How Fiore dei Liberi's Protege Helped Put the Bentivoglio Family in Power: Chapter 1
How Fiore dei Liberi's Protege Helped Put the Bentivoglio Family in Power: Chapter 1
The Epic of Lancillotto Beccaria di Pavia and Giovanni Bentivoglio
Introduction
Bolognese politics at the turn of the 15th century was characterized by deep factionalism. The Guelf and Ghibelline feuds that characterized the 13th up to the beginning of the 14th century morphed into a desire for republicanism by the first quarter of the 14th century when the Bolognese people threw off the yoke of the Papal administration by ousting the extravagant Cardinal, Bertrand de Pouget—respectfully chasing him out of town throwing shit at him and his opulent Palazzo. In the wake of this upheaval the Pepoli family became the first Signoria of Bologna in 1337, however, their reign wouldn’t last long, catastrophe and an invasion by the Visconti in the later part of the 14th century would force Bologna back under the thumb of colonial powers. First came the plague in 1348, which halved the population of Bologna. The city in which YAHWEH was staying, in the years prior to the outbreak of Yersinia pestis, was one of the six largest cities in Europe, touting a population of nearly fifty-thousand inhabitants; after the pestilence swept through, their population was reduced to somewhere between twenty to twenty-five thousand. Tragedy bred opportunity—with the state of the Bolognese economy and military weakened, they were invaded in 1350 by Milanese and Papal forces, under Cardinal Giovanni Visconti, who passed the power of the city into the hands of the Milanese tyrants Bernabo and Galeazzo Visconti. The Visconti were so loved in Bologna that they were forced to build a hanging fortress between the Asinelli and di Garisenda towers to keep their city officials safe from the Bolognese people below. Graciously, Bologna was liberated by Cardinal Gil Alvarez Carillo de Albronoz in 1363, and their passage into the hands of Papal authority was confirmed at the conclusion of the war of Eight Saints in 1375.
It’s of little wonder that this turbulent century bred a deep desire among the Bolognese people to return to what they viewed as the city’s former glory, the time before the plague and the series of subjugations. The people were of two minds, fully embrace the power of the church, or accept the aid of outside powers greater than Bologna at the risk of further conflict and renumeration. Two factions emerged as a result, the Scarchessi and the Maltraversi. The Scarchessi faction, represented by the checkerboard of the Pepoli family, were comprised of the oligarchs of Bologna, the wealthy elite. This group was composed of Doctors, Knights, members of the Merchant Guilds (Lawyers, Bankers, Cloth Merchants, and Silk Merchants), and variably members of the Superior Arts or artisan guilds (Butchers, Haberdashers, Goldsmiths, Apothecaries, Cloth Workers, and Wool Workers). They tended to prefer working with outside powers—making alliances to build prestige—and saw the dominion of a powerful family from the patrician class in Bologna as preferable, which was a desire that often brought them in conflict with the papal authorities of the city. The Maltraversi on the other hand, rooted themselves in the cause of liberty, and tried to unify the city of Bologna by championing the rights of all its citizens—regardless of class, and they were represented by the crossbar crest of the Gozzadini family. The Maltraversi often worked closely with the Papal legates to coalesce power and influence against the city’s elite.
Rise of the Bentivoglio
In the later portion of the Quattrocento, 1376, on the night of 19 March, the two sides came together to remove the Papal administration from the city after the Legate, William of Noellet, surrendered the Castellos of Ragnacavallo and Castrocaro to Papal Mercenaries, whose wages the Papal Curia couldn’t pay for their service in the War of Eight Saints. Angered by this overreach the Bolognese people attacked the mercenaries, shouting, “Popolo, Popolo!” and drove them from the Contado, then turned on Nollet and his magistrates. Once the dust of this revolt settled, the sides agreed to set-up a new branch of government called the Magistrate of the Sixteen Gonfalonieri del Popolo e Massari delle Arti. Peace wouldn’t last long. In September, members of the Maltraversi started secretly negotiating with Papal officials to reinstate the legate, the Scarchessi discovered the plot, and on 11 September, 1376, they exiled the leading members of the Maltraversi from the city of Bologna. With the Maltraversi gone, the Scarchessi fractured into two camps, the Pepoleschi and the Raspanti. The leader of the Pepoleschi was Taddeo Azzoguidi (the ringleader behind the coup against the Papal Legate, and the Maltraversi), who wanted to give the Signoria back to the Pepoli family, while the leader of the Raspanti was Salvuzzo Bentivoglio, brother of Giovanni Bentivoglio; the sons of Antoniolo Bentivoglio. The Raspanti acted quickly, put together an armed coalition, and on 7 December 1376, they exiled the members of the Pepoleschi, confiscated their goods, and burned their houses to the ground. Now that Salvuzzo and the Bentivoglio were Signoria they got rid of the existing structures of government and set up a Council of Eight. The situation that Salvuzzo found himself in was a difficult one, the once ruling papal administrators, their Maltraversi allies, and the exiled half of the now-defunct Scarchessi faction allied themselves against his now isolated Raspanti coalition, and on 20 March, 1377, the Bolognese people added their voices to the chorus and took up arms against the Raspanti tyranny.
