1 00:00:06,400 --> 00:00:11,840 Speaker 1: Romberto Malatesta loved a good banquet. He had long thought 2 00:00:12,039 --> 00:00:15,760 Speaker 1: nothing could top the magnificent banquet he had thrown with 3 00:00:15,880 --> 00:00:20,960 Speaker 1: his cousin Farentino and his uncle Pandolfo back in thirteen 4 00:00:21,079 --> 00:00:28,040 Speaker 1: twenty four. On that occasion, they had invited Ramberto's other cousin, Uberto, 5 00:00:28,800 --> 00:00:32,760 Speaker 1: who had not only become an obstacle for them politically, 6 00:00:33,320 --> 00:00:38,960 Speaker 1: but had also represented the deep cutting betrayal perpetrated by 7 00:00:39,159 --> 00:00:45,000 Speaker 1: Uberto's father Paulo against Ramberto's own father back around twelve 8 00:00:45,080 --> 00:00:49,559 Speaker 1: eighty five. They all had a lovely meal together, and 9 00:00:49,640 --> 00:00:55,200 Speaker 1: then they killed Uberto. Ramberto was very proud of that 10 00:00:55,320 --> 00:01:00,160 Speaker 1: little bit of well executed political intrigue, and he had 11 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:04,800 Speaker 1: thought it cemented a good relationship with his other cousin 12 00:01:04,920 --> 00:01:10,920 Speaker 1: Farentino and uncle Pandolpho. So it's no surprise really that 13 00:01:11,319 --> 00:01:15,679 Speaker 1: two or so years later, when Pandolpho died and cut 14 00:01:15,880 --> 00:01:19,520 Speaker 1: Romberto out of the line of succession of Reminy, the 15 00:01:20,240 --> 00:01:24,480 Speaker 1: oh so successful banquet they had all thrown together was 16 00:01:24,600 --> 00:01:29,560 Speaker 1: on Ramberto's mind. What better revenge, he must have thought, 17 00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:36,160 Speaker 1: than to stage a repeat performance. So Ramberto planned another 18 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:41,520 Speaker 1: banquet and invited his entire family to join in the revelry. 19 00:01:42,280 --> 00:01:45,840 Speaker 1: This time there would be no one left to sully 20 00:01:45,920 --> 00:01:51,760 Speaker 1: his good name or challenge his power. Ramberto was going 21 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:57,080 Speaker 1: to kill them all. I'm Dana Schwartz and this is 22 00:01:57,160 --> 00:02:08,200 Speaker 1: noble blood. Uberto Maltesta grew up in the shadow of 23 00:02:08,320 --> 00:02:13,160 Speaker 1: his father's death. When Uberto was a teenager, his father, Paulo, 24 00:02:13,639 --> 00:02:18,040 Speaker 1: was killed alongside his lover Francesca de Polenta. The murder 25 00:02:18,120 --> 00:02:23,560 Speaker 1: was perpetrated by Paolo's own brother, Jianchoto, who also happened 26 00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:28,760 Speaker 1: to be Francesco's husband. Gianchoto had caught them in flagrante 27 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:35,680 Speaker 1: after what was apparently a year's long passionate affair. After 28 00:02:35,760 --> 00:02:39,440 Speaker 1: the murder of Uberto's father, Uberto was brought along with 29 00:02:39,480 --> 00:02:43,040 Speaker 1: his mother and younger sister, into the household of his 30 00:02:43,160 --> 00:02:49,680 Speaker 1: father's murderer, where Uberto lived under Gianchoto's tutelage. This was 31 00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:56,680 Speaker 1: evidently and understandably an unbearable arrangement. By twelve ninety seven, 32 00:02:56,919 --> 00:03:01,320 Speaker 1: Uberto fled Remini, and he took refuge with a family 33 00:03:01,440 --> 00:03:07,480 Speaker 1: of Gibelines, enemies of his gwelp sympathizing family. Just as 34 00:03:07,520 --> 00:03:11,519 Speaker 1: a reminder, the Ghibelines and Guelphs were rival groups here, 35 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:15,400 Speaker 1: with the Guelphs supporting the Pope and the Ghibelines supporting 36 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:20,800 Speaker 1: the Holy Roman Emperor. In Uberto's new surroundings, he developed 37 00:03:20,840 --> 00:03:24,799 Speaker 1: a Ghibeline leaning that mixed well with his desire for 38 00:03:24,919 --> 00:03:30,840 Speaker 1: revenge against his family. He participated in numerous military campaigns 39 00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:35,000 Speaker 1: with the Ghibelines, including one in thirteen hundred in which 40 00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:40,160 Speaker 1: he defeated his own uncle Malatstino, conquering the city of Chesna. 