cavalry charge. Initially, success seems to favor the Sienese; the intervention of Micheletto Attendolo reverses the fortunes of the Battle of San Romano (capturing 600 horses and many more infantry among the Visconti forces). According to Sienese chroniclers, whose account (perhaps) stops at the first phase of the clash, the victory belongs to their municipality and it is Bernardino degli Ubaldini della Carda who takes 400 horses prisoner. | |||
| July Sept. | Tuscany | Returns to Siena where the Emperor is staying; he is knighted by Sigismund of Hungary. He continues the war against the Florentines in the neighboring countryside. Moves to the Volterra countryside with Leone della Pergola, recovers Santa Maria a Trebbio and other castles; takes the war to the Pisan territory. | |||
| Oct. | Milan | Church Venice | Romagna and Marche | He is granted the fief of Vespolate by the Duke of Milan. Faces the papals, raids San Giovanni in Marignano in the Rimini area, and besieges Sassocorvaro. In turn, Gattamelata attempts to attack the lands of Montefeltro. | |
| 1433 | |||||
| Mar. | Lombardy | Returns to Urbino. | |||
| Apr. | Governor Gen. | Marche Romagna and Lazio | At the end of the month, he leaves Sassocorvaro and reaches Faenza via the Forlì area; returns to fight the papals in Upper Lazio: his title is now Ducal Governor General of Tuscia. | ||
| July Aug. | Lazio and Marche | At Vetralla with Niccolò Fortebraccio. Micheletto Attendolo manages to enter the location. Ubaldini shuts himself in the fortress of Vignone. In August, he returns to Urbino. | |||
| 1434 | |||||
| May | Emilia | Goes to Parma with 400 horses. He is lodged in the bishopric in the city. | |||
| July Aug. | Romagna | Leading 2000 horses with Erasmo da Trivulzio, he joins Niccolò Piccinino in the Imola territory. In August, he is tasked with occupying a bridge over the Sanguinario stream on the road to Castel Bolognese. With the arrival of the Venetians, he retreats slowly, offering proper resistance. Meanwhile, 800 Visconti men-at-arms ford the stream behind the enemy, cutting off any escape. The plan is executed punctually. 5000 horses and 1000 infantry are captured among the allies; according to some sources, only his men take part in the clash because on that day Bernardino degli Ubaldini della Carda is ill in Imola. | |||
| Sept. | Romagna | In Forlì, recovering. He is hosted in the palace of the lord of the city, Antonio Ordelaffi. | |||
| 1435 | |||||
| July Aug. | Romagna Lombardy | Upon the signing of peace, he goes again to Forlì (staying for eight days) to attempt to reconcile Niccolò Piccinino with Francesco Sforza. In August, he returns to Lombardy. | |||
| Sept. | Liguria Lombardy | With Niccolò Piccinino, he escorts Alfonso of Aragon (Alfonso d’Aragona) from Savona to Milan (the castle of Porta Giovia), after he was captured by the Genoese at the naval Battle of Ponza. | |||
| ………… | 800 horses | ||||
| 1437 | |||||
| Sept. | Milan | Venice | Emilia | Surprised by a serious illness (malaria?) at Stellata, he is taken to Ferrara where he dies at the beginning of the month. Sonnet by Angelo Galli thanking Jesus Christ for the escape from the Monza prison. Portrayed by Paolo Uccello in his triptych concerning “The Battle of San Romano,” known as “The Unhorsing of Bernardino della Carda,” although the painting probably represents the unhorsing of Astorre Manfredi. One panel is in the Uffizi in Florence and another in the National Gallery in London. His portrait is in the Palazzo Ubaldini in Apecchio. He marries Aura da Montefeltro, daughter of the Count of Urbino. |
Sources
-“Uno dei più valenti condottieri del principio del secolo.” SISMONDI