Salvuzzo was captured and imprisoned for six months, before being sentenced to exile in Ravenna for 15 years. Upon his return to Bologna, in 1395, Salvuzzo died fighting in Ferrara alongside the Bolognese militias and Alberico da Barbiano supporting the claim of Niccolò III d’Este (Fiore’s patron) against the Visconti. His younger brother Giovanni was forced to pick up the pieces of the Bentivoglio legacy. He had already taken up service in the Anziani, the Bolognese civic authority, and served in the role of Gonaloniere di Giustizia in 1382, 1392, and in 1397[1]. Giovanni was, “…a man of just stature, serious in his pursuits, and humorous in speaking, he had a round and fleshy face, eyes rather white than black, an aquiline nose, and pursed lips; he was adorned with mediocre knowledge, pleasant, and with great advice”, according to his epitaph in Ghirardacci.[2]
Gozzadini and Zambeccari Rivalry
The Political landscape in Bologna, at this time, was changing rapidly, the chaos of the previous half decade of Bolognese factionalism had shifted the direction of the Scarchessi coalition heavily in favor of the city’s oligarchs, and leaders of the merchant guilds. The Raspanti counil of eight was replaced by the Ten of Mercy, or the Dieci di Balia, which was later replaced by the Otto della Pace in 1392, the Eight of Peace, further narrowing the influence of dissenting civic voices, which led to a riot, led by Ugolino Scappi that same year.[3] In the wake of Scappi’s travails, 1393, the Sedici riformatori dello stato di libertà—or the Sedici, was formed to balance the power of the cities Oligarchs. [4] This new mechanism of government did provide a modicum of peace and stability for a while, however, through the winnowing of time, the turbulence of the power dynamics of the Sedici inevitably furthered the factionalism among the city’s elite, and two family coalitions emerged vying for Signoria at the turn of the 15th century; the Zambeccari and the Gozzadini. This was played out in 1398, when in response to a series of unfavorable legislative measures by the majority Scarchessi party, Carlo Zambeccari gathered a group of armed men and occupied the Palazzo del Commune, stating that his rivals, the Gozzadini, were attempting to enact a coup. His bandits raided the offices of the Registers and Commissioners of the city, gathering all the documents they could find which listed the names of public officials, and burned them in the piazza. Zambeccari then challenged Nanne Gozzadini to meet him in the square, to answer for his injustices, which Nanne Gozzadini did, on his terms, beside the Gonfaloniere di Giustizia at the time, his ally Matteo Griffoni. The three men sorted out their differences by negotiating some marriages; Nanne’s niece would marry Griffoni’s nephew, and Carlo Zambeccari’s daughter would marry Nanne Gozzadini’s nephew.[5]
This turned out to be a skillfully planned ruse by Carlo Zambeccari to enact his own quiet coup in the city. With Gozzadini forced to concede and effectively neutralized, Carlo gained a majority coalition in the Anziani, recalled some of his long-exiled Maltraversi allies, and made new exiles out of members of the Scharsessi faction; including the famous Law Professor, Francesco Ramponi. Carlo had a strong coalition which was formed among the city’s Artisan Guild leadership and all Nanne Gozzadini’s rivals in the Bolognese banking industry. However, after a handful of controversial magisterial appointments—the gig was up—his rivals started to suspect the true nature of Zambeccari’s political ambitions. Nanne Gozzadini, who was pining for some payback, was the first to act. To form a formidable coalition of his own he recruited Giovanni Bentivoglio. Nanne and Giovanni then devised a plan, where would seize Porta di San Donato, and let the army of the condottiere Giovanni da Barbiano into the city. However, when it came time to enact their plan and they gained control of the portcullis, da Barbiano was nowhere to be found. Having heard about the seizure of Porta di San Donato, Carlo Zambeccari rallied his supporters in the Piazza del Commune and marched to arrest the rebels; who quickly realized their plot had utterly failed.
Giovanni Bentivgolio, Nanne Gozzadini and all their supporters were forced into exile, and their property was confiscated, while the rogue Giovanni da Barbiano used the opportunity to recoup his unpaid travel expenses by plundering, pillaging, and raping his way through Bolognese territory. He was finally cornered in Modena near Spilamberto by Astrogio Manfredi, lord of Faenza, and Tommasino Crevelli the captain of the Rose Company, and was captured along with his four sons: Conselice, Banderato, Ludovico and Lippaccio. Astorgio Manfredi pleaded with Carlo Zambeccari to execute da Barbiano; the rogue condottiere had been a menace to the lords of the Romagna, and Zambeccari was wont to listen, as Manfredi was a close ally of the Maltraversi, and a valuable military asset for his government in Bologna—da Barbiano and all his sons were sentenced to death. When it came time for Giovanni da Barbiano to be executed in the Piazza Maggiore, 17 October, 1399, the Podesta granted da Barbiano the right to have his hands unrestrained on account of his honor as a knight—honor be damned—Giovanni da Barbino raised his arms into the seminal blow of the headsman’s axe, and the executioner was forced to swing over-and-over to finally complete the task, mangling his corpse; the scene left a gruesome impression on contemporary observers, and when word reached da Barbiano’s brother, Alberigo, the barbarity of the event sent him into a rage.[6]
Consolidation of Power
Giovanni Bentivoglio wouldn’t have to wallow in exile for long, the day after the execution of da Barbiano and his sons, Carlo Zambeccari succumbed to the plague, and within ten days Giovanni, Nanne Gozzadini and Francesco Ramponi, were back in the city of Bologna thanks to the efforts of Ugolino Scappi and their Scarcchesi allies who overthrew the Maltraversi-Zambeccari government.[7] Upon taking the reigns of the new government, the three men were duly elected to the Sedici, which at this time was only composed of twelve members, 7 bankers, 3 jurists and two members experienced in politics. Nanne Gozzadini and his brother Bonifacio— who had just returned from a failed banking venture in Rome—didn’t really see their ally Giovanni Bentivoglio as a threat to their ambition to become Signoria of Bologna and were happy to share power with him as-long-as he complied with their wishes. Giovanni was quiet, almost demure, but he was principled and had a charm about him that seemed to drive people to gravitate towards him, it was perhaps his honesty, and consistency of character—his conviction that transcended the factionalism of the city, but being liked and being powerful were two entirely different things—at least that’s what Nanne and Bonifacio thought.
The brothers Gozzadini found out just how much they underestimated Giovanni when, the shy and irresolute, Bentivoglio finally stood up and challenged their policies in the chamber of the Palazzo del Commune, while the Sedici was discussing the election of city magistrates, arguing, “In Republics, at will, the offices and magistrates must always be governed well and wisely in the hands of Nobles, as those who are, both by practice and nature, more suited to such offices than the general population; who will sometimes succeed in something prudently accomplished, however, it usually happens more through strength than through ingenuity and knowledge. In addition to this, the Nobles in war and serious undertakings aspire to glory and reputation, and through those endeavors keep the crown in the hands of their Republics.” (Ghirardacci, 512) [8]
This was a statement in stark contrast to the Gozzadini party line, and Giovanni’s speech was quickly rebuffed by Bonifacio Gozzadini. However, the damage was done. Since returning to Bologna, the Gozzadini had tried to re-ingratiate themselves with the Maltraversi faction, assuming the role of their forebearers; their family were the ancestral leaders of the faction, and Nanne and Bonifacio believed they could become the symbolic heads once again—while maintaining their allegiances with the Ramponi, Rasponti and Scarcessi patrons on the other side of the political aisle, of course.
