House of Malatesta

The House of Malatesta was an Italian family that ruled over Rimini from 1295 until 1500, as well as (in different periods) other lands and towns in Romagna and holding high positions in the government of cities in present-day Tuscany, Lombardy and Marche. The dynasty is considered among the most important and influential of the Late Middle Ages. In the period of maximum influence, they extended their domains along the Marche coast, up to Ascoli Piceno, Senigallia, Sansepolcro and Citerna, and to the north, on the territories of Bergamo and Brescia.

History
The family's progenitor is said to be Rodolfo of Carpegna whose fighting spirit yielded him the sobriquet mala testa ("bad head"). From 1004 onward, he built a castle on the rock of Pennabilli.

In the 11th century, the family had possessions in the region of Gabicce Mare, Gatteo, and Poggio Berni. Giovanni Malatesta (d. 1150) owned some land between rivers Marecchia and Rubicon, and was the first to settle down in Rimini. His son married into the Traversari family, who were lords of Ravenna and Rimini during the 12th and 13th centuries. In 1186, the Malatesta became lords of Torriana. Giovanni's grandsons Giovanni and Malatesta I Malatesta (1183–1248) founded the branches of the Counts of Sogliano al Rubicone (extinguished in 1640) and "della Penna" of Pennabilli and Verucchio (until 1462). In 1216, they became citizens of Rimini.

Malatesta Family Members

 * (1) Malatesta dalla Penna (d.1248)
 * (2) Malatesta da Verucchio (d.1312) (son of 1.) - Lord of Rimini, 1295

1st generation:
 * (3) Malatestino 'dell'Occhio' (d.1316) (son of 2) - Lord of Rimini, 1312
 * (4) Paolo 'il Bello' (d.1285) (son of 2) - murdered by 5
 * (5) Giovanni 'Gianciotto' (d.1304) (son of 2)
 * (6) Pandolfo I (d.1326) (son of 2) - Lord of Rimini, 1317

2nd generation: di Malatestino: di Paolo: di Gianciotto di Pandolfo:
 * (7) Ferrantino (d.1353) (son of 3) - Lord of Rimini, 1326, deposed & imprisoned by 11, 1334
 * (9) Ramberto (d.1330) (son of 4) - murdered by 14
 * (10) Guido the Archpriest (d.1334?) (son of 4)
 * (8) Uberto, Count of Giaggolo (d.1323) (son of 5) - murdered by 9
 * (11) Malatesta II 'Guastafamiglia' (d.1364) (son of 6) - Lord of Pesaro, 1326; and Rimini, 1334
 * (12) Galeotto I (d.1385) (son of 6) - Lord of Rimini,&c.

3rd generation: di Ferrantino: di Malatesta: di Galeotto:
 * (13) Pandolfino (d.?) (son of 7)
 * (14) Malatestino Novello (d.1335) (son of 7) - imprisoned & prob. murdered by 11.
 * (15) Malatesta 'Ungaro' (d. 1364) (son of 11) - Lord of Jesi
 * (16) Pandolfo II (d.1373) (son of 11) - Lord of Pesaro
 * (17) Carlo of Rimini (son of 12) - Lord of Rimini
 * (18) Pandolfo III of Fano (d.1427) (son of 12) - Lord of Fano
 * (19) Andrea of Cesena (son of 12) (d.1416) - Lord of Cesena
 * (20) Galeotto II of Cervia (son of 12) (d.) - Lord of Cervia

4th generation

di Pandolfino:
 * (21) Ferrantino Novello (d.1352) (son of 13)
 * (22) Guido (d.1334) (son of 13) - imprisoned & probably murdered by 11