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Marzia Ordelaffi is a remarkable tale of perseverance in difficult circumstances, and one that needs to be more well known. Against overwhelming odds, and with very little resources at her disposal, the Italian leader refused to give up.
Marzia Ordelaffi's Resistance
In 1317 AD the Italian noblewoman Marzia (also known as Cia) grew up with rowdy and impudent brothers, with a strong mother, who became involved in a siege of the Merdola fortress in 1336. Her father was Vanni Ubaldini, the lord of Susinana. This upbringing formed her into a very capable commander, who was respected by her husband, Francesco Ordelaffi the lord of Forli. Francesco was the last remaining independent prince in the Romagna region, and the papal powers began encroaching ever nearer. In 1357 their worst fears were realised when the papal legate Egidio Albornoz launched a crusade against Franceso. Marzia was entrusted by her husband with the task of defending Cesena, with her daughter and son at her side, while he went and protected Forli.
She dressed in a cuirass as she waited with her 200-400 troops for the attack of the papal forces. When they arrived she spied a force at least ten times greater than her own. To make matters even worse, a part of the population betrayed her and opened the gates to the besieging force. But Marzia remembered that her husband had said to her to never give up until the Pope negotiated with him in person, so she retreated to the walled upper part of the town with her most trusted troops. She executed three of the traitors that were in favour of giving up, and threw their heads in between the enemy to demoralize them.
Leading the defence, she rained sulphur and fire arrows on the war machines that were making their way to the walls. Miners below were weakening her defences though, and she was forced to retreat again, now to the citadel. She hung on tenaciously but the miners continued their work until the citadel was practically hanging in the air, by which time the people of Cesena despaired and forced her to surrender, but only after it was agreed that all her soldiers may safely return to their homes. Marzia and her children were imprisoned by the papal legate, but she survived and lived on until 1381.
Thank you for reading!
Marzia Ordelaffi is a remarkable tale of perseverance in difficult circumstances, and one that needs to be more well known. Against overwhelming odds, and with very little resources at her disposal, the Italian leader refused to give up.
Marzia Ordelaffi's Resistance
In 1317 AD the Italian noblewoman Marzia (also known as Cia) grew up with rowdy and impudent brothers, with a strong mother, who became involved in a siege of the Merdola fortress in 1336. Her father was Vanni Ubaldini, the lord of Susinana. This upbringing formed her into a very capable commander, who was respected by her husband, Francesco Ordelaffi the lord of Forli. Francesco was the last remaining independent prince in the Romagna region, and the papal powers began encroaching ever nearer. In 1357 their worst fears were realised when the papal legate Egidio Albornoz launched a crusade against Franceso. Marzia was entrusted by her husband with the task of defending Cesena, with her daughter and son at her side, while he went and protected Forli.
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| The Ubaldini coat of arms. |
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| Ordelaffi coat of arms. |
She dressed in a cuirass as she waited with her 200-400 troops for the attack of the papal forces. When they arrived she spied a force at least ten times greater than her own. To make matters even worse, a part of the population betrayed her and opened the gates to the besieging force. But Marzia remembered that her husband had said to her to never give up until the Pope negotiated with him in person, so she retreated to the walled upper part of the town with her most trusted troops. She executed three of the traitors that were in favour of giving up, and threw their heads in between the enemy to demoralize them.
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| Marzia Ordelaffi wearing her suit of armour. |
Leading the defence, she rained sulphur and fire arrows on the war machines that were making their way to the walls. Miners below were weakening her defences though, and she was forced to retreat again, now to the citadel. She hung on tenaciously but the miners continued their work until the citadel was practically hanging in the air, by which time the people of Cesena despaired and forced her to surrender, but only after it was agreed that all her soldiers may safely return to their homes. Marzia and her children were imprisoned by the papal legate, but she survived and lived on until 1381.
Thank you for reading!
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