Now, Ghirardacci’s earlier epitaph characterized Giovanni Bentivoglio as being mediocre in knowledge, but knowledge and wisdom are two different things, and his next move was a political masterclass. The tone of his speech had echoes of his late brother Slavuzzo, of the Raspanti legacy, it would’ve been galvanizing for members of the Scarchessi to hear, but Giovanni must have realized, just as Bonifacio and Nanne had, that leading one faction against another was not the way to gain the role of Signoria, no, to do that one had to unite the people of Bologna. To make that happen, and to undermine the Gozzadini brother’s goals of becoming the leaders of the Maltraversi, Giovanni moved a piece of legislation to recall the Zambeccari family from exile, and to pardon their Maltraversi allies who supported their coalition—he called for peace with his enemies.[9]
War With Faenza
The riposte from the Gozzadini was swift, Nanne and Bonifacio agreed to loan the Pope 2,000 Ducats, further cementing favor with the Apostolic See, complicating existing political alliances while also heightening suspicion around their motivations, and moved a vote in the Anziani to name Pino degli Ordelaffi, the Vicar of Forli, as Captain General of the Bolognese Army, to march against Astorgio Manfredi who, being involved in a factional dispute of his own with the Ordelaffi, had captured the Castle of Solarolo from two Bolognese captains, Gaspare Bernardini and Antonio dall Caselle. The Bolognese army was able to take back Solarolo on its own, but Ordelaffi urged the Bolognese government to push further, and presented plans to besiege the city of Faenza itself. In concert with these aims the Bolognese hired Alberigo da Barbiano, with the promise of Castello Granrolo as compensation for his assistance, Barbiano was happy to take the castle, but he didn’t need material compensation to convince him to help the Bolognese in this affair, he was dying to for a chance to reap vengeance for the brutal execution of his brother Giovanni, and his sons, an execution he laid at the feet of Manfredi. In fear of the potential of a new Visconti stronghold popping up in the Romagna, the Florentines sent Manfredi one hundred lances, roughly 300 men; however, the reinforcements did little to improve his outlook, as Manfrdi was still outnumbered two to one. Ordelaffi and da Barbiano, worked their way through the contado of Faenza, burning the fields and pillaging, then set up two bastions around city, the first along the Via Flaminia, near Castel Bolognese, and the second blocking the entrance to the Val di Lamone, which was the route to the impenetrable Brisigallian fortress, La Rocca Manfrediana. The city of Faenza was on the verge of being starved into submission when Carlo and Pandolfo Malatesta managed to sneak food into the city, prolonging the conflict, but Alberigo da Barbiano quickly found the route used by the Malatesta and built a third bastion there as well.
Then, quite fortuitously, Alberigo da Barbiano was hailed by Gian Galeazzo Visconti to meet him in Mantua for the final capitulation of the Gonzaga. This was Manfredi’s chance. First, he needed troops, and money to pay them. He sent curriers out asking the Venetians and Ferrarese for financial aid, playing on their fears that this entire campaign against him was a ploy in Gian Galeazzo Visconti’s greater expansionist agenda, when that didn’t work, he decided to extort money from Niccolò III d’Este, the Marquis of Ferrara, instead. He had Niccolo’s uncle, Astore in captivity after the succession war, and threatened the young Marquis that he would release his uncle if he didn’t pay him more money to keep him locked away.[10] The Venetians intervened to keep their anti-Visconti league together, and paid Astorgio 5,000 ducats, but he needed more money to hire an army, 5,000 Ducats simply wasn’t going to cut it, so tried to levy fresh demands toward Niccolò. This would backfire on Manfredi. While he awaited Niccolò’s reply, plague and starvation consumed Faenza, and he was forced to send his youngest son Carlo and his wife away from the city. They disguised themselves and tried to catch a ship to Venice, but while they were sailing down the Po River, they were forced to dock, boarded by d’Este troops, and once discovered, taken to Niccolò in chains. After some tidy negotiations the two parties decided to swap prisoners, and Manfredi was arbitrated 2000 florins on top of the exchange, while concerning that he would pay rent for his holdings in Ferrara.
Rebellion in Bologna
After an attempted ruse by some gate guards in Faenza to open the gates for Ordelaffi and the Bolognese troops failed, urgent letters were sent to Alberigo da Barbiano, begging him to return to the Romagna to continue the campaign. Return he did, but the political landscape in Bologna was shifting quickly. The conduct of the siege, it’s growing exchequer, and Niccolo d’Estes frequent visits to Bologna to escape the plague—where he took-up residence at Palazzo Gozzadini—stirred considerable anger across the Bolognese political divide. Freely spending the cities money, acting as it’s primary war chief, and personally hosting a Marquis—a common ploy used by Scarchessi adherents to elevate status; made public sentiment for Nanne Gozzadini dwindle considerably. All these factors combined with years of mistrust for the Gozzadini families’ ambitions, were enough for members of the Maltraversi and the Scarchessi to collectively green-light another change in government. So, Giovanni Bentivoglio, Gozzadini’s chief rival, started secretly collecting troops, and collecting condottiere; namely Martino Polsort and Lancillotto Beccaria, who came as a part of a secret agreement that he struck with Gian Galeazzo Visonti, in large part through his connections with the Zambeccari.[11] Then, on 27 February 1400, Giovanni and Bente Bentivoglio had their loyal supporters, along with the droves of Bolognese patriots and condottiere alike meet them at a designated place in the city, and together they marched on the Piazza Maggiore shouting, “VIVA il Popolo, e VIVA le Arti!”[12]
