Francesco II Ordelaffi (also known as
Cecco II, c. 1300 – 1374) was a lord of
ForlìForlì is a comune and city in Emilia-Romagna, Italy, famed as the birthplace of the great painter Melozzo da Forlì, of the humanist historian Flavio Biondo, of the famous physicians Geronimo Mercuriali and Giovanni Battista Morgagni....
, the son of Sinibaldo Ordelaffi (died 1337, brother of
ScarpettaScarpetta Ordelaffi was an Italian condottiero and lord of Forlì from 1295 until 1315.According to chronicler Dino Compagni, in 1302 he was papal vicar in Forlì. In 1295 he took part in the Ghibelline leaders meeting at Argenta...
and
FrancescoFrancesco I Ordelaffi was lord of Forlì and Bertinoro from 1315 to 1331. He was the brother and successor of Scarpetta Ordelaffi....
) and Orestina Calboli, and the grandson of Teobaldo I Ordelaffi.
Initially he ruled the city with his uncle Francesco, but in 1332 the two were ousted by a Papal Army, remaining in control of
ForlimpopoliForlimpopoli is a town and comune in the Province of Forlì-Cesena, northern Italy. It is located on the Via Emilia between Cesena and Forlì.-History:...
only. The following year, however, he became the Ghibelline leader in
RomagnaRomagna is an Italian historical region that approximately corresponds to the south-eastern portion of present-day Emilia-Romagna. Traditionally, it is limited by the Apennines to the south-west, the Adriatic to the east, and the rivers Reno and Sillaro to the north and west...
, receiving the seigniories of
CesenaCesena is a city in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, south of Ravenna and west of Rimini, on the Savio River, co-chief of the Province of Forlì-Cesena. It is at the foot of the Apennines, and about 15 km from the Adriatic Sea.-History:...
and
BertinoroBertingold is a town and comune in the province of Forlì-Cesena, Emilia-Romagna . It is located on hill, Mount Cesubeo, in Romagna, a few kilometers from the Via Emilia.-History:...
and establishing a firm rule on Forlì.
In 1337 Francesco imprisoned the Archbishop of Ravenna and was excommunicated by the Pope
Benedict XIIIPope Benedict XIII , born Pietro Francesco Orsini, later Vincenzo Maria Orsini, was pope from 1724 until his death. He succeeded Pope Innocent XIII ....
: however, the struggle ended with the Ordelaffi victorious, since the Pope named him vicar of Forlì, Cesena and Folimpopoli, in exchange of an annual payment.
Francesco II Ordelaffi (also known as
Cecco II, c. 1300 – 1374) was a lord of
ForlìForlì is a comune and city in Emilia-Romagna, Italy, famed as the birthplace of the great painter Melozzo da Forlì, of the humanist historian Flavio Biondo, of the famous physicians Geronimo Mercuriali and Giovanni Battista Morgagni....
, the son of Sinibaldo Ordelaffi (died 1337, brother of
ScarpettaScarpetta Ordelaffi was an Italian condottiero and lord of Forlì from 1295 until 1315.According to chronicler Dino Compagni, in 1302 he was papal vicar in Forlì. In 1295 he took part in the Ghibelline leaders meeting at Argenta...
and
FrancescoFrancesco I Ordelaffi was lord of Forlì and Bertinoro from 1315 to 1331. He was the brother and successor of Scarpetta Ordelaffi....
) and Orestina Calboli, and the grandson of Teobaldo I Ordelaffi.
Initially he ruled the city with his uncle Francesco, but in 1332 the two were ousted by a Papal Army, remaining in control of
ForlimpopoliForlimpopoli is a town and comune in the Province of Forlì-Cesena, northern Italy. It is located on the Via Emilia between Cesena and Forlì.-History:...
only. The following year, however, he became the Ghibelline leader in
RomagnaRomagna is an Italian historical region that approximately corresponds to the south-eastern portion of present-day Emilia-Romagna. Traditionally, it is limited by the Apennines to the south-west, the Adriatic to the east, and the rivers Reno and Sillaro to the north and west...
, receiving the seigniories of
CesenaCesena is a city in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, south of Ravenna and west of Rimini, on the Savio River, co-chief of the Province of Forlì-Cesena. It is at the foot of the Apennines, and about 15 km from the Adriatic Sea.-History:...
and
BertinoroBertingold is a town and comune in the province of Forlì-Cesena, Emilia-Romagna . It is located on hill, Mount Cesubeo, in Romagna, a few kilometers from the Via Emilia.-History:...
and establishing a firm rule on Forlì.
In 1337 Francesco imprisoned the Archbishop of Ravenna and was excommunicated by the Pope
Benedict XIIIPope Benedict XIII , born Pietro Francesco Orsini, later Vincenzo Maria Orsini, was pope from 1724 until his death. He succeeded Pope Innocent XIII ....
: however, the struggle ended with the Ordelaffi victorious, since the Pope named him vicar of Forlì, Cesena and Folimpopoli, in exchange of an annual payment. The excommunication was later renewed when he sided for Emperor Louis IV of Bavaria in order to avoid the tribute, being named imperial vicar. Around 1347 he hosted
Giovanni BoccaccioGiovanni Boccaccio was an Italian author and poet, a friend, student, and correspondent of Petrarch, an important Renaissance humanist and the author of a number of notable works including the Decameron, On Famous Women, and his poetry in the Italian vernacular...
in Forlì.
In 1350 Francesco conquered Bertinoro,
Meldola-History:The area of Meldola was inhabited since very ancient times. The Romans built here a large aqueduct which served the military port of Classis. To the 5th-6th century belongs a large patrician villa which is now under the historical centre.In the Middle Ages a castle was present, the name...
,
FontanafreddaFontanafredda is an Italian municipality of about 11,000 inhabitants in Province of Pordenone, in Friuli-Venezia Giulia region. The town hall is located in the frazione of Vigonovo.-External links:*...
and Ghiaggiolo, but had to face the opposition of the strong Papal general Gil de Albornoz, supported by the
MalatestaMalatesta may refer to:*The House of Malatesta, an Italian family which ruled over Rimini from the thirteenth to the fifteenth century*Errico Malatesta , an Italian anarchist*Malatesta , a 1970 German film...
of
RiminiRimini is a city in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy and capital city of the Province of Rimini. It is located on the Adriatic Sea, near the coast between the rivers Marecchia and Ausa...
, as well as another excommunication. Despite the strong resistance of his wife Cia degli Ubaldini and his son Ludovico, Cesena fell on June 21, soon followed by Bertinoro. Francesco and Forlì fell on July 4 1359, and he was to content of the title of vicar of Forlimpopoli and Castrocaro thenceforth. Later he fought for
Bernabò ViscontiBernabò Visconti was an Italian soldier and statesman, who was Lord of Milan.He was born in Milan, the son of Stefano Visconti and Valentina Doria. From 1346 to 1349 he lived in exile, until he was called back by his uncle Giovanni Visconti...
against the Papal armies, and tried unsuccessfully to reconquer Forlì. He died in
VeniceVenice is a city in northern Italy, the capital of the region Veneto, a population of 271,367 . Together with Padua, the city is included in the Padua-Venice Metropolitan Area . The city historically was an independent nation...
in 1374.
His son
SinibaldoSinibaldo II Ordelaffi was the lord of Forlì in 1480, inheriting it from his father Pino III Ordelaffi. After his death the Ordelaffi lost the control of the city, who was acquired by Pope Sixtus IV's nephew Girolamo Riario. Sinibaldo's relative Francesco V Ordelaffi shortly claimed the lordship,...
was later lord of Forlì.
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