41 00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:45,080 Speaker 1: A few years later, Uberto became the Pudesta and captain 42 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:48,680 Speaker 1: of Chesna, although he was apparently run out of the 43 00:03:48,760 --> 00:03:54,440 Speaker 1: city not long after for showing some tyrannical tendencies. Some 44 00:03:54,680 --> 00:03:59,120 Speaker 1: sources say that in thirteen oh four Uberto got the 45 00:03:59,240 --> 00:04:04,560 Speaker 1: ultimate revo by killing his uncle John Choto. Supposedly, he 46 00:04:04,640 --> 00:04:07,440 Speaker 1: was able to hide the murder by killing his uncle 47 00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:11,720 Speaker 1: in battle under the guise of their Gwelph Gibbeline animosities. 48 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:16,159 Speaker 1: In a bloody moment in Italian history. It would have 49 00:04:16,200 --> 00:04:22,560 Speaker 1: been the perfect murder, really hidden in plain sight. Unfortunately, though, 50 00:04:22,600 --> 00:04:26,599 Speaker 1: we're pretty sure of Jannchoto's date of death, and we 51 00:04:26,680 --> 00:04:30,600 Speaker 1: have no sources verifying how he died or the role 52 00:04:30,720 --> 00:04:33,839 Speaker 1: Uberto may or may not have played in it, but 53 00:04:34,040 --> 00:04:37,919 Speaker 1: the fact that the story has endured speaks to the 54 00:04:38,120 --> 00:04:44,600 Speaker 1: dangerous ways political and familial tensions could and did intersect 55 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:48,880 Speaker 1: during this period. In any case, for the next couple 56 00:04:48,920 --> 00:04:53,320 Speaker 1: of decades, Uberto seems to have committed himself to conquering 57 00:04:53,720 --> 00:04:57,040 Speaker 1: more and more land on behalf of the Gibeline faction 58 00:04:57,680 --> 00:05:02,720 Speaker 1: and of course himself. In thirteen twenty one, he allied 59 00:05:02,839 --> 00:05:07,400 Speaker 1: with the Montrafelto family in an attack on Remani. By then, 60 00:05:07,640 --> 00:05:12,120 Speaker 1: Uberto's uncle Pandolfo had become the city's Podesta, and he 61 00:05:12,240 --> 00:05:16,800 Speaker 1: had appointed Uberto's cousin Ferantino to lead in the defense 62 00:05:16,960 --> 00:05:23,839 Speaker 1: against the invasion. They defeated Umberto and his Gibelin forces handily. 63 00:05:24,839 --> 00:05:29,720 Speaker 1: This was the last straw for Uberto. Dealing with his 64 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:34,440 Speaker 1: family had felt like one betrayal after another, and so 65 00:05:35,160 --> 00:05:39,840 Speaker 1: a plan began to form in his head, the ultimate retribution. 66 00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:44,920 Speaker 1: For a few years he continued to operate as usual, 67 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:51,159 Speaker 1: but all the while he was dreaming of taking over Remany. Finally, 68 00:05:51,240 --> 00:05:54,919 Speaker 1: in thirteen twenty four, he decided to put his plan 69 00:05:55,080 --> 00:06:01,560 Speaker 1: into action. He reached out to his cousin Ramberto Romberto 70 00:06:01,880 --> 00:06:05,839 Speaker 1: was the son of Jianchoto by his second wife, Sambrasina 71 00:06:06,040 --> 00:06:09,919 Speaker 1: de Zambrasi. We don't know his exact birth year, but 72 00:06:10,040 --> 00:06:13,359 Speaker 1: it's possible that he was born while Uberto was still 73 00:06:13,480 --> 00:06:16,960 Speaker 1: under his uncle's care. They might have been living in 74 00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:21,159 Speaker 1: the same house. By now, Ramberto would have been at 75 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:27,560 Speaker 1: least nineteen years old. Ramberto had evidently inherited the power 76 00:06:27,680 --> 