- Francesco II Ordelaffi
Francesco II Ordelaffi (also known as Cecco II, c. 1300 – 1374) was a lord of
Forlì , the son of Sinibaldo Ordelaffi (died 1337, brother of Scarpetta and Francesco) and Orestina Calboli, and the grandson ofTeobaldo I Ordelaffi .Initially he ruled the city with his uncle Francesco, but in 1332 the two were ousted by a Papal Army, remaining in control of
Forlimpopoli only. The following year, however, he became theGhibelline leader inRomagna , receiving the seigniories ofCesena andBertinoro and establishing a firm rule on Forlì.In 1337 Francesco imprisoned the Archbishop of Ravenna and was excommunicated by the Pope Benedict XIII: however, the struggle ended with the Ordelaffi victorious, since the Pope named him vicar of Forlì, Cesena and Folimpopoli, in exchange of an annual payment. The excommunication was later renewed when he sided for Emperor
Louis IV of Bavaria in order to avoid the tribute, being named imperial vicar. Around 1347 he hostedGiovanni Boccaccio in Forlì.In 1350 Francesco conquered Bertinoro,
Meldola ,Fontanafredda andGhiaggiolo , but had to face the opposition of the strong Papal generalGil de Albornoz , supported by theMalatesta ofRimini , as well as another excommunication. Despite the strong resistance of his wife Cia degli Ubaldini and his son Ludovico, Cesena fell on June 21, soon followed by Bertinoro. Francesco and Forlì fell onJuly 4 1359 , and he was to content of the title of vicar of Forlimpopoli andCastrocaro thenceforth. Later he fought forBernabò Visconti against the Papal armies, and tried unsuccessfully to reconquer Forlì. He died inVenice in 1374.His son Sinibaldo was later lord of Forlì.
References
*cite book|last=Rendina|first=Claudio|title=I capitani di ventura|location=Rome|publisher=Newton Compton|year=1994
External links
* [http://www.condottieridiventura.it/condottieri/o/1275%20%20%20%20%20%20FRANCESCO%20ORDELAFFI%20%20Di%20Cesena.htm Page at www.condottieridiventura.it]
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