In the 13th century, the states of Italy were beset by the strife of two parties, the
Ghibellines and the
Guelphs. While the conflict was local and personal in origin, the parties had come to be associated with the two universal powers: the Ghibellines sided with the
Holy Roman Emperor and his rule of Italy, while the Guelphs sided with the
Pope, who supported self-governing city-states.
Pisa was controlled by the Ghibellines, while most of the surrounding cities were controlled by the Guelphs, most notably Pisa's trading rivals
Genoa and
Florence. Under the circumstances, Pisa adopted the "strong and vigilant government" of a "armed with almost despotic power". Ugolino was born in Pisa into the
della Gherardesca family, a noble family of
Germanic origins whose alliance with the
Hohenstaufen emperors had brought them to prominence in
Tuscany and made them the leaders of the Ghibellines in Pisa. Between 1256 and 1258 he participated in the war against the philo-Genoese
giudicato of Cagliari, in
Sardinia. Ugolino then obtained the southwestern portion of the former Judicate, with its rich
silver mines, where he founded the important city of
Villa di Chiesa, today
Iglesias. , 1861,
Petit Palais. As head of his family, the Ghibelline party and podestà of Pisa, Ugolino took action to preserve his power in the face of the political hostility of Pisa's neighbours. In 1271, through a marriage of his sister with
Giovanni Visconti,
judge of Gallura, he allied himself with the
Visconti, the leaders of the Guelphs in Pisa. In doing so, he aroused the suspicions of his fellow Ghibellines. The subsequent disorders in the city in 1274 led to the arrest of both Ugolino and Giovanni, who were accused of plotting to undermine Pisa's government and, with the support from Tuscany's Guelphs, share power among themselves. Ugolino was imprisoned and Giovanni banished from Pisa. Giovanni Visconti died soon afterwards, and Ugolino, no longer regarded as a threat, was set free and banished. In exile, Ugolino immediately began to intrigue with the Guelph cities of Florence and
Lucca. With the help of
Charles I of Anjou, he attacked his native city and forced it to make peace on humiliating terms, pardoning him and all the other Guelph exiles. When Florence and Lucca took advantage of the naval defeat to attack Pisa, Ugolino was appointed for a year and succeeded in pacifying them by ceding certain castles. When Genoa suggested peace on similar terms, Ugolino was less eager to accept, for the return of the Pisan prisoners, including most of the leading Ghibellines, would have diminished his power. Ugolino, now appointed for ten years, was now the most influential man in Pisa but was forced to share his power with his nephew
Nino Visconti, son of Giovanni. The duumvirate did not last, as Ugolino and Nino soon quarrelled. In 1287, Nino, striving to become Podestà, entered into negotiations with
Ruggieri degli Ubaldini, Archbishop of Pisa, and the Ghibellines. Ugolino reacted by driving Nino and several Ghibelline families out of the city, destroying their palaces and occupying the town hall, where he had himself proclaimed lord of the city. , engravings dated 1865. In April of that year, Ugolino again refused to make peace with Genoa, even though the enemy was willing to be content with financial reparations. Ugolino still feared the return of the captured Pisans, who saw Ugolino as the cause for their prolonged captivity and had sworn to get their revenge for this. In 1288, Pisa was hit by a dramatic increase in prices, resulting in food shortages and riots among the bitter populace. During one of these riots, Ugolino killed a nephew of the archbishop, turning the latter against him. On 1 July 1288, after leaving a council-meeting discussing peace with Genoa, Ugolino and his followers were attacked by a band of armed Ghibellines. Ugolino withdrew into the town hall and repelled all attacks. The archbishop, accusing Ugolino of treachery, aroused the citizens. When the town hall was set on fire, Ugolino surrendered. While his illegitimate son was killed, Ugolino himself – together with his sons Gaddo and Uguccione and his grandsons Nino (surnamed "the Brigand") and Anselmuccio – were detained in the
Muda, a tower belonging to the
Gualandi family. In March 1289, on orders of the archbishop, who had proclaimed himself , the keys were thrown into the
Arno river and the prisoners left to starve. Their corpses were buried in the cloister of Saint Francis Church and remained there until 1902, when they were exhumed and transferred to the Gherardesca family chapel. ==Literary afterlife==