00:06:32,840 Speaker 1: hungry tendencies of his male family members, and Uberto bet 77 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:37,039 Speaker 1: that he could get him to turn on the family. Together, 78 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:40,279 Speaker 1: the two cousins made a plan to depose their uncle 79 00:06:40,320 --> 00:06:45,400 Speaker 1: Pandolfo and take remedy for themselves. But as we know 80 00:06:45,640 --> 00:06:49,760 Speaker 1: if you remember the names in the introduction, Ramberto had 81 00:06:49,800 --> 00:06:56,200 Speaker 1: other plans. He informed Pandolpho and Farentino of Uberto's treacherous proposal, 82 00:06:56,680 --> 00:07:01,680 Speaker 1: and together they planned to exact their revenge for Uberto's 83 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:06,599 Speaker 1: various betrayals of the family and, by proxy, his fathers. 84 00:07:07,240 --> 00:07:12,320 Speaker 1: They invited Uberto to a banquet. Uberto came, thinking that 85 00:07:12,480 --> 00:07:16,760 Speaker 1: he was the one in cahoot with Ramberto. It was 86 00:07:16,800 --> 00:07:27,680 Speaker 1: a double cross. He was wrong. The assassination of Uberto 87 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:34,560 Speaker 1: Malatesta complete the three murderers. Ramberto Farantino, and Pandulfo quickly 88 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:38,960 Speaker 1: set about covering up their crime. Although they were between 89 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:42,680 Speaker 1: the three of them powerful enough to get away with murder, 90 00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:47,000 Speaker 1: it was still important to be smart about it, especially 91 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:50,000 Speaker 1: given that the person that they had just murdered was 92 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:54,040 Speaker 1: not only their kinsmen, but also an ally of their 93 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:59,360 Speaker 1: most powerful enemy, the Montefeltro family. The three of them 94 00:07:59,440 --> 00:08:03,240 Speaker 1: cleaned up the banquet and placed Uberto's body in a 95 00:08:03,320 --> 00:08:09,600 Speaker 1: sack before burying him in a nearby town. Ramberto, Farantino, 96 00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:13,960 Speaker 1: and Pandulfo don't seem to have ever faced any consequences 97 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:18,440 Speaker 1: for the cold blooded murder they committed. It's likely the 98 00:08:18,520 --> 00:08:22,840 Speaker 1: murder scandalous, as it was simply faded into the background 99 00:08:22,960 --> 00:08:27,000 Speaker 1: of ever present violence, much of it straddling the boundaries 100 00:08:27,040 --> 00:08:32,360 Speaker 1: between personal and political. Was it murder or was it warfare? 101 00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:37,359 Speaker 1: And who was going to prosecute the murder? The magistrates 102 00:08:37,400 --> 00:08:40,480 Speaker 1: in charge were the very people who were murdering their 103 00:08:40,520 --> 00:08:45,360 Speaker 1: relatives to gain political power. In any case, With their 104 00:08:45,440 --> 00:08:49,439 Speaker 1: crime unpunished, the murderers went about their business, fighting the 105 00:08:49,480 --> 00:08:54,760 Speaker 1: Ghibelins and attempting to expand their power in various bloody ways. 106 00:08:55,480 --> 00:08:59,200 Speaker 1: Ramberto was sure that he had cemented his good standing 107 00:08:59,240 --> 00:09:03,560 Speaker 1: in the family by foiling his wayward cousin's treasonous plot. 108 00:09:04,360 --> 00:09:07,319 Speaker 1: How could he not have He had had a chance 109 00:09:07,400 --> 00:09:11,600 Speaker 1: to betray them when Umberto proposed his plan, and he 110 00:09:11,679 --> 00:09:15,720 Speaker 1: didn't take it. He double crossed Uberto. Surely he would 111 00:09:15,760 --> 00:09:18,960 Speaker 1: be rewarded for his loyalty with the rest of the family. 