-“Un personaggio così famoso per prudenza e valore, (Filippo Maria Visconti) avrebbe desiderato poterlo innalzare ai più altri gradi.” DECEMBRIO
-“Condottiero di huomini d’arme e valorosissimo Capitano.” SANSOVINO
-“Non ultimo fra gli eccellenti capitani de’ suoi tempi.” UGOLINI
-“Valoroso Capitano.” REPOSATI
-“Nobilissimo non meno di nazione, che di virtù..Illustre e nobilissimo Condottiero.” GAMURRINI
-“Prestantissimum virum Berardinum de la Carda et aptissimum.” Da una lettera di Filippo Maria Visconti riportata dall’OSIO
-“Gentium nobis inimicarum ductoribus aliis plurimis viris, et armigeris prestantibus.” Da un documento di Filippo Maria Visconti ripreso dall’OSIO
-“Virum armis insignem.” SANT’ANTONINO
-“Virum armis nobilem.” BRACCIOLINI
-“Celebre capitano.” SPRETI
-“Con Jacopo Caldora “Homines rei militaris peritissimos.” FACIO
-“Quell’altro è Berardin cum chiare luce,/ qual dalla Carda al mondo in nome dice,/ ne l’arme illustre.” SANTI
-“Invitto capitano.” ADEMOLLO
-“Dux ejus aetatis clari nominis.” BEVERINI
-“Capitano di molta riputazione in quei tempi.” COLUCCI
-“Capitano di gran rinomo allora.” CIAVARINI
-“Capitano riputatissimo.” BALDI
-“Huomo molto amato dal suo popolo.” SARACINI
-“Homo amato da tutto el populo.” BERNABEI
-“Intra li altri illustrissimi e magni capitani levò fama al suo tempo di gagliardia.” BROGLIO
-“Famoso capitano dei suoi tempi.” LILLI
-“Bernardino della Carda was among the many middle-ranking condottiere of his time.” BICHENO
-Con Orso Orsini “Ductores bellicosi.” CRIVELLI
-Con Jacopo Caldora, Arrigo della Tacca, Orso Orsini “Muy famosos capitanes de su (di Braccio di Montone) escuela.” ZURITA
-Con Cherubino da Perugia e Ludovico da Buscareto “Uomini valorosi ed usi alle armi.” A. MARINI
-“Un valente condottiero.” TANZINI
-“Era uno stratega astutissimo, tanto da essere soprannominato “la volpe dell’Appenino”.” BECI
-“Scompariva con Bernardino un esponente della folta schiera di capitani di ventura dell’Appennino. Egli fu capace di porsi al servizio delle diverse potenze italiane senza mai esser travolto dalla portata dei conflitti. La duratura alleanza degli Ubaldini della Carda con i conti di Montefeltro garantì a Bernardino quella sicurezza che gli consentì di consolidare la signoria territoriale su Apecchio e sui vicini castelli di montagna e di ricoprire anche un ruolo nelle città umbre (Gubbio e Città di Castello) sotto l’influenza feltresca. Il servizio militare reso a Filippo Maria Visconti, molto apprezzato presso la corte milanese, gli avrebbe forse potuto aprire nuove prospettive, se la morte non fosse sopraggiunta soltanto cinque anni dopo l’inizio del rapporto. Secondo una tradizione, avallata dagli umanisti e dai cronisti quattrocenteschi, Federico da Montefeltro, il futuro duca di Urbino, .., sarebbe figlio dell’Ubaldini e di Aura da Montefeltro. Guidantonio non aveva avuto eredi dal matrimonio con Rengarda Malatesta..e avrebbe accolto come proprio il neonato concepito con una nobildonna dalla segreta identità.” PIRANI (Dizionario biografico degli Italiani)
-“Era cittadino di Gubbio ed era conosciuto per il suo coraggio, tanto che la Repubblica di Firenze gli conferì l’appellativo di “Magnifico”. WIKIPEDIA
-“Celebre condottiero di ventura la cui fama avrà una vasta eco in tutta Italia, colui che per magnanimità e saggezza sarà definito “el Magnifico” e per mastuzia e scaltrezza “la Volpe degli Appennini”… I fiorentini, che avevano un conto aperto con Bernardino.. presero a pretesto i fatti accaduti a San Romano per infamare il Carda e commissionarono al pittore fiorentino del momento, Paolo Uccello, la realizzazione del quadro “La Battaglia di San Romano”, dove l’Ubaldini è ritratto mentre viene disarcinato.” BEI-CRISTINI
-“Avventuroso capitano.” COGNASSO
Featured image: wikimedia
