This foundational historical work explores the political and dynastic history of the Duchy of Urbino under the Montefeltro and Della Rovere families from the fifteenth to the seventeenth century. The narrative traces the rise of these mountain counts and their eventual elevation to the ducal dignity, examining their skillful navigation of complex conflicts between the papacy, the empire, and rival Italian city-states.
The author details the life and generalship of Duke Federigo di Montefeltro, who transformed his rugged capital into a renowned asylum for humanism, letters, and the fine arts. The work contrasts his enlightened rule and adherence to military honor with the violent, turbulent politics of contemporary condottieri and rival lords, notably the Malatesta family of Rimini.
Attention is also given to the subsequent decline of the duchy under later rulers, the frequent domestic conspiracies, and the complex geopolitical web of Italian alliances, including the interventions of foreign powers like France and Spain in the affairs of the peninsula.
Throughout the volumes, extensive source materials, including contemporary chronicles, papal briefs, official correspondence, and inventories of early art collections, are interwoven to construct a comprehensive picture of Renaissance court life and military administration.
The narrative concludes with the eventual lapse of the duchy to the Holy See in the seventeenth century following the extinction of the male line, marking the end of an era of localized princely patronage that had profoundly influenced the intellectual and artistic development of Italy.