112 00:09:20,440 --> 00:09:25,360 Speaker 1: Two years after Uberto's death, in thirteen twenty six, Pandulfo 113 00:09:25,520 --> 00:09:31,640 Speaker 1: Maltesta died. He was the last remaining son of Malitesta 114 00:09:31,800 --> 00:09:36,960 Speaker 1: de Verrocchio, after Paolo and John Choto, the adulteress and 115 00:09:37,120 --> 00:09:41,560 Speaker 1: murderous brothers. The only other son, Maltestino, had died about 116 00:09:41,559 --> 00:09:46,600 Speaker 1: ten years earlier, and so Pandolfo had inherited the better 117 00:09:46,720 --> 00:09:51,960 Speaker 1: part of the Malitesta dominions. Before he died, he dictated 118 00:09:52,040 --> 00:09:56,319 Speaker 1: his wishes for the successions of his vast holdings and 119 00:09:56,559 --> 00:10:02,000 Speaker 1: most importantly, the lordships of Pesaro and Remy. He left 120 00:10:02,080 --> 00:10:05,960 Speaker 1: the lordship of Pesaro to his own son, Maltesta. The 121 00:10:06,040 --> 00:10:11,160 Speaker 1: second riminy he left to his nephew and co conspirator 122 00:10:11,200 --> 00:10:17,640 Speaker 1: in the murder of Uberto Farantino, to Ramberto. He left nothing. 123 00:10:19,120 --> 00:10:23,439 Speaker 1: We don't know why. Ramberto was excluded in this way, 124 00:10:23,520 --> 00:10:26,240 Speaker 1: he does seem to have been something of a rogue 125 00:10:26,320 --> 00:10:29,560 Speaker 1: element of the family. We have no clear evidence that 126 00:10:29,679 --> 00:10:34,040 Speaker 1: he ever married, and while he clearly held several properties 127 00:10:34,080 --> 00:10:38,319 Speaker 1: and engaged in all sorts of military campaigns and intrigue, 128 00:10:38,920 --> 00:10:42,280 Speaker 1: he doesn't seem to have ever held any real power. 129 00:10:43,400 --> 00:10:47,160 Speaker 1: His father had been the Lord of Pesaro. Perhaps he 130 00:10:47,280 --> 00:10:50,679 Speaker 1: might have inherited it himself had he been older at 131 00:10:50,679 --> 00:10:53,760 Speaker 1: the time of his father's death, but he was just 132 00:10:53,880 --> 00:10:57,760 Speaker 1: a child, and unlike the monarchies in northern Europe, where 133 00:10:57,760 --> 00:11:00,839 Speaker 1: a child could inherit a throne with which the regency, 134 00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:04,880 Speaker 1: during this period in the Italian city states, it was 135 00:11:04,960 --> 00:11:09,320 Speaker 1: more common for another family member to well just take 136 00:11:09,360 --> 00:11:14,640 Speaker 1: the power for themselves outright, and so when Pandolpho died, 137 00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:20,600 Speaker 1: Ramberto was left with nothing in a cruel twist of fate. 138 00:11:20,880 --> 00:11:25,760 Speaker 1: Perhaps now he knew how Uberto must have felt deeply 139 00:11:25,800 --> 00:11:30,400 Speaker 1: betrayed by his own family and angry enough to retaliate 140 00:11:31,160 --> 00:11:35,319 Speaker 1: where Uberto had gone off and joined his family's political 141 00:11:35,440 --> 00:11:41,040 Speaker 1: enemies in warfare. However, Ramberto decided to make his revenge 142 00:11:41,160 --> 00:11:48,680 Speaker 1: a little more personal. In July thirteen twenty six, not 143 00:11:48,840 --> 00:11:54,959 Speaker 1: long after Pandolpho's death, Ramberto planned another banquet, this time 144 00:11:55,080 --> 00:11:59,719 Speaker 1: at his home right in Rimany. He invited practically the 145 00:11:59,760 --> 00:12:03,560 Speaker 1: whole family, or at least any member of the family 146 00:12:03,640 --> 00:12:08,120 Speaker 1: who could either inherit anything or exact vengeance. That is, 147 00:12:08,360 --> 00:12:13,080 Speaker 1: all of the men. Historians agree that his plan was 148 00:12:13,360 --> 00:12:19,199 Speaker 1: most likely to execute a mass family murder, a brutal, 149 00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:24,400 Speaker 1: bloody and theatrical end to any branch of the Malatesta 150 00:12:24,480 --> 00:12:29,079 Speaker 1: line but his own. But his plan quickly hit a snag. 151 00:12:29,800 --> 00:12:33,360 Speaker 1: Farantino showed up, but along with his family members, but 152 00:12:33,520 --> 00:12:38,080 Speaker 1: Malatesta the Second was away fighting ghibelines along the eastern 153 00:12:38,160 --> 00:12:42,360 Speaker 1: shores of the