A family of mountain lords from Penna (Pennabilli) in the upper Marecchia valley who moved their main seat down to Verucchio by the late twelfth century and into Rimini's General Council.
In 1197, after a quarrel whose causes are unclear, Giovanni Malatesta, the boy Malatesta and the men of Verucchio swore submission to Rimini's council, so that Verucchio passed in fact under the commune. On 1 January 1200 the boy is about sixteen and his uncle Giovanni leads the family.
Who he is
- Name
- Giovanni Malatesta, for himself and his nephew Malatesta (later called della Penna)
- Title
- Head of the house and guardian
- Since
- 1197 (death of Malatesta III Minore, the boy's father)
- Born
- Giovanni: not pinned; the nephew Malatesta about 1183, probably at Penna (Pennabilli)
- Family
- The nephew's father Malatesta (III) Minore died in 1197; his mother is Alaburga; earlier generations are a Malatesta (I) of 1129-1150, a Giovanni (I) of 1164-1189 and a Malatesta (II) of 1165-1199 (relations not stated in the source). The nephew later married Adalasia; his son Malatesta da Verucchio is born only in 1212.
- Confidence
- high
Dizionario Biografico (Malatesta della Penna). Giovanni was a senior member of Rimini's General Council and raised the boy after his father's death.
Overlord
The commune of Rimini for Verucchio, since the submission of 1197; the emperor in law for their mountain lands.
What it holds
- Verucchio, the family's castle above the Marecchia (under Rimini since 1197)
- Lands in the Marecchia valley, the valley of the Uso and the Valconca
- Penna (Pennabilli), the family's place of origin in the upper Marecchia (their hold there in 1200 is not documented)
How it was acquired
Inherited mountain lordship; Verucchio a dynastic domain by the late twelfth century.
Allies and rivals
Rimini, to which they are bound; the Montefeltro, their neighbours and later rivals; Cesena, Rimini's enemy, which they will be bound to fight under their 1216 citizenship oath.
How things stand that morning
Lords of Verucchio under Rimini's rule; councillors of Rimini.
Wealth
Rents and dues of their valley lands; their place in Rimini's council.
Military
Their castle of Verucchio and its men; their service to Rimini.
Threats
- Rimini tightening its hold
- Neighbouring mountain lords
What the year holds
What happened next, if nothing in play changes it. Each event carries what it depends on and what would stop it.
- 18 March 1216 (not 1200)Giovanni and Malatesta swear citizenship of Rimini, promising military help against Rimini's enemies including Cesena, in return for keeping full jurisdiction over their lands.Depends on: Long-term Stopped by: Not a 1200 event.
Places of note
- Penna: The family's place of origin
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: A recent Dizionario Biografico article with dated acts.
On the map: Their scattered lands in the Uso and Conca valleys are not drawn.
Primary sources for Rimini
Chronicles, registers, sagas and inscriptions written in or near 1200 that cover this entry. Each has its own page with editions, translations and where to read it.
- The Deeds of Innocent III, Anonymous (a curial official, perhaps Peter of Benevento) (about 1208 to 1209). The curia's own account of the pontificate's first decade, with letters copied in. Read online
Sources and studies
- MALATESTA, Malatesta detto Malatesta della Penna, Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani
- Malatesta (it.wikipedia)
- Rimini (Enciclopedia Italiana, Treccani)
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.