Ramberto Malatesta

Ramberto Malatesta (died January 1330) was a son of the ill-fated Paolo 'il Bello' Malatesta and brother of the Archpriest Guido Malatesta.

Around 1323, Ramberto was approached by his cousin Uberto, Count of Giaggolo and invited into a conspiracy to overthrow their uncle Pandolfo I Malatesta, Lord of Rimini and head of the Malatesta family. But Uberto da Giaggolo was the son of the Giovanni 'Gianciotto', who had murdered Ramberto's father Paolo 'il Bello' in a bout of jealousy back in 1285. Pretending to play along, Ramberto arranged for a banquet in his home for the conspirators, and then fell upon and killed Uberto, a belated vengeance for his father's murder.

At the death of Pandolfo I in 1326, the succession to the Malatesta dominions was partitioned between Ramberto's cousins, Malatesta II 'Guastafamiglia' getting Pesaro and Ferrantino 'di Malatestino' receiving Rimini, leaving Ramberto out in the cold.

But Ramberto was not a man to be ignored. In July 1326, shortly after the succession, Ramberto arranged for another banquet at his home in Rimini, inviting his cousins and their families. Alas, Malatesta II himself was unable to attend, foiling Ramberto's plans for what was likely to be a family mass murder. Ramberto opted for the half-measure of releasing the members of Malatesta II's family, and imprisoning only Ferrantino's family, hoping Malatesta II could be persuaded to join him in the conspiracy. It is possible Malatesta II contemplated it. But Polentisana da Polenta, wife of Ferrantino's son Malatestino Novello, rallied the people of Rimini and appealed to her own Polentani family, in an effort to release her husband from Ramberto's clutches. Malatesta II entered Rimini with his army, and forced the captives' release. Ramberto escaped to his countryside castles.

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