Marque. Although a few of his family 154 00:12:42,400 --> 00:12:47,160 Speaker 1: members still attended, Ramberto knew he could not execute his 155 00:12:47,240 --> 00:12:51,240 Speaker 1: plan while someone was still alive to avenge the murders, 156 00:12:51,679 --> 00:12:56,640 Speaker 1: especially not someone as powerful as Malatesta the Second, not 157 00:12:56,760 --> 00:13:00,960 Speaker 1: to mention as ruthless. He had to think on his feet. 158 00:13:01,480 --> 00:13:04,680 Speaker 1: He couldn't kill them, but maybe there was another way 159 00:13:04,720 --> 00:13:08,720 Speaker 1: this could all work out. He decided to try to 160 00:13:09,040 --> 00:13:13,440 Speaker 1: leverage his captives to get Mali Testa to help him 161 00:13:13,559 --> 00:13:19,559 Speaker 1: get what he felt he deserved. Ramberto began by releasing 162 00:13:19,679 --> 00:13:23,720 Speaker 1: the members of Maltesta's family. Maybe he thought he could 163 00:13:23,720 --> 00:13:28,720 Speaker 1: get Malatesta to align with him willingly against Farentino to 164 00:13:28,840 --> 00:13:32,320 Speaker 1: take reminy, and of course he could just deal with 165 00:13:32,400 --> 00:13:38,119 Speaker 1: Malatesta himself later. It's possible Mali Testa considered his cousin's proposal. 166 00:13:38,960 --> 00:13:41,240 Speaker 1: It would certainly not have been the first time he 167 00:13:41,360 --> 00:13:45,720 Speaker 1: double crossed a relative, but will never know for sure, because, 168 00:13:45,760 --> 00:13:50,120 Speaker 1: as it would turn out, Ramberto's half baked plan was 169 00:13:50,200 --> 00:13:55,840 Speaker 1: foiled not by Malatesta or by Farentino, but by one 170 00:13:55,840 --> 00:14:01,160 Speaker 1: of the female relatives. He seems to have completely forgotten about, 171 00:14:02,440 --> 00:14:08,600 Speaker 1: Polentissana de Polenta, the wife of Farentino's son Mela Testino Novella. 172 00:14:09,040 --> 00:14:13,000 Speaker 1: Apologies really for all of these names, but just know 173 00:14:13,280 --> 00:14:17,280 Speaker 1: that this woman took to the straits of Remeny. She 174 00:14:17,600 --> 00:14:21,320 Speaker 1: rallied the people against her cousin in law. He was 175 00:14:21,400 --> 00:14:26,440 Speaker 1: holding her family, his own family hostage. He planned to 176 00:14:26,520 --> 00:14:30,200 Speaker 1: take remedy for himself with not a thought for its people. 177 00:14:31,440 --> 00:14:35,920 Speaker 1: It seems the support of the people, plus pressure from 178 00:14:35,960 --> 00:14:41,440 Speaker 1: Polentisana's powerful family of origin, who were, as it happens, 179 00:14:41,560 --> 00:14:46,680 Speaker 1: relatives of the long since murdered Francesca de Polenta convinced 180 00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:52,200 Speaker 1: Mala Testa to bring an army into Rmany. Cornered, Ramberto 181 00:14:52,440 --> 00:14:57,760 Speaker 1: freed his family members, slash hostages and fled to one 182 00:14:57,800 --> 00:15:01,120 Speaker 1: of his estates in the country. But he wouldn't stay 183 00:15:01,160 --> 00:15:10,240 Speaker 1: away from remedy for long. Ramberto was reconciled with his 184 00:15:10,320 --> 00:15:15,320 Speaker 1: family about a year after his attempted family mass murderer 185 00:15:15,400 --> 00:15:19,880 Speaker 1: coup in thirteen twenty seven, with the help of Cardinal 186 00:15:19,920 --> 00:15:25,040 Speaker 1: Bertrand de Pouget, a papal diplomat. We don't know exactly 187 00:15:25,160 --> 00:15:28,760 Speaker 1: how this truth came to be, but we can nonetheless 188 00:15:28,880 --> 00:15:33,880 Speaker 1: appreciate the diplomat's clear skill. If a TV show had 189 00:15:33,920 --> 00:15:37,720 Speaker 1: a priest character bringing a man who had only a 190 00:15:37,840 --> 00:15:41,680 Speaker 1: year before attempted a mass murder of his whole family 191 00:15:41,760 --> 00:15:44,240 Speaker 1: back into the fold, I think we would call it 192 00:15:44,360 --> 00:15:49,360 Speaker 1: unrealistic writing. And yet here we are. And the craziest 193 00:15:49,400 --> 00:15:54,400 Speaker 1: part is this happened twice. A year or so after 194 00:15:54,480 --> 00:16:01,000 Speaker 1: this papal Diplomat's masterful