Ezzelino Da Romano Iii

Ezzelino III da Romano ( April 25 , 1194 – October 7 , 1259 ) was an Italian conqueror, dictator, Political Figure and soldier. He was the Podestà of Verona between 1226 and 1230 , again in 1232 , and finally in 1259 . He also was the podestà of Vicenza from 1236 until 1259 . Finally he was the podestà of Padua between 1237 and 1256 .

BIOGRAPHY

Ezzelino was son to Ezzelino II Da Romano , ruler or Bassano and member of a family of German origin, and Adelaide degli Alberti di Mangona.

When the latter retired, his possessions went to his sons Alberico (Treviso) and Ezzelino (thes castles in the area of Verona and Padua ). Both the brothers received a special protection by Emperor Frederick II in 1232 . As Alberico was obliged to pass to the Guelph party, Ezzelino obtained the title of podestà by the Senate of Verona (1235) and was helped by Frederick to ravage the territories of Mantua , Brescia and Vicenza . When the Emperor returned northwards to fight the duke of Austria , Ezzelino remained as supreme commander of the Imperial forces in northern Italy, and main leader of the Ghibelline party as well.

In 1236 he married Selvaggia, Frederick's natural daughter. Ezzelino conquered Verona and, by treason, Padua , grabbing the position of podestà of that city. He was one of the protagonists in the Ghibelline-Imperial victory of Cortenuova ( 1238 ), and was named Imperial viceroy for the Mark of Treviso. His long lasting struggle against the duke of Este ended with the total defeat of the latter, and the annexion of many territories in what was now a true small empire for Ezzelino.

After a pacification attempt by Frederick, when the emperor set off again Ezzelino attacked the Este, submitting Treviso (even if his brother's fief), Belluno and Feltre . Ezzelino was now "signore" af all lands between Trento and the Oglio River . He had acquired a fame for cruelty and merciless use of torturess against enemies and alleged plotters in the cities he ruled.

In 1249 , after Selvaggia's death, he married Beatrice di Buontraverso.

In 1254 , four years after Frederick II's death, he was excommunicated by Pope Innocent IV , who also launched a crusade against him. He reconciliated with his brother and allied with other seignors of the Veneto and Lombardy, attacking Padua, which resisted, and Brescia, which was instead sacked after an easy victory of his German knights over the crusade army.

In 1258 he launched a wide Ghibelline offensive in Lombardy and Veneto along with Oberto Pallacivino of Cremona . In 1259 he assaulted the castle of Priola , near Vicenza, and had all the defenders mutilated. After a failed attempt to assault Milan itself, he was wounded by an arrow in the course of the Battle Of Cassano D'Adda . He had to retreat but was captured near Bergamo .

Maintaining his ferocious behaviour even if in chains and wounded, he tore the bandages from his wounds and refused to take any nourishment: he died on October 7 1259 in the castle of Soncino .

The famous Astrologer Guido Bonatti from Forlì , advisor of Frederick II , was also advisor of Ezzelino. Ezzelino's mother has been mortrayed as a Witch by some Guelph chroniclers: according to a legend, she would have announced him that he would have died at some not well specified place called ''Axanus'', and therefore Ezzelino in all his campaigns avoided Bassano (''Baxanus''). He met in fact his fate at Cassano (''Caxanus'').

Ezzelino was described as a not tall man, shrewd, cinical, ferocious, with blazing eyes, provided with great military abilities. His political positions were often ambiguous: after an initial allegiance to the Guelphs, he however remained one of the stauncest member of the Ghibelline party in northern Italy, and always a faithful ally for Frederick II. In Dante Aligheri 's '' Divine Comedy '', his soul is consigned to Hell , where Dante encounters him in the Seventh Circle, First Ring: the Violent against their Neighbors (''Inferno'', XII, 109).

His younger daughter Cunizza is also cited by Dante, in ''Paradise'', IX, 31-33.

SEE ALSO

EXTERNAL LINKS

summary of Ezzelino's deeds (in Italian)

Information About

Ezzelino Da Romano Iii