Galeotto I Malatesta

Galeotto I Malatesta (1299–1385) was an Italian condottiero, who was lord of Rimini, Fano, Ascoli Piceno, Cesena and Fossombrone.

Biography

Born in Rimini, he the son of Pandolfo I Malatesta and the brother of Malatesta II Malatesta. In 1333 he was captured while besieging Ferrara, but was soon freed and fought alongside Ferrantino Malatesta against the Papal legate in Romagna. When the latter plotted against him, Galeotto imprisoned him and declared himself lord of Rimini. The war between the two lasted until 1343. Ludwig of Bavaria also made him lord of Fano.

Forte Malatesta in Ascoli Piceno, built by Galeotto and later remade by Antonio da Sangallo the Younger.

After a period as condottiero for and later tyrann of Ascoli Piceno, in 1349 he travelled to the Holy Land. In 1351 he was hired in the Kingdom of Naples. Galeotto was a stanch opposer of Gil de Albornoz in his reconquest of the Papal territories; after the latter's defeat his family was made Papal vicar in Rimini, Pesaro, Fano and Fossombrone. In 1356 he took part in the crusade declared against the Ordelaffi of Forlì. In the 1360 he was first made commander-in-chief by the Queen of Naples Joan I, but later he switched to the Republic of Florence and then again to the Byzantine Empire. In 1372 Pope Gregory XI confirmed Galeotto general commander of the Papal Army against Bernabò Visconti, whom he defeated at Montechiaro the following year.

After the death of his nephews, Galeotto managed to gain the whole family seigniory in Romagna (he had been already lord of Rimini from 1364 with Ungaro IV and Pandolfo II Malatesta, as well as sole ruler of Fano). After a series of small but ferocious ravages in the area, in 1376 he captured Cesena, adding Bertinoro in 1378. Later he warred against Guido da Polenta for Cesenatico, conquering Senigallia from him in 1383, as well as other lands. The war was continued by his sons, as Galeotto I died in 1385 at Cesena.

References

• Rendina, Claudio (1992). I capitani di ventura. Rome: Newton Compton.