Federico da Montefeltro

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Federico da Montefeltro by Piero della Francesca
Battista Sforza, his wife
Pedro Berruguete : Federico da Montefeltro and his son Guidobaldo , around 1475

Federico da Montefeltro (born June 7, 1422 in Gubbio ; † September 10, 1482 in Ferrara ) was one of the most successful condottieri of the Italian Renaissance and Duke of Urbino from the house of Da Montefeltro .

Childhood and youth

Federico's ancestry has not yet been established with certainty. The most likely thesis is that the old Count Guidantonio da Montefeltro, in view of his childlessness and his old age, had the idea of ​​passing an illegitimate son of his daughter Aura, who was also illegitimate, from her marriage to the subordinate of his army, Bernardino Ubaldini della Carda, as his own son . A bull from Pope Martin V of December 1424 declared Federico to be the son of Guidantonio and a "single girl" from Urbino. This fiction had become necessary to give Urbino a legitimate successor.

However, immediately after his legitimation, Federico was first deported to a monastery and then, when the new wife of his presumed grandfather and official father Caterina from the Colonna house became pregnant, the young Duke of Montefeltro was brought to the small town of Sant'Angelo in Vado , where he stayed until the summer of 1433. That year, Federico was sent to Venice as a hostage as his father was anxious to settle the conflicts with the Republic of Venice . When an epidemic broke out in the lagoon city in the autumn of 1434, Federico was given the care of the Marquis of Mantua , Gianfrancesco I Gonzaga . Here he was knighted by Emperor Sigismund during his short stay. Gonzaga sent Federico to the then well-known school of the scholar and humanist Vittorino da Feltre , which had the promising name "Casa giocosa" (for example the house of play ). At this school, Federico was taught the usual “liberal arts”, with his training lasting two years and the only one in his life.

Federico then became a mercenary, first in the wages of the Duke of Milan and then under the command of one of the most successful condottiers of his time, Niccolò Piccinino . In 1441 Federico gained his first fame as a mercenary by conquering the fortress of San Leo, which was considered impregnable. On November 8, 1443, however, the army of Piccinino suffered a crushing defeat in the battle of Montelauro , which was mainly due to Federico's mercenaries, as they had refused to take part in the battle. Despite this failure, his military reputation was unbroken.

Ruler of Urbino

On July 22, 1444, Federico's half-brother Oddantonio da Montefeltro was stabbed to death by a dozen men in Urbino. The reasons for the attack could never be clarified beyond any doubt. Since Federico was the only one who benefited from this attack, because he was now the only legitimate heir to his "father" Guidantonio, he was quickly associated with it. This fact hindered his political advancement, even if he was ultimately able to prevail. However, as early as 1446, the supporters of the Colonna attempted to murder Montefeltro during a carnival. While the plan was exposed in time, it clearly showed that Federico's position of power in Urbino was still unstable. In addition, there was the conflict with Pope Eugene IV , who in 1446 excommunicated Federico and his most important ally Francesco Sforza and provided the old rival of the Montefeltro, Sigismondo Malatesta, with the command of papal troops. This went immediately to the attack on the urban territory and occupied one city after another. However, the sudden death of the Pope on February 27, 1447 and the election of Nicholas V as his successor ushered in a turning point. The excommunication was lifted, an armistice was brokered between Montefeltro and Malatesta, and finally the new Pope Montefeltro transferred the apostolic vicariate over Urbino, which was at the same time an explicit recognition of his rule.

His alliance with Francesco Sforza came to an end a few years later, so that in 1451 he entered the service of the Kingdom of Naples and its ruler Alfonso V of Aragon and remained loyal to this alliance despite many obstacles. Above all, it guaranteed him a free hand in a possible fight against his rival Malatesta. This struggle dragged on for years with annual looting and raids, until Enea Silvio Piccolomini was elected Pope Pius II in 1458 . From the beginning he urged a settlement of the conflict and adherence to the system of equilibrium that had been created by the Peace of Lodi in 1454 . Federico made sure that Malatesta accepted humiliating peace conditions, among other things he had to pay an enormous sum of 30,000 gold ducats to Montefeltro and return all conquered territories. Subsequently, Federico was awarded the title of Commander of the Armed Forces of the Holy See, previously held by Malatesta.

Because Malatesta did not want to bow to this dictation, he entered into alliances with the House of Anjou, which led to a renewed conflict with the Pope and Montefeltro. In 1462 Malatesta was excommunicated and defeated on August 13 by Federico's troops in the Battle of Cesano .

In the following years Montefeltro tried successfully to navigate between several alliances without choosing a particular side. So he became the mediator between Pope Paul II and the rulers of Naples and Milan (1465). On July 25, 1467, Federico succeeded in preventing one of the best generals of his time, Bartolomeo Colleoni , who fought on the side of Venice against the League of Milan and Florence, from his further advance on Florence in the battle of Imola , so that he would retreat had to. Allegedly this battle lasted 17 hours and killed several thousand soldiers. Although the battle ended in a draw, it was the final building block in the formation of the myth of Montefeltro as the invincible condottiere, for his followers claimed he had won.

