Editing Rimini (section)

=== Middle Ages ===
[[File:Piero, ritratto di sigismondo malatesta.jpg|thumb|Portrait of [[Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta]] called ''the Wolf of Rimini'', by [[Piero della Francesca]], {{circa|1450}}, [[Louvre]]]]
When the [[Ostrogoths]] conquered Rimini in 493, [[Odoacer]], besieged in Ravenna, had to capitulate. During the [[Gothic War (535–554)]], Rimini was taken and retaken many times. In its vicinity the Byzantine general [[Narses]] overthrew (553) the [[Alamanni]]. Under the Byzantine rule, it belonged to the [[Duchy of the Pentapolis]], part of the [[Exarchate of Ravenna]].

In 728, it was taken with many other cities by [[Liutprand, King of the Lombards]] but returned to the Byzantines about 735. [[Pepin the Short]] gave it to the Holy See, but during the wars of the popes and the Italian cities against the emperors, Rimini sided with the latter.

In the 13th century, it suffered from the discords of the Gambacari and Ansidei families. The city became a municipality in the 14th century, and with the arrival of the religious orders, numerous convents and churches were built, providing work for many illustrious artists. In fact, [[Giotto]] inspired the 14th-century School of Rimini, which was the expression of original cultural ferment.

The [[House of Malatesta]] emerged from the struggles between municipal factions with [[Malatesta da Verucchio]], who in 1239 was named [[podestà]] (chief magistrate) of the city. Despite interruptions, his family held authority until 1528. In 1312 <!--TRUE, he died at 100!-->he was succeeded by [[Malatestino Malatesta]], first ''signore'' (lord) of the city and [[Pandolfo I Malatesta]], the latter's brother, named by [[Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor]], as [[imperial vicar]] of [[Romagna]].

Ferrantino, son of Malatesta II (1335), was opposed by his cousin Ramberto and by Cardinal [[Bertrand du Pouget]] (1331), legate of [[Pope John XXII]]. Malatesta II was also lord of [[Pesaro]]. He was succeeded by [[Malatesta Ungaro]] (1373) and [[Galeotto I Malatesta]], uncle of the former (1385), lord also of [[Fano]] (from 1340), Pesaro, and Cesena (1378).

His son, [[Carlo I Malatesta]], one of the most respected [[condottieri]] of the time, enlarged the Riminese possessions and restored the port. Carlo died childless in 1429, and the lordship was divided into three parts, Rimini going to [[Galeotto Roberto Malatesta]], a Catholic zealot inadequate for the position.

The Pesarese line of the Malatestas tried, in fact, to take advantage of his weakness and to capture the city, but [[Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta]], Carlo's nephew, who was only 14 at the time, intervened to save it. Galeotto retired to a convent, and Sigismondo obtained the rule of Rimini.

Sigismondo Pandolfo was the most famous lord of Rimini. In 1433, [[Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor]], sojourned in the city and for a while he was the commander-in-chief of the Papal armies. A skilled general, Sigismondo often acted as [[condottieri|''condottiero'']] for other states to gain money to embellish it (he was also a dilettante poet). He had the famous [[Tempio Malatestiano]] rebuilt by [[Leon Battista Alberti]]. However, after the rise of [[Pope Pius II]], he had to fight constantly for the independence of the city.

In 1463, he was forced to submit to Pius II, who left him only Rimini and little more; [[Roberto Malatesta]], his son (1482), under [[Pope Paul II]], nearly lost his state, but under [[Pope Sixtus IV]], became the commanding officer of the pontifical army against Ferdinand of Naples. Sigismondo was, however, defeated by Neapolitan forces in the [[battle of Campomorto]] (1482). [[Pandolfo IV Malatesta|Pandolfo IV]], his son (1500), lost Rimini to [[Cesare Borgia]], after whose overthrow it fell to Venice (1503–1509), but it was later retaken by [[Pope Julius II]] and incorporated into the [[Papal States]].

After the death of [[Pope Leo X]], Pandolfo returned for several months, and with his son [[Sigismondo Malatesta]] held a rule which looked tyrannous even for the time. [[Pope Adrian VI]] expelled him again and gave Rimini to the [[Duchy of Urbino|Duke of Urbino]], the pope's vicar in Romagna.

In 1527, Sigismondo managed to regain the city, but in the following year the Malatesta dominion died forever.