The small Bentivoglio army met no resistance in the Piazza Maggiore, which emboldened Giovonni; it seemed that his plan had remained a secret. He turned a portion his army toward the Palazzo del Commune, where he knew Nanne and Bonifacio Gozzadini were hiding, and dispatched Lancillotto Beccaria and Martino Polsort to cover the entrances into the Piazza Maggiore. Once inside the brothers Gozzadini gave themselves up without a fight. This might be indicative of a clever ruse from ol’Nanne Gozzadini, with the bulk of Giovanni’s forces in-and-around the Palazzo, his nephew, Gozadino di Sermolino Gozzadini, descended on the Piazza with two hundred armed men—who Nanne conveniently had geared up, ready to fight, and billeted in his palazzo. Brutal, bloody fighting ensued, but the experienced condottieri, Beccaria and Polsort, were able to reposition their men and resist the push of Gozadino’s men-at-arms. Lancillotto and Martino put themselves in the thick of the fight and are noted by Ghirardacci and other chroniclers for spilling lots of blood; here we can only imagine the thrust of the point of a half-sword gripped longsword in the style of Beccaria’s master Fiore; digging for purchase in the joints of his opponents armor, the crack of poleaxes against helmets and spaulders, the punch of a rondel dagger through chain mail preceding the sucking gasps of a dying man’s last breaths—echoing in the tight Bolognese streets as horses cried-out, kicked and mauled the men below—the chaos of this moment. Brave knights: Rigo Mezovillani, Filippo Cacciti, Roberto da Sala, Giordino Ghisalabelli and Petruccio Sliceti died on behalf of crossbar crest of the Gozzadini, while those of account who fell on behalf of the red and gold sega of the Bentivoglio included Garsia Alemano, Fortino dal Borgo, and Donato da Faenza. It must’ve seemed like the fighting would have no end, as armored men-at-arms beget armored men-at-arms, until a well-placed blow finally despoiled the entire affair. Gozzadino Gozzadini was struck from his horse and fell badly wounded on the cobbled street below. His men rushed to his aid and had no choice but to carry him back to his house. The sortie was repulsed—the Gozzadini had been defeated.[13]
Giovanni’s men-at-arms called on the people of Bologna to assemble in the Piazza Maggiore before the opulent Palazzo del Commune, and when they were satisfied with the gentlemen and nobles in attendance, Giovanni emerged from the palazzo in full white armor with his sword drawn and stood before them from the balcony. He called Giacomo di Beuccio and Giacomo Bentivoglio to him and asked them to introduce him to Lancillotto Beccaria and Martino Polsort, who he thanked for their heroic defense of the piazza. Then he made an official decree that members of the families still in exile; the Zambeccari, Bianchi Preti, Bolognini, Cansaldi, Ghisilieri, Mangioli, Guidotti and others, many of whom were his past enemies, should be granted the right to return to Bologna. Next, Giovanni did the unthinkable, he pardoned Nanne and Bonifacio Gozzadini, and to further the reconciliation, that evening Giovanni dinned with the brothers, accompanied by a collection of nobles, and the Capitano di Gente d'Arme of Bologna, Riccardo Cancellieri, who provided a group of armed guards for the safety and security of Giovanni, Nanne and Bonifacio.[14]
On March 28, 1401 the Anziani met in the Palazzo del Pretore, and by common consent declared Giovanni Bentivoglio, Lord of Bologna. His first act was to name Raimondino da Fiessi as the Captain of the People (Captiano del Popolo), then he made captians of Lancillotto Beccaria, Martino Polsort (Tedesco), Antonio da Camerino, Friellino di Golem, Pietro Farnese, Giovanni di Chichino da Tossignano, Piero Ordelaffi, Martino Buscoldi, and Oratio Fortebraccio da Montone, awarding each of them 15 Gold Fiorini per month for their services. Then he named 27 constables, and assigned to the defense of the castles, fortresses, districts and gates, a total of 75 different Bolognese citizens.[i]
Trouble From the Start
While Giovanni was busy with the assignments of his new government, trouble was brewing. Not everyone was happy about the takeover, moreso they were upset that foreign condottiere (Beccaria and Polsort) were allowed to enter the city and kill Bolognese citizens. One such malcontent, Battista Baldouini started secretly negotiating with Andrea Pepoli, who was in exile in Ferrara. If they were successful, Baldouini agreed to restore the Pepoli family to the signoria and ensured them that the people would be glad of their return. Thoroughly convinced, Pepoli raised an army in Ferrara, and the northern Bolognese contado and marched on Croce del Pero, however, word quickly reached him that his plot had been uncovered, and that Giovanni Bentivoglio’s men were armed and waiting for him. Despairing the outcome, he called off the whole venture, sullenly making his way back into exile.
Giovanni was at an impasse, it seemed just days before that he had the support of the people, that he had the backing of both factions to enact his rebellion, yet here he was, days into his reign, and he was already facing a coup. Yet, Giovanni found the sword blow that would sever the Gordian knot, once again. Rather than embody the authoritarian isolationism that doomed his brother Salvuzzo and his Rasponti regime, he called together the Anziani, and asked them to vote once again, to re-elect him as Gonfalonieri del Popolo, and confirm his position. The vote was performed in the style of the great Athenian democracies, white beans for yay, black beans for nay.[15] Giovanni carried the vote, and to celebrate he called forward Nicola Lodovisi to keep record, and Knighted the following: Lambertino Canetoli, Riccardo Cancellieri Capitano, Pietro de Bianchi, Bente Bentivoglio, and Giovanni Bolognini Papazoni, who in turn knighted twenty more nobles.[16] On the 16th of March, Giovanni reinstated the Sedici, and named Giovanni Canetoli, Piero Ghellini, Nanne Gozzadini, Ugolino Scappi, Floriano da Castello San Piero, Bossolo Piantavigne, Giovanni Oretti, Alberto Guidotti, Giovanni Monterenzoli, Gabriele Montecaului, Andrea Bentivoglio, Musotto Malvezzi, Nicolo Zambeccari, and Pietro de Bianchi Capitano, Rigo Feliciani, and Basotto Argelati to the governing body.
The next step for Giovanni was convincing the Pope that his reign was legitimate. He sent two of his closest compatriots, Musotto Malvezzi and Floriano da Castello san Piero to plead his case before the Pontiff. Unfortunately, the response he got back from Rome wasn’t quite what he was expecting. The Pope said that he’d already given the Vicarate of Bologna to the people, and he believed that Giovanni had taken that from them—that his actions and the violence which preceded them were hallmarks of a tyrant. According to Ghirardacci, this was an ominous misstep, and a sign of future dissent. It’s never good when God’s vicar calls you a tyrant.
