Montone is awalled medieval village with a small industrial and housing estate surrounding the walled town center. The town is the origin of the Fortebraccicondottieri family, whose most famous member wasBraccio da Montone.
Constructed during theMiddle Ages, Montone arose in the 11th century as afiefdom of the Colle Margravate and subsequently changed hands to the Del Monte family. It soon afterwards came under control of the independentcity-state ofPerugia, which granted Montonesovereignty over its own laws and officers in 1121.
The most importantruling dynasty in Montone's history was undoubtedly the Fortebracci. Their presence in the city is first documented near the end of the fourteenth century, and their influence persists to the present day in the form of local customs, street names, and architecture.Andrea "Braccio da Montone" Fortebraccio was the most important Fortebraccio in Montone, having served asMercenary Captain of a kingdom spanning fromLazio through Umbria all the way toAbruzzo. The presence of such a large independent state inCentral Italy was at the time one of the most daring challenges to the regionalhegemony of thePapal States. In recognition of his service, theAntipope John XXIII created and awarded to Fortebraccio the title ofCount of Montone on August 28, 1414.
The Fortebraccio family's rule over Montone was reified ten years later when theofficially-recognized pope,Martin V, extended the counthood to Carlo Fortebraccio following the death of his father Braccio da Montone at theBattle of Aquila. Following in his father's footsteps, Carlo also became acondottiero mercenary. In 1473 he achieved a major victory for theRepublic of Venice over theOttoman Empire, and received an alleged thorn from theJesus'crown of thorns as a reward. Carlo sent therelic to Montone and decreedEaster Monday in Montone as the Feast of the Thorn.
Fortebraccio rule persisted in Montone until the early 16th century. In 1519,Pope Leo IX annulled the Fortebraccio counthood and passed it toVitello Vitelli, a member of theVitelli family ofCittà di Castello. The Vitelli ruled over Montone until their family line ended in 1646, after which point Montone was fully annexed into the Papal States.
