Bonacolsi, Pinamonte

Family

The earliest mention of the Bonacolsi family in Mantua dates back to 1168 ^[1] . Some researchers consider them to be from Modena ^{[2] [3]} , others from Ferrara ^[2] . The first representative of the family whose name is mentioned in the documents was a certain Otolino ^[1] (Ottobuono ^[2] or Ottobono ^[4] ) de Bonacosa, who lived in the quarter of St. Martin ^[2] . The growth of Bonacolsi's influence in the city was facilitated by the ownership of numerous estates in the suburbs of Mantua and the buildings on St. Peter's Square in the city itself. The son of Otolino, Gandolfo dei Bonacolsi, held various positions in the city council: in 1191–1193 he was a trade consul, in 1193–1200 - a city prosecutor, and from 1200 - consul of Mantua. The son of Gandolfo, Martino dei Bonacolsi, in an agreement between Emperor Frederick II and the Lombard League of May 13, 1232, is mentioned by one of the city’s rectors. Martino's son, Pinamonte dei Bonacolsi, born in 1206, became the founder of the dynasty of captains of people and de facto rulers of Mantua from the house of Bonacolsi ^{[1] [4]} .

Pinamonte was married to an unknown by the name of the youngest daughter of . Eight sons were born in their family: (d. 1286), owner of Castell d'Ario and half of Pozzuolo, holder of the Teutonic Order ; (d. 1302), podesta of Verona; Bardellone (d. 1300), 2nd captain of the people and de facto owner of Mantua from 1291 to 1299; (1250 - 12/18/1303), Franciscan , Inquisitor , Bishop of Trento from 1289 to 1303, Bishop of Mantua in 1303; , nicknamed the "Big-footed" (d. 1288), podesta Mantua, holder of the Teutonic Order; Guido, and Fabrizio are all three gentlemen of the Teutonic Order ^[3] .

Early career

The first mention of Pinamont in the documents dates back to 1231 and is associated with the receipt of part of the land belonging to the Church of St. Paul in Mantua. He was a member of the general council of the city for many years. At this time, Verona Count Ludovico di San Bonifacio and the Modena Margrave Azzo VII d'Este fought for supremacy over Mantua. Pinamonte, among other city councilors, approved a peace agreement with Verona on November 30, 1259. In Mantua itself, between 1260 and 1270, a tough battle was going on between supporters of different parties. In 1268, Pinamonte led one of the factions, entering into an alliance with the families of the counts Casaloldo and Gattari. In 1269, he supported the Count of Verona, Ludovico di San Bonifacio, in his conflict with the Modena Margrave Obizzo II d'Este . From this time on, Mantua was ruled by a podesta appointed by the Count of Verona. Using dissatisfaction with the rule of a stranger, Pinamonte, together with Count Federico di Markaria, led the uprising on July 28, 1272, in which both ordinary townspeople and some local nobles participated. They managed to expel the father-in-law of Pinamonte from the city, go to Guido II da Correggio and his supporters - Counts Casaloldo. Having occupied the town hall, Pinamonte and Count Marcarius proclaimed themselves the rectors of Mantua. The city council recognized them in this status. On September 5, 1272 in Ferrara , on behalf of the people of Mantua, the rectors entered into an agreement with Margrave Obizzo II d'Este, according to which he renounced claims to own the city. On the same day, a similar agreement was concluded in Verona with Count Ludovico di San Bonifacio. In the latter, Pinamonte was able to secure the possession of the Feod Castell d'Ario , who previously belonged to the Verona nobles of Turrizendi, for his family ^{[2] [4] [5]} .

On October 1, 1272, Francesco da Foliano was elected Mantua's substitute, whom Pinamonte was able to attract to his side in the fight against the Count of Marcarius. He accused the count of trying to usurp power in alliance with the Margraves d'Este, and, relying on the support of Ottonello Zanecalli, on July 18, 1273 he expelled him with supporters from the city. The new rectors of Mantua were Pinamonte and Ottonello, but soon their union broke up. According to one version, Pinmonte ordered to kill Ottonello, according to another, more likely, he expelled him from the city. In 1274, the city council awarded Pinamonte the title of captain of the people of Mantua, and on February 15, 1276, the title of permanent general captain of the people of Mantua with the actual powers of the lord of the city. Having concentrated power in his hands, Pinamonte retained the previous form of government. As before, it was only under his control that every six months in Mantua a podest was elected, who, together with members of the city council, represented the supreme authority in the city ^{[2] [4] [6]} .