After so many brilliant steps in the establishment of his Signoria, it’s hard to imagine that the moment when Giovanni had achieved the position that he would stumble out of the gate as hard as he did—not once, not twice, but three times. Perhaps his story was always fated to be that of Icarus, perhaps this was simply the cursed legacy of the Bentivoglio. Alas, in the wake of the disappointing news from the Pope, Giovanni was awoken to the grand political stage of late medieval Italy. Alberigo da Barbiano was still besieging Faenza on behalf of the Bolognese, the capitulation of the city was close at hand—victory was certain. So, it’s rather odd that when a messenger from Astore Manfredi presented a letter to Giovanni, desperately promising him faithfulness and whatever he wanted, that Giovanni listened. Consequently, his willingness to hear Astore’s plight brought Giovanni under the influence of the Doge of Venice, and the Priors and Consuls of Florence, who had a strategic objective of their own—survive the reign of Gian Galeazzo Visconti. That was everyone in northern Italy’s objective at the time. But surviving the power of the Visconti when you were their subject state or a part of their territorial ambition was one thing, surviving the wrath of Gian Galeazzo was another thing entirely.
To learn more about our protagonist Giovanni Bentivoglio, and our hero Lancillotto Beccaria be sure to subscribe to the Art of Arms, and stay tuned for the next chapters of this dramatic story.
Works Cited:
Ghirardacci, Cherubino. Della Historia Di Bologna. Volume 2. Italy, Giovanni Rossi, 1657
Ady, Cecilia Mary. The Bentivoglio of Bologna: A Study in Despotism. United Kingdom, Oxford University Press, H. Milford, 1937.
A Companion to Medieval and Renaissance Bologna. Netherlands, Brill, 2017.
Salvuzzo Bentivoglio, di Giorgio Tamba - Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani - Volume 58 (2002): Treccani.it
Carlo Zambeccari, di Berardo Pio - Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani - Volume 100 (2020): Treccani.it
Giovanni da Barbiano, Condotiere Ventura, GIOVANNI DA BARBIANO - Condottieri di ventura
Astorre Manfredi, Condottiere Ventura: ASTORRE MANFREDI - Condottieri di ventura
Giovanni Bentivoglio, di Ottavio Banti - Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani - Volume 8 (1966): Treccani.it
Nanne Gozzadini, di Giorgio Tamba - Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani - Volume 58 (2002): Treccani.it
[1] Salvuzzo Bentivoglio, di Giorgio Tamba - Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani - Volume 58 (2002): Treccani.it
“Della sua vita, fin verso la fine del secolo, si sa soltanto che fu gonfaloniere nel 1382 e nel 1392, che nel 1397 fu degli Anziani (da ciò appare come egli si fosse assai presto messo in vista nelle competizioni cittadine), e che, con i suoi due successivi matrimoni, il primo con Elisabetta di Cino da Castel San Pietro (da cui ebbe tre figli: Ercole, Antongaleazzo e Giovanna), il secondo con Margherita Guidotti, si era imparentato con due influenti famiglie della nobiltà della cui alleanza successivamente egli si valse.”
[2] Ghirardacci, Cherubino. Della Historia Di Bologna. Volume 2. Italy, Giovanni Rossi, 1657. Pg. 536
“Fu Giovanni Bentivoglio huomo di giusta statura, grave nell'andare, e faceto nel ragionare, hebbe faccia tonda, e carnosa, occhio piu tosto bianco, che negro, naso aquilino, e labbra rilevate; fu di mediocre scienza adornato, piacevole, e di gran consiglio.”
[3] Carlo Zambeccari, di Berardo Pio - Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani - Volume 100 (2020): Treccani.it
Pochi mesi dopo, nel settembre del 1393, un tumulto popolare contro i partigiani di Scappi e di Zambeccari, accusati di voler controllare le procedure elettorali che portavano alla nomina degli ufficiali comunali e, in particolare, quelle dei correttori della società dei notai, fu abilmente sfruttato dalla fazione degli Scacchesi per colpire i principali esponenti della fazione avversa, i Maltraversi:
[4] Carlo Zambeccari, di Berardo Pio - Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani - Volume 100 (2020): Treccani.it
Si giunse così a una composizione e all’istituzione, il 26 dicembre 1393, di un nuovo organo di governo, il collegio dei Sedici riformatori dello stato di libertà, nel quale furono inclusi alcuni membri di estrazione popolare e i principali esponenti delle due fazioni dell’oligarchia cittadina: Nanne Gozzadini e Zambeccari.
[5] Carlo Zambeccari, di Berardo Pio - Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani - Volume 100 (2020): Treccani.it
L’equilibrio fra le diverse componenti dell’oligarchia cittadina si spezzò nella primavera del 1398, quando Zambeccari, temendo un colpo di mano degli avversari che, avendo la maggioranza in seno al consiglio degli Anziani consoli, avevano imposto una serie di riforme poco gradite alla sua parte, organizzò un tumulto popolare. Il 6 maggio, occupò la piazza del Comune con una nutrita comitiva di armati e fece bruciare alcuni registri con le provvigioni approvate dalla fazione avversa e le liste con i nomi di quanti avrebbero dovuto ricoprire incarichi pubblici nei mesi successivi; quindi fece convocare a palazzo il suo avversario, Gozzadini, con il quale, grazie alla mediazione del gonfaloniere di giustizia Matteo Griffoni, raggiunse un accordo sigillato con due promesse di matrimonio: una figlia di Bonifacio Gozzadini, fratello di Nanne, avrebbe sposato Giovanni figlio di Giacomo Griffoni; Lucrezia Zambeccari, figlia di Carlo, avrebbe sposato Brandaligi figlio dello stesso Bonifacio.
[6] Giovanni da Barbiano, Condotiere Ventura, GIOVANNI DA BARBIANO - Condottieri di ventura
E’ decapitato a fine mese nella Piazza Maggiore su pressione di Astorre Manfredi. Poiché non è legato cerca di difendersi alzando le braccia. L’esecuzione richiede in tal modo più colpi da parte del boia. Viene sepolto a Bologna nella chiesa di San Francesco degli Eremitani con il figlio Conselice ed altri congiunti. Il fatto provoca la vendetta della sorella che fa impiccare molti bolognesi presenti nel suoi castello ed invia truppe a desolare il territorio felsineo.