reconciliation, Ramberto made an another attempt 195 00:16:01,040 --> 00:16:04,840 Speaker 1: on remeny. This time he went more by the late 196 00:16:05,000 --> 00:16:09,840 Speaker 1: Uberto's playbook and allied with a political enemy of the 197 00:16:09,880 --> 00:16:16,000 Speaker 1: Malatestas he was aided by his brother, the archpriest Guido Maltesta, 198 00:16:16,440 --> 00:16:20,200 Speaker 1: about whom we know very little, but who clearly also 199 00:16:20,280 --> 00:16:24,560 Speaker 1: wished to topple his family's dynasty in Remeny. As you 200 00:16:24,640 --> 00:16:28,480 Speaker 1: can probably guess, the attempted takeover of Remedy did not 201 00:16:28,800 --> 00:16:34,320 Speaker 1: go well. Ramberto, Guido, and their supporters were soundly defeated 202 00:16:34,400 --> 00:16:37,800 Speaker 1: and run out of the city. But before long the 203 00:16:37,960 --> 00:16:44,440 Speaker 1: wayward Mala Testa brothers were once again inexplicably accepted back 204 00:16:44,560 --> 00:16:49,080 Speaker 1: into the folds of their family, their trespasses apparently forgiven. 205 00:16:50,480 --> 00:16:53,560 Speaker 1: Perhaps Romberto thought it was odd that he was given 206 00:16:53,840 --> 00:16:57,960 Speaker 1: so many chances by his family. He had seen several 207 00:16:58,040 --> 00:17:02,240 Speaker 1: of his relatives slaughtered for offenses much less grievous than 208 00:17:02,280 --> 00:17:06,200 Speaker 1: his own. Maybe he thought that his failures to execute 209 00:17:06,200 --> 00:17:10,680 Speaker 1: his various treacherous plans made them somehow less treacherous or 210 00:17:10,880 --> 00:17:15,399 Speaker 1: less likely to be punished. When Malatistino Novello, the son 211 00:17:15,560 --> 00:17:20,280 Speaker 1: of Ramberto's cousin Farentino, both of whom let's remember he 212 00:17:20,400 --> 00:17:23,680 Speaker 1: had imprisoned in his home just a few years prior, 213 00:17:24,320 --> 00:17:29,760 Speaker 1: invited Ramberto to his hunting lodge at Pujano in thirteen 214 00:17:29,920 --> 00:17:33,760 Speaker 1: thirty for a few days of hunting and hawking. Perhaps 215 00:17:33,840 --> 00:17:37,760 Speaker 1: Romberto thought he might finally really have a chance to 216 00:17:38,280 --> 00:17:43,000 Speaker 1: truly and fully be restored to his family's good graces. 217 00:17:43,920 --> 00:17:49,000 Speaker 1: As sources would later tell it, Ramberto arrived at the 218 00:17:49,080 --> 00:17:54,960 Speaker 1: lodge in the early evening. Malatustino wasn't there. It was January, 219 00:17:55,080 --> 00:17:58,840 Speaker 1: and so Ramberto sat by the fire, staving off the chill, 220 00:17:59,280 --> 00:18:04,040 Speaker 1: waiting for his host to arrive. When Mali Testino finally 221 00:18:04,080 --> 00:18:08,840 Speaker 1: strolled in, as dusk settled over the palazzo, Ramberto fell 222 00:18:08,920 --> 00:18:13,160 Speaker 1: to his knees before him, he begged Mala Testino's forgiveness 223 00:18:13,480 --> 00:18:16,600 Speaker 1: for the kidnapping, for the treachery, for all of it. 224 00:18:17,440 --> 00:18:22,240 Speaker 1: Did he mean it? Was he truly sorry? To Mala Testino, 225 00:18:22,720 --> 00:18:26,159 Speaker 1: it didn't matter. As he placed one hand on his 226 00:18:26,280 --> 00:18:30,480 Speaker 1: cousin's shoulder, he used his other hand to reach for 227 00:18:30,960 --> 00:18:35,840 Speaker 1: his dagger. At this point, Ramberto must have realized this 228 00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:41,679 Speaker 1: invitation had been a trap. The banquet murderer had lost 229 00:18:41,760 --> 00:18:44,680 Speaker 1: at his own game. While the rest of the family 230 00:18:44,800 --> 00:18:50,160 Speaker 1: had sincerely or otherwise made amends with Ramberto, Malatestino had 231 00:18:50,240 --> 00:18:53,800 Speaker 1: long since decided that he had had enough of the 232 00:18:53,920 --> 00:18:59,400 Speaker 1: endless plots, machinations, and betrayals. He had lured Ramberto here 233 00:18:59,720 --> 00:19:02,960 Speaker 1: with promises of a good hunt, a good meal, and 234 00:19:03,160 --> 00:19:07,479 Speaker 1: perhaps forgiveness. But this had been the plan all along. 