Captain of the People

Not all residents of Mantua agreed with the exaltation of the Bonacolsi family. In 1277, some of them, led by the families of Arloti, Pizzoni and Grossolani, planned an uprising with the goal of overthrowing Pinamonte. On November 10, 1277, the conspiracy was discovered, the main conspirators were sentenced to death, their property was confiscated, and their families were expelled from the city. With the expulsion of the Riva family from Mantua in 1281, Pinamonte put an end to the opposition. He used his position to increase the welfare of the Bonacolsi family. In Pinamonte acquired a number of buildings, including . Here, in the early 1280s, he built , and the tower became a symbol of his family’s power over the city ^{[2] [4]} .

In 1272 (expanded in 1275), Pinamonte entered into an agreement with the Verona family of Scaligers against the Counts of San Bonifacio. With his support, the brother of the owner of Verona, Alberto della Scala, was twice elected by the mantle of Mantua in 1275 and 1277 ^[7] ; in 1276 and 1278, the Verontians were also the Mantua’s cod, while the son of Pinamonte, Tajino dei Bonacolsi, was the cod of Verona in 1283, and the son of Giovanni dei Bonacolski was elected seven times by the Cod of Mantua from 1274 to 1288. In 1274, Pinamonte led the party of local gibellines . The conflict that began in 1278 with the party of local Guelphs and their allies, he was able to repay with a compromise agreement in September 1279. During his reign, Mantova concluded several profitable trade agreements with neighboring communes: in 1276 with Reggio , in 1282 with Cremona , in 1283 with Parma , in 1285 with Padua and Vicenza . Two treaties of September 14, 1274 and March 9, 1290 strengthened the city’s relations with Venice . Mantova provided free passage for Venetian merchants across the Po River and committed to buying salt only from Venetian suppliers. An agreement of May 1291 with Margrave Ozzo II d'Este and the commune of Ferrara Pinamonte was first mentioned as general captain and podesta of Mantua; earlier in the treaties, the people of Mantua were mentioned as a party ^{[2] [4] [8]} .

Later years

In 1287, together with his sons, Pinamonte entered the Teutonic Order . In January 1291, he retired, intending to appoint his son Tajino as his successor. Pinamonte ratified the code of laws “Free privileges of the Mantua commune” ( Italian: Liber privilegiorum comunis Mantue ), which approved the continuity of the rule of Mantua for the Bonacolsi family. This document was later laid down in the foundation of the . Against the decision of Pinamonte to transfer power to Tajino, his other son, Bardellone, spoke. Instead of obeying his father’s order and retiring from Mantua, Bardellone made a coup. September 23, 1291, together with his allies, he broke into the town hall, deposed his father and imprisoned his brother Tajino and his son Filippo in the fortress. Pinamonte knows nothing about the last years of his life. He died on October 7, 1293 and was buried in St. Paul’s Church in Mantua ^{[2] [4]} . Dante Alighieri mentions Pinamonte in one of the songs of the “ Divine Comedy ” (Hell XX, 95–96) ^[9] .

Books

• Alighieri D. Inferno : [ eng. ] . - London: Random House, 2011 .-- P. 122. - 240 p. - ISBN 978-1-44-648448-7 .
• Gualtieri di Brenna L., Cantù C. Grande illustrazione del Lombardo-Veneto: ossia, Storia delle citta, dei borghi, comuni, castelli : [ ital. ] . - Milano: Per la società editrice A. Tranquillo Ronchi, 1859. - Vol. V. - P. 244-254, 459. - 1095 p.

Articles

• Bertelli P., Artoni P., Vannozzo P. Cinque secoli di storia mantovana. Dai Bonacolsi ai Corradi da Gonzaga (Italian) // La Reggia: giornale. - 2002 .-- N. 4 (42) . - P. 6-7 .
• Zanella G. Bonacolsi, Gonzaga, Scaligeri. Tre Signorie. Tre diversi modi di governare (Italian) // La Reggia: giornale. - 1995 .-- N. 3 . - P. 5 .

Links

• Lupis Macedonio M. Bonacolsi (neopr.) . www.genmarenostrum.com . - Genealogie delle famiglie nobili del Mediterraneo. Date of appeal September 16, 2016. (Italian)
• Simeoni L. Bonacolsi (neopr.) . www.treccani.it . - Enciclopedia Italiana (1930). Date of appeal September 16, 2016. (Italian)
• Walter In. Bonacolsi, Pinamonte ( Neopr .) . www.treccani.it . - Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani - Vol. XI (1969). Date of appeal September 16, 2016. (Italian)