[7] Carlo Zambeccari, by Berardo Pio - Biographical Dictionary of Italians - Volume 100 (2020)
The following October 27, a popular riot organized by Scappi, who had not liked the lordly mutation of the city government, imposed the renewal of the magistrates, the replacement of officers and the exile of the main exponents of the Zambeccari faction, including the gonfalonier of justice Nicola Zambeccari, the canonist Bernardino Zambeccari, the famous civil lawyer Bartolomeo da Saliceto, ancient reference point of the Maltraversa faction, the changer Andrea Tomari and the "rich merchadante" Melchiorre Manzoli; at the same time the main opponents of Zambeccari – Gozzadini, Bentivoglio and Ramponi – returned to the city and recovered the goods that had been confiscated from them, ready to take the reins of the city government as members of the renewed college of the Sixteen reformers and protagonists of a new political season that resulted in the establishment of the ephemeral lordship of Giovanni Bentivoglio (March 1401-June 1402).
[8] Ghirardacci, Cherubino. Della Historia Di Bologna, Volume 2. Italy, Giovanni Rossi, 1657. Pg. 511
“Offervava Giovanni tutto quello, che dicevano, e faccevano, e come savio, e purdente, ch' egli era tacito fi stava, & in se medesimo tesseua le cose sue. Occorse, che un giorno il Senato si cogrego, dove ritrovandosi li tre emuli, si venne a trattare di fare alcuni ufficiali, e toccando a Giovanni dire sopra cio il suo parere, con favio, e bel difcorso mostro, che nelle Republiche a volere, che bene, e saviamentesieno governate, sempre gli uffici, e li Magistrati si doveriano commettere nelle mani de' Nobili, come quei che sono, e per prattica, e per natura piu atti a tali uffici, che non sono li popolari, li quali se alle volte loro riesce pure cosa prudentemente satta, cio aviene piu a forte, che per ingegno, e saper loro. Oltre che i Nobili nelle guerre, & imprese gravi assai piu con gloria, e riputatione mantengono la corona in capo alle Republiche. Queste, & altre bellissime dimostrationi, d edero materia, alli due Gozzadini di crollare il capo, & havendo il Bentivoglio posto fine al suo parlare. Bonifacio parlo tutto al contrario di quello, che Giovanni detto haveva, e finalmente con molti essempi mostro al Senato, che era cosa buona il difendere la plebe, le quali contrarieta cagionarono, che niente nel detto Consiglio si conchiuse, anzi, che Nanne, e Bonifacio tutto sdegnosi, e pieni d' odio cominciarono alla palese favorire la parte de' plebei, e Giovanni la parte de Nobili, di maniera, che l' honore de' Nobili comincio grandemente a crescere, e fra tanto col mezo de' Nobili, Giovanni anch' egli accresceva di auttorita appresso di loro.”
[9] Ghirardacci, Cherubino. Della Historia Di Bologna, Volume 2. Italy, Giovanni Rossi, 1657. Pg. 511
“Era nel uero la plebe giunta a grado tale, che difficilmente li Nobili le potevano ostare, nondimeno Giovanni, che era savio (come habbiamo detto) penso una via di abassare la plebe, e fu, che persvase al Senato, che era cosa ben satta per la pace della Citta, che si richiamaslero alla Patria li Zambeccari poiche non havevano fatto cose importanti, e gravi, per le quali havessero a stare perpetuamente in essilio, di che uolontieri il Senato si contento.”
[10] Astorre Manfredi, Condottiere Ventura: ASTORRE MANFREDI - Condottieri di ventura
“Angustiato dalle conseguenze della guerra chiede sempre più denaro al marchese di Ferrara per la custodia di Azzo d’Este; minaccia di rilasciare quest’ultimo nel caso in cui non sia soddisfatto nelle sue esigenze. Su invito della Serenissima gli vengono concessi 5000 ducati l’anno; nonostante ciò, aumenta le sue richieste e rinnova le intimidazioni. Niccolò d’Este fa allora catturare il figlio Carlo, che naviga travestito sul Po, e lo fa condurre nel castello di Ferrara. Il Manfredi corre a Venezia per lamentarsi; nel contempo, Pino Ordelaffi, al soldo dei bolognesi, devasta il faentino e blocca il capoluogo facendo erigere due bastie, una sulla via Flaminia a Castelfranco, poco lontano da Castel Bolognese, ed una all’imbocco della Val di Lamone. La carestia incombe su Faenza: il Manfredi cede la signoria della città al figlio Giovanni Galeazzo e si trasferisce a Brisighella con la speranza che i bolognesi ed Alberico da Barbiano desistano dalla loro azione.”
[11] Ghirardacci, Cherubino. Della Historia Di Bologna, Volume 2. Italy, Giovanni Rossi, 1657. Pg. 517
Giovanni segretamente disponeva di farsi Signore di Bologna. E Nanne pensava di haverne prima di lui la Signoria. L'uno, e l'altro adunque mentre disponevano le cose loro ad'uno istesso fine, Giovanni co'l favore del duca di Milano, de Zambeccari, e di Maltraversi segretamente cominciando a regunar dentro la Citta di molti Soldati, oltre il numero de suoi amici, che il suo movimento bentissimo sapevano, all' impresa si dispose.
[12] Ghirardacci, Cherubino. Della Historia Di Bologna, Volume 2. Italy, Giovanni Rossi, 1657. Pg. 517
“Fece col consiglio de gli Amici Bente siglivolo di Andrea Bentivoglio capo di tutti quei Cittadini, che lui si trovavano, e dato l'ordine di venire all'essetto designato, la seguente notte ciascuno con quel maggiore segreto modo, che pote, si trovo apparecchiato. Giovanni adunque fatto animoso di provare la sua fortuna, alli 27 di Febraro la Domenica passo alla Piazza con Bente, e buon numero di armati, li quali gionti, cominciarono a gridare, VIVA il popolo, e vivano le Arti, alle cui grida correndo il Popolo, anch' egli gridava il medesimo in favore del Bentivoglio.”