In 1472, on behalf of Lorenzo il Magnifico , Montefeltro subjugated the city of Volterra in southwest Tuscany, which had risen against the rule of the Medici, and the city was heavily devastated. Federico then received a triumphant reception in Florence.

Urbino was raised to the duchy of Pope Sixtus IV on August 21, 1474 , who married his favorite nephew Giovanni della Rovere to Federico's daughter Giovanna. A few days before this survey Federico was the Messenger of the English king to the Vatican with the Order of the Garter excellent, which was a big feature at the time. After the failed Pazzi conspiracy , in which Federico was deeply involved, and in which he was possibly even the client, he fought at the head of Sixtus' army against his previous clients, the Florentines, whom he met at Poggio on September 7, 1479 Defeated imperials. His troops occupied several Florentine fortresses by mid-November, leaving the way to Florence free. However, Federico decided not to march on the city and instead moved into winter quarters. After Lorenzo Medici had succeeded in reconciling himself with the Neapolitan King Ferrante, an alliance was formed between Florence, Naples and Milan on the one hand and Venice and the Papal States on the other. Federico managed to get handsome payments from both alliances that were supposed to guarantee his "allegiance".

In August 1482 Federico took over the supreme command of the troops allied with Ercole I. d'Este in the fight against Venice and Rome. He died of malaria during the campaign on September 10, 1482 in Ferrara . He was followed by his son Guidobaldo da Montefeltro as Duke.

Federico as a patron of the arts

Studiolo

The enormous income that Federico had earned thanks to his successful mercenary career enabled him to pursue his passion for art and architecture. From the mid-1450s he began collecting valuable books and writings, which, according to contemporary sources, should have devoured a sum of 30,000 gold ducats by 1482.

In 1468 Federico began to build his princely residence, the Palazzo Ducale in Urbino. Initially, the most famous polymath of the time, Leon Battista Alberti , was planned as the architect , who was on friendly terms with Federico, but refused the contract for reasons that were not entirely understandable (his age in particular probably played a role). Then Luciano Laurana was entrusted with the work. By 1482, the Palazzo Ducale had become one of the largest construction sites in Italy at that time and Federico became an advocate of the architectural ideas developed by Pius II, which were based on ancient tradition. Federico's magnificent building represented more than a gradual expansion and embellishment of an existing palace, but was "the reinvention of princely living, the advance into an unknown dimension of profane architecture". The Palazzo Ducale was the first residence of the epoch that corresponded to the conception of royal palaces as structured rooms that in a certain way represented the hierarchy of the court. For example, everything that had to do with work was banned from the vicinity of the ruler, which led to the kitchens, stables or even the bedrooms for the servants being relocated to the basement.

But Montefeltro also tried to distinguish itself in other areas of culture and art. His court astrologers were first the German Jakob von Speyer , then the Dutchman Paul von Middelburg . As a painter he employed Paolo Uccello , the Spaniard Pedro Berruguete and Piero della Francesca , who painted the most famous depiction of Federico. This portrait, which hangs in the Uffizi in Florence and shows Montefeltro in profile, is one of the most famous paintings of the 15th century. (See: Diptych of Federico da Montefeltro with his wife Battista Sforza ).

meaning

The sober view of the political conditions in Renaissance Italy, which was expressed in the various changes between Federico's allies, ensured that his rule was able to withstand external threats. In Machiavelli's story of Florence, the description of Federico takes up more space. He is one of the role models for Machiavelli's political views, which were reflected in the il principe . Even Jacob Burckhardt describes in his influential work "The culture and art of the Renaissance in Italy" alongside other former players and Federico. He describes him as a “perfect prince, general and man”, “excellent representative of his principality” and versatile scholar who wisely rules over his people who love him and whose state was a “well-calculated and organized work of art” . The fact that Federico could act brutally and ruthlessly as a mercenary leader, and that he fought unscrupulously for power, were only briefly hinted at by Burckhardt. Nevertheless, Federico da Montefeltro remains one of the most colorful personalities of the 15th century in Italy, who was able to leave his mark on an entire epoch.

Marriages

Federico married twice, but also had various extramarital relationships.

Federico married in 1437 Gentile Brancaleoni (* 1416 in Urbino † 27 July 1457) that the dominions as dowry Mercatello and Sant'Angelo in Vado (in the province of Pesaro , received) with 18 castles which Federico in 1443 by Pope Eugene IV. In the Count status was raised. She was the daughter and heir of Bartolomeo Brancaleoni († 1424), governor of Massa Trabaria and Giovanna Alidosi. Federico later married Battista Sforza (* around 1446 in Pesaro; † 6 July 1472), daughter of Costanza da Varano (* around 1428 in Camerino; † 31 July 1447 in Pesaro), daughter, on February 10, 1460 of Pietro Gentile da Varano, papal vicar of Camerino, and Elisabetta Malatesta, and Alessandro Sforza (born October 29, 1409 in Cotignola , † April 3, 1473 in Pesaro), Lord of Pesaro and illegitimate son of Muzio Attendolo Sforza from his relationship with Lucia Terziani. Battista Sforza grew up at the court of her uncle Francesco I. Sforza and his wife Bianca Maria Visconti in Milan. Francesco I. Sforza had married his niece Battista Sforza to Federico in order to bind both ruling houses to one another, since the second marriage of Battista Sforza's father Alessandro Sforza, the youngest full brother of Francesco I Sforza, to Sveva (* 1432, † 1478 ), Federico's half-sister, was dissolved in 1457.