235 00:19:08,200 --> 00:19:13,200 Speaker 1: Without a word, Malatistino plunged his dagger into Ramberto's neck, 236 00:19:13,680 --> 00:19:19,119 Speaker 1: killing him almost instantly. It was a fitting end for 237 00:19:19,280 --> 00:19:23,959 Speaker 1: a man who represented a gruesome and dramatic era of 238 00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:28,560 Speaker 1: his family's history. He lived his life tangled in the 239 00:19:28,640 --> 00:19:33,480 Speaker 1: personal and the political. Is violence, guided by a craving 240 00:19:33,600 --> 00:19:37,840 Speaker 1: for power and a thirst for vengeance that he shared 241 00:19:37,960 --> 00:19:41,280 Speaker 1: with nearly every member of his family, much as they 242 00:19:41,359 --> 00:19:45,240 Speaker 1: might have denied it. He had a flare for the theatrical, 243 00:19:45,760 --> 00:19:49,800 Speaker 1: perhaps inherited from his father, whose murder of his own 244 00:19:49,840 --> 00:19:53,480 Speaker 1: wife and brother became one of the best known stories 245 00:19:53,520 --> 00:19:57,280 Speaker 1: of star cross lovers in history and had set the 246 00:19:57,359 --> 00:20:06,360 Speaker 1: tone for half a century of parricide. That's the end 247 00:20:06,480 --> 00:20:10,720 Speaker 1: of the story of the many murders and betrayals plaguing 248 00:20:10,760 --> 00:20:15,120 Speaker 1: the Malatesta family. But keep listening after a brief sponsor 249 00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:19,000 Speaker 1: break to hear about a few more. For good measure. 250 00:20:28,119 --> 00:20:30,639 Speaker 1: I would love to end this episode by saying that 251 00:20:30,840 --> 00:20:35,359 Speaker 1: Ramberto's murder closed the chapter of bloody violence in this 252 00:20:35,480 --> 00:20:40,720 Speaker 1: family's history, but it very much did not. It would 253 00:20:40,760 --> 00:20:43,919 Speaker 1: only be a few years before the Malatestas turned on 254 00:20:44,080 --> 00:20:48,720 Speaker 1: each other again. Mali Testa, the second an uncle of Ramberto's, 255 00:20:49,160 --> 00:20:51,840 Speaker 1: was known for much of his life by a nickname 256 00:20:52,320 --> 00:20:56,520 Speaker 1: guas the Familia, as with John Chotto before him, whose 257 00:20:56,600 --> 00:21:00,439 Speaker 1: nickname was Scunchot, though, which was a reference to his 258 00:21:00,680 --> 00:21:05,600 Speaker 1: supposed ugly appearance. Guilsta Familia's nickname was a nod to 259 00:21:05,680 --> 00:21:11,639 Speaker 1: his most notable attribute, it means family ruiner. As it 260 00:21:11,640 --> 00:21:15,119 Speaker 1: would turn out, Ramberto was not the only member of 261 00:21:15,160 --> 00:21:20,120 Speaker 1: the family with designs on remeny, perhaps harboring some resentment 262 00:21:20,480 --> 00:21:24,920 Speaker 1: that his cousin Farantino had inherited the powerful dominion upon 263 00:21:24,960 --> 00:21:29,960 Speaker 1: his father's death in thirteen thirty, he this family ruiner 264 00:21:30,040 --> 00:21:33,879 Speaker 1: concocted a series of intrigues to have the Papal legate 265 00:21:34,320 --> 00:21:38,520 Speaker 1: ban Farentino from Rimini and allow him to take control 266 00:21:38,600 --> 00:21:43,440 Speaker 1: of the city. That worked well enough until April thirteen 267 00:21:43,560 --> 00:21:48,199 Speaker 1: thirty three, when Maltesta and his brother Gallioto, who seems 268 00:21:48,240 --> 00:21:50,800 Speaker 1: to have managed to stay out of the previous decades 269 00:21:50,800 --> 00:21:55,119 Speaker 1: of family drama, were both captured in battle. When they 270 00:21:55,160 --> 00:21:58,880 Speaker 1: were freed some time later, they had to reconquer Rumeny, 271 00:21:59,240 --> 00:22:03,040 Speaker 1: and they fought alongside the papal troops to expand the 272 00:22:03,080 --> 00:22:08,560 Speaker 1: family's dominion to Fossombrone and Fano. In the meantime, they 273 00:22:08,680 --> 00:22:15,119 Speaker 1: temporarily reinstated Farentino as Lord of Remedy. Farentino ruled Remedy 274 00:22:15,200 --> 00:22:19,400 Speaker 1: again from thirteen thirty four until thirteen thirty five, when 275 00:22:19,480 --> 00:22:25,920 Speaker 1: Malitesta made his move. He captured Farentino, his son Maltstino