[13] Ghirardacci, Cherubino. Della Historia Di Bologna, Volume 2. Italy, Giovanni Rossi, 1657. Pg. 517-518
“A questo tumulto Martino Tedesco e Lanzalatto Beccaria con li loro soldati corsero, e presero tutte le bocche, ch'entrano nella detta Piazza. Gozadino di Sermolino Gozzadini vdendo qusti rumori, fenza indugio con dugento huomini, che si trovava in casa, passo alla Piazza per pigliarla, ma la tovo occupata, e volendola conquistare per forza, venne a cruda battaglia con Martino, e Lanzalatto, dove tra le parti si sparse di molto sangue, e mentre il Gozzadino co'l brando faceva conoscere a gl'inimici, quanto foste la forza, & il valor suo, su scavalcato, e da' nemici malamente ferito, di che accortisi li suoi, tosto il riposero a cavallo, e lo trassero suori del pericolo, conducendolo a casa sua. Morirono in qusta zussa dalla parte del Gozzadino, Rigo Mezovillani, Filippo Cacciti, Roberto da Sala, Giordino Ghisalabelli, e Petruccio Saliceti ; E dalla parte delli due Capitani morirono, Garsia Alemano, Fortino dal Borgo, e Donato da Faenza. Di questa mossa, amendue li detti Capitani dalla Citta ne furono biasimati, dicendo, Che non mai dovevano intramettersi fra le rissa de Cittadini, e porre le mani nel sangue cinile, essendo stipendiati dalla a Citta, per disenderla.”
[14] Ghirardacci, Cherubino. Della Historia Di Bologna, Volume 2. Italy, Giovanni Rossi, 1657. Pg. 517-518
Cacciato il Gozzadino di Piazza, e sugate le sue genti, e restata la Piazza, & il Palazzo in potere del Bentivoglio, prima di ogni altra cosa, Giovanni volle far prova dell'animo del Popolo qual fosse, e pero appresentatosi armato tuuto d'arme bianche, con la spada nuda in mano alla Renghiera del Palazzo, chiamo a se Giacomo di Betuccio di Giacomo Bentivoglio, & imposegli, che a lui indroducesse Martino, e Lanzalotto, a quali Gio, cosigno la cura della Piazza. E perche per anco secondo le promesse del Senato, no erano stati richiamati li fuorusciti alla Patria publicamete per autorita del Senato, e di tutto il Consiglio Generale, furono richiamati liberamente li Zambeccari, Bianchi Preti, Bolognini, Cansaldi, Ghisilieri, Mangioli, Guidotti, & altri. Di che il Popolo ne mostro havere grandissimo contento, lodando la clemenza, e bonta di Giovanni Bentivoglio, il quale conoscendo da questo il buon animo della Plebe, paruegli d'haver assai nelle mani, e di esser sicuro, che sin qui le cose sue felicemete caminassero. Fatto questo co'l mezo di molti Gentilhuomini venne a buona pace con Nanne, e con Bonifacio Gozzadini. E Nanne, e Bonifacio non come Signori di Bologna (che come e detto, non se n'era fatta mossa alcuna) ma solamente come huomini del Magistrato erano stato levati da quella dignita, come in tutte le revolutioni de gli Stati sempre aviene. Pacificati adunque con Giovanni li due Gozzadini, volle il Bentivoglio, che la istessa sera della pace satta, Nanne, e Bonifacio secco cenassero, & in compagnia di altri Nobili assai, e centato, alle quattro hore, ne andarono alle case loro, accompagnati da Riccardo Cancellieri Capitano di gente d'Arme, con vinti Soldati bene armati, accioche fossero sicuri da ogni sinistro caso, che occorrere potesse.
[15] Ghirardacci, Cherubino. Della Historia Di Bologna, Volume 2. Italy, Giovanni Rossi, 1657. Pg. 519-520
Mentre che Giovanni Bentioglio attendeva alla provisione della Castella, e luoghi del Territorio di Bologna Battista Balduini, che malamete soffriva di vedere il Bentivogli asceso al dominio della Citta, si pose a trattare co li Pepoli suorusciti di privarlo di quella dignita, e restati d'accordo, promise loro riporli no solamete nell Citta, ma anco darli la Signoria nelle mani. Vene aduque Andrea Peppoli co molte bade di Soldati verso Bologna, e giungedo alla Croce del Pero, hebbe subito aviso, che il trattato era scoperto, e che il Bentivoglio era in arme per venire ad incontrarli, il che intnedendo Andrea, ritornossi a Ferrara, e Battista Baldovini fuggendo si saluo. Pose questo trattato la mente di Giovanni in bilancio, & havendo considerato molte cose, determinato di formare di nuovo, e meglio stabilire la Signoria, ch'egli della Citta teneva, la mattina seguente fece radunare il Consiglio delli Seicento, ne solito luogo, dove dopo un longo ragionamento da lui fatto, si fece liberamente 520 proporre a fave bianche, e negre, se eglino lo volevano di nuovo eleggere, e confirmare per Signore della Citta di Bologna, e suo Territorio.
[16] Ghirardacci, Cherubino. Della Historia Di Bologna, Volume 2. Italy, Giovanni Rossi, 1657. Pg. 520
E sopra cio si pose il libero partito, il quale felicemente si ottenne, e quiui fu gridato Signore di Bologa, il quale sendo con molta allegrezza accompagnato alle sue solite Stanze, quiui alla presenza di tutti li Consiglieri, impose a Nicola Lodovisi, che creasse gl'insrascritti, a memoria di tanta sua felice fortuna; Li nomi de' Cavalieri furono, Lambertino da Canetolo, Riccardo Cancellieri Capitano, Pietro de Bianchi, Bente Bentivoglio, Giovanni detto Bolognini Papazoni. Poi questi, secondo il constume di quei tempi, fecero Cavalieri li seguenti, cioe Andrea, e Basttista Bentivoglio, Alberto Guidotti, Alberto, Giordino Vandino, ouero Vgolino de Bianchi, Giovanni Preti, Bartolomeo Tomari, Bartolomeo Buombaroni altrimente de Bronzini, Lippo Ghisilieri, Giuliano Ghisilieri, Barolomeo di Bolognino dalla Seta, Barolomeo Magioli, Bartolomeo Gombrudi, Giovanni de'Cansaldi, Giovanni Boccadiferro, Bonifacio Gozzadini, Romeo Foscarari, Vgonetto dalla Faua, Barolomeo de Pistoia, e Franceschino Bolognetti.
