Background
Marzia degli Ubaldini was born on 21 June 1317 in Forlì, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. Her parents were Vanni Ubaldini and Andrea Ubaldini. Little is known about her early life.
defender leader military Noblewoman
Marzia degli Ubaldini was born on 21 June 1317 in Forlì, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. Her parents were Vanni Ubaldini and Andrea Ubaldini. Little is known about her early life.
While Marzia's husband Francesco campaigned, "Madonna Cia" was often left to guard the town of Cesena. In August 1355 Count Carlo of Dovadola, with two Malatesta sons, 100 knights, and additional mercenaries, raided Cesena, capturing livestock and taking prisoners. Upon hearing of this, Cia armed herself, mounted a horse, and with great shouts mobilized her knights into pursuing the raiders. Matteo Villani, the only contemporary chronicler to record this incident, states that she acted "not as a woman but as a virtuous knight" (1:700). In the sortie the booty was retaken, the enemy was defeated, the two Malatesta were taken prisoner along with many of their soldiers, and Carlo himself was mortally wounded.
Pope Innocent VI placed Francesco and his lands under the interdict for various outrages committed against the Holy See. In September 1356 Francesco gave his wife command of 200 knights and many mercenary soldiers to hold Cesena while he held Forli. In April 1357 papal sympathizers in the town revolted. The papal legate Cardinal Egidio Albornoz, supported by more than 800 Hungarian archers plus cavalry, laid siege to the town. When Cia learned that her former advisor Sgaraglino was negotiating with the enemy in order to end the siege, she had him and other traitors beheaded, and she remained a sole defender of the fortress and captain of the soldiers. As the siege grew more desperate, she defiantly burned the cathedral's bell tower, the bishop's palace, and houses of rebel townspeople on 27 May. Facing overwhelming odds, Cia retreated into the citadel with her relatives, soldiers, and loyal citizens. The papal forces tightened their grip, repeatedly assailing and bombarding the town and mining its walls. Wearing armor day and night, Cia stoutly defended the walls and supervised the repair of barricades. At one point her own father unsuccessfully tried to convince her to yield. On 21 June she surrendered to the papal legate after personally negotiating a treaty that granted freedom to her soldiers but spelled imprisonment for herself and her relatives. They were not released until 1359 when Francesco was pardoned. Her valiant actions won the respect of both allies and enemies and made her a legend in her own day.
Marzia degli Ubaldini is among the best-known figures of women fighters in the history of Italy. Marzia and her troops, about 400 in number, held the town against the papal soldiers' attacks for several months, despite the siege laid on the town. She was single-minded in her desire to not let the town fall under any circumstances and to punish any supporters who turned against her.
An Italian noble of the Ubaldini family, Marzia married Francesco Ordelaffi, lord of Forli. Their chidren were Sinibaldo, Onestina, Giovanni, Scarpetta, Ludovico.
