Ezzelino da Romano


Ezzelino da Romano

(ĕt'sālē`nō dä rōmä`nō), 1194–1259, Italian Ghibelline leader (see Guelphs and GhibellinesGuelphs and Ghibellines
, opposing political factions in Germany and in Italy during the later Middle Ages. The names were used to designate the papal (Guelph) party and the imperial (Ghibelline) party during the long struggle between popes and emperors, and they were also used
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) and soldier. After 1232 a faithful supporter of Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II against the pope, he held Verona, Vicenza, Padua, and other cities. When Frederick defeated (1237) the Lombard LeagueLombard League,
an alliance formed in 1167 among the communes of Lombardy to resist Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I when he attempted to assert his imperial authority in Lombardy. Previously the communes had been divided, some favoring the emperor and others favoring the pope.
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 at Cortenuova, Ezzelino became the greatest power in N Italy. He married (1238) an illegitimate daughter of Frederick. Continuously at war with the Guelphs, he was excommunicated (1254) by Pope Innocent IV, and a strong alliance was formed against him. Ezzelino lost (1256) Padua, but in 1258 he took Brescia. After an attempt to conquer Milan he was defeated and wounded at Cassano and died in prison. Placed by Dante in the Inferno, he is remembered as a cruel tyrant.