[i] These were the Constables, and each had his own banner of pawns, namely Leonardo da Pontremoli, Pietro Paolo da Verona, Rainaldo dalla Sambuca, Giovanni Negro da Genova, Giulio da Prato, Antonio di giovanni da Cassano, Tartaglia Fiorentino, Antonio de Nicolini de Reusi, Corradino of Verona, Alberto Farnese, Mino of Castel Franco, Pietro di Giovanni of Verona, Michele Codegoro, Fioretto of Fiorano, Antonio Caini, Christoforo Brocchetta, Francesco Boccadiferro, Giacomo Plaguoli, Baron of the Campagna, Nannino de Rossi of Pesaro, Giovanni Albanese, Cabrino Fonducci from Soncino, Antonio from Borgo San Donino, Count Bittino from Palazuolo, Bertone from Doccia, Bartolomeo from Monzone, and Paolo Cantasolle. Having ordered the City, and renewed the guards at the Porta della Citta, he placed the new Captains at the Castles, Fortresses, and Fortresses of the Territory of Bologna, that is, Tuniolo di Pietro Bianchi, Castellano of the great Rocca of Tossignano; Polo Oselli, Castellano of the Rocca Grande of Castel Franco, Francesco di Michele Ghisilieri, Captain of the Bastia di Codronco; Bentivoglio of Azzone Bentivoglio, Castellano della Rocca di Cento; Nannini, Castellano della Rocca grade of Castello San Piero; Plevalino Azolini, Castellano di Rosseno; Giovanni di Amadore, Castellano del Cavreno; Christoforo di Giovanni Duglioli, Castellano di Battidiccio; Coverino di Negro di Negro from Sasso Negro, Castellano di Bruscolo; Giacomo di Bartolomeo de' Preti, Castellano della Rocca grande di Bazzano; Micheletto Rolandi from the Rocca di Pidigliano, Castellano di Predacolora, Filippo Montecalvi, Castellano di Crevalcore, Pietro di Bartolomeo Argeli, Castellano della Rocca di Crevalcore; Tura by Bartolomeo Morandi, Castellano della Rocca di Bargi; Gloriano Maranensi, Castellano della Sammogia, Francesco Pietro da Ozano, Castellano della Pieve di Cento; Guidotto of Pietro dalle Chiovare, Castellano di Serravalle; Francesco di Giovanni Zucchetti, Captain of Oriolo; Henrico di Facciolo Castella, castellan of the fortress of San Giovanni in Persiceto; Caro da Tizzano, Castellano of the small fortress of Piumazzo; Gurrone Poverino, or Simone, Captain of Crespellano; Antonio di Bartolomeo, Castellano della Torre di Maglino; Bartolomeo Albertucci, castellan of the large fortress of Piumazzo; Francesco di Tome Trentaquattro, Captain of Montebudello; Giacomo di Bartolomeo, castellan of Belvedere; Antonio di Peregrino Amorini, castellan of the great fortress of Nonantola; Masino di Savio Bentivoglio, Captain of Zappolino; Giacomo d'Agostino Oretti, Castellano di Savigno, Giovanni di Nicolò Vanucci, Castellan of Bargirl; Bartolomeo di Francesco Bentioglio, Captain of Casal Fiuminese; Bonifacio da Castello Vicar of Tossignano, Castellano of the small fortress of Tossignano; Savino di Marco di Corticella, Castellano della Torre di Galliera; Muzolo Ghisilieri, Castellano della Rocca di Castello Bolognese; Lippo di Rambaldo da Loiano, Captain of Sassonegro; Giovanni di Guglielmo, Castellan of Rastellino; Raffaelle da Medicina, Castellano della Bastia di Codronco; Nicolo la Muzzolini Captain of Manzolino; Pietro di Martino, Captain of the Illice Fort; Acharisio Cuzano, Captain of Oliveto; Bartolomeo di Fino, Castellano di Modiana; Against of Muzzolo from Rocca Corneta, Castellano della Rocca di Corneta; Nicola di Michele, Castellano di Sassomolare; Barolomeo by Antonio Capelli, Castellano di Sassadello; Francesco di Giovanni, Castellono di Stagno; Guido Senzaragione, Castellano del Ponte Polledrano; Bartolo di Floriano Caucchi, Castellano of the small fortress of Bazzano; Andrea dalla Rocca, Castellano di Garnaglione; Giuliano Papazoni, castellan of the small fortress of Montevellio; Nicola di Lorenzo Gambaldi, castellan of the small fortress of Nonantola; Giovambonino di Andrea, Castellano della Torre del Vergato; Peregrino di Biagio Liazari, Castellano, Castellano della Terra di Canoli; Giovanni Rizzoli of Capugnano, Castellano di Monte Aguto in the Alps; Taddeo di Giovanni Acarisi, Castellano di Bonazzara; Giovanni Pellicciari, castellan of the small fortress of Castello San Piero, Bartolomeo di Nanne da Solarolo, castellan of the Castello de Cavagli; Guglielmo di Cino Guidotti, Vicar of Bruscolo, Giovanni Verardi, Castellano di Casio; Antonio di Paolo de' Pellacani, Castellano di Doccia; Nicola di Guglielmo Fantesmi, Captain of the Sammoggia; Giacomo Ferranti Captain of Sassiglioni; Giovanni Sanolini, Captain of Castel Guelfo, Benevento known as Bettinoro, Castellano della Rocca di Piancaldoli; Pietro di Giovanni Tansilli, Castellano della Rocca di Doccia; Tomaso di Bartolomeo Sassuni, Keeper of the Tower of the Asinelli; Antonio Dalmasi, castellan of the small fortress of Castel Franco; Pietro Albertini from Santa Agata, Captain of Forte Illice; Domenico Mulinelli, Captain of the Bastia di Duratico; Giuliano di Simino Bellucci, Captain of Tiola; Giacomo di Giovanni de' Pellacani, Captain of Galliera; Givovanni di Guglielmo, Captain of the Rocca di Solarolo.