Novello, 276 00:22:26,280 --> 00:22:29,520 Speaker 1: the one who, if you remember, had murdered Ramberto knife 277 00:22:29,560 --> 00:22:33,920 Speaker 1: in the neck, and his grandson Guido. It's likely that 278 00:22:34,119 --> 00:22:40,800 Speaker 1: Malitesta murdered Mala Testino and Guido during their imprisonment. Farentino 279 00:22:41,040 --> 00:22:45,520 Speaker 1: was eventually freed Bynulfo de Montrefelto the latest in a 280 00:22:45,600 --> 00:22:49,800 Speaker 1: long line of Montefeltro enemies of the Malatesta family, and 281 00:22:49,840 --> 00:22:54,080 Speaker 1: that sparked a war that ended in papal intervention. In 282 00:22:54,200 --> 00:22:59,000 Speaker 1: thirteen forty two, Maltesta and Gallioto signed a piece with 283 00:22:59,119 --> 00:23:04,240 Speaker 1: the Pope confirming Gallioto as Lord of Fano. Mala Testa 284 00:23:04,400 --> 00:23:08,959 Speaker 1: lord of Remeny, and his sons were given dominion in Pesaro. 285 00:23:10,000 --> 00:23:14,879 Speaker 1: Farentino was left out in the cold. His last dominion 286 00:23:15,160 --> 00:23:19,040 Speaker 1: Montiano would be taken not long after by Malatesta and 287 00:23:19,160 --> 00:23:23,080 Speaker 1: Gallioto when they themselves betrayed the pope and allied with 288 00:23:23,119 --> 00:23:27,400 Speaker 1: the Ghibelins. It's all very complicated, but what you need 289 00:23:27,440 --> 00:23:31,760 Speaker 1: to know is Farentino died in thirteen fifty three, having 290 00:23:31,840 --> 00:23:35,600 Speaker 1: lost pretty much all of his power, but also having 291 00:23:35,720 --> 00:23:40,480 Speaker 1: seemingly managed to avoid being murdered by his cousin. Mala 292 00:23:40,560 --> 00:23:45,600 Speaker 1: Testa and Gallioto continued their bloody crusades, even having to 293 00:23:45,680 --> 00:23:50,560 Speaker 1: pay a ransom in thirteen fifty to retain remedy after 294 00:23:50,640 --> 00:23:54,560 Speaker 1: one of their enemies attacked it in vengeance. In something 295 00:23:54,600 --> 00:23:59,119 Speaker 1: of a twist, in thirteen sixty three, mala Testa retired, 296 00:23:59,600 --> 00:24:03,480 Speaker 1: leaving remedy to be shared between his sons and his 297 00:24:03,520 --> 00:24:08,320 Speaker 1: brother Gallioto. Gallioto, it turns out, would go on to 298 00:24:08,480 --> 00:24:13,359 Speaker 1: outlive his nephews the normal way, not the classic Maltesta 299 00:24:13,560 --> 00:24:17,240 Speaker 1: murder way, and he would inherit the entirety of the 300 00:24:17,240 --> 00:24:22,920 Speaker 1: Malatesta dominions, with the line of succession now much simpler, 301 00:24:23,400 --> 00:24:27,800 Speaker 1: contained in one set of sons rather than spread between 302 00:24:27,800 --> 00:24:32,080 Speaker 1: brothers and nephews and cousins. It seems that the infighting 303 00:24:32,160 --> 00:24:38,880 Speaker 1: between malatestas finally ceased, and so instead they began to 304 00:24:39,000 --> 00:24:44,720 Speaker 1: turn their gaze outward to patronage of literature and the arts, 305 00:24:44,760 --> 00:24:49,880 Speaker 1: a series of advantageous political marriages, legitimizing children they had 306 00:24:49,920 --> 00:24:53,680 Speaker 1: out of wedlock, fighting in all manner of wars, and 307 00:24:54,000 --> 00:25:07,159 Speaker 1: hosting banquets where nobody got murdered. Noble Blood is a 308 00:25:07,200 --> 00:25:11,399 Speaker 1: production of iHeart Radio and Grim and Mild from Aaron Mankey. 309 00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:15,880 Speaker 1: Noble Blood is hosted by me Dana Schwartz, with additional 310 00:25:15,920 --> 00:25:20,639 Speaker 1: writing and research by Hannah Johnston, Hannahswick, Courtney Sender, Amy 311 00:25:20,680 --> 00:25:24,800 Speaker 1: Hit and Julia Milaney. The show is edited and produced 312 00:25:24,880 --> 00:25:30,760 Speaker 1: by Jesse Funk, with supervising producerrima Ill Kali and executive 313 00:25:30,800 --> 00:25:34,960 Speaker 1: producers Aaron Manke, Trevor Young, and Matt Frederick. For more 314 00:25:35,080 --> 00:25:40,600 Speaker 1: podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or 315 00:25:40,640 --> 00:26:18,960 Speaker 1: wherever you listen to your favorite shows.