progeny

Federico had no offspring from his first marriage to Gentile Brancaleoni. From the second marriage to Battista Sforza:

  • Aura, which probably died young as there is no news about her;
  • Girolama, † 1482;
  • Giovanna (* Urbino, 1463; † Urbino, 1514), married Giovanni della Rovere (* Abissola 1457; † Senigallia 1501), Duca (Duke) of Sora and Arce, Lord of Senigallia , nephew of Pope Sixtus IV. Della Rovere in 1474 .
  • Elisabetta (* Urbino 1464; † Venice 1510), married in 1479 Roberto Malatesta , known as “Roberto il Magnifico”, Lord of Rimini (* Rome 1440; † Rome 1482), son of the remarkable Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta Lord of Rimini (1432–1468) . As a widow she retired as a nun Chiara in the monastery of Santa Chiara in Urbino.
  • Costanza (* Urbino 1466, † Naples 1518), married in 1483 Antonello da Sanseverino, Principe di Salerno e Conte di Marsico;
  • Agnese (* Gubbio, 1470; † Rome, 1523), married in 1488 Fabrizio I. Colonna Duca dei Marsi e di Paliano , Conte di Tagliacozzo e Celano ;
  • Guidobaldo (* Gubbio 1472; † Fossombrone 1508), Duke of Urbino, married in 1489 Elisabetta Gonzaga (1471-1526) from the house of the Marquis of Mantua .

Federico da Montefeltro also had a number of illegitimate children:

  • Buonconte (* Urbino c. 1442; † young at the plague, Sarno 1458);
  • Antonio II. (* Urbino c. 1445; † Gubbio, 1508), conte di Cantiano and rector of Sant'Agata Feltria from 1482 to 1500, married Emilia Pio in 1475, daughter of Count Marco II. Pio Lord of Carpi and Sassuolo ;
  • Elisabetta da Montefeltro (* Urbino 1445; † Rome 1503), married Roberto di Sanseverino, Conte di Cajazzo in 1462;
  • Gentile (* Urbino 1448; † Genoa 1513 / Pesaro 1529), married Carlo Malatesta Conte di Chiaruggiolo in 1463, and as a widow in 1469 Agostino Fregoso, Signore di Voltaggio.

Source edition

  • Pierantonio Paltroni: Commentari della vita et gesti dell'illustrissimo Federico Duca d'Urbino. Edited by Walter Tommasoli. Accademia Raffaello, Urbino 1966.

literature

  • Giorgio Cerboni Baiardi et al. (Ed.): Federico di Montefeltro. Lo stato, le arti, la cultura. 3 volumes. Bulzoni, Rome 1986.
  • Gino Franceschini: I Montefeltro. Dall'Oglio, Milan 1970.
  • Jan Lauts, Irmlind Luise Herzner: Federico da Montefeltro, Duke of Urbino. Warlord, Prince of Peace and Patron of the Arts. Deutscher Kunstverlag, Munich et al. 2001, ISBN 3-422-06354-4 .
  • Bernd Roeck , Andreas Tönnesmann : The nose of Italy. Federico da Montefeltro, Duke of Urbino. Klaus Wagenbach Verlag, Berlin 2005, ISBN 3-8031-3616-4 .
  • Walter Tommasoli: La vita di Federico da Montefeltro (1422–1482). Argalìa, Urbino 1978.

Web links

Commons : Federico da Montefeltro  - album with pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Bernd Roeck, Andreas Tönnesmann: The nose of Italy. P. 120.
  2. ^ Jacob Burckhardt: Culture and Art of the Renaissance in Italy. Berlina Verlags-Gesellschaft, Vienna, Leipzig 1939, p. 32, 132.
  3. ^ Jacob Burckhardt: Culture and Art of the Renaissance in Italy. Berlina Verlags-Gesellschaft, Vienna, Leipzig 1939, p. 18.
  4. ↑ Burckhardt comments on page 32: "As a condottier he had the political morality of the condottieri [...]".
  5. ↑ genealogy.euweb.cz
  6. ↑ Family tree of the Sforza family. genmarenostrum.com.
predecessor Office successor
Oddantonio da Montefeltro Duke of Urbino
1444–1482 		Guidobaldo da Montefeltro
personal data
SURNAME Montefeltro, Federico there
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Condottiere of the Italian Renaissance
DATE OF BIRTH June 7, 1422
PLACE OF BIRTH Gubbio
DATE OF DEATH September 10, 1482
Place of death Ferrara