He was the leader of the
Guelphs in
Romagna and became
podestà (chief magistrate) of
Rimini in 1239. In 1295, he made himself the undisputed ruler of Rimini by killing the chief members of the rival
Ghibelline family, the
Parcitati, including their leader
Montagna. His eldest son was
Giovanni Malatesta, famous for the 1285 tragedy, recorded in
Dante's Inferno, in which he killed his wife
Francesca da Polenta and his younger brother
Paolo, having discovered them in adultery. He was succeeded as seignior of Rimini by his sons, first by
Malatestino and later by
Pandolfo I. ==References==