Theda Polenta family (Italian:[da(p)poˈlɛnta])[2] orPolentani (Italian:[polenˈtaːni]) was an oldItalian noble family whose name derives from the Castle of Polenta nearBertinoro inRomagna.
The founder of the house is said to have beenGuido, surnamed "l'Antico" (the Elder), who wielded great authority in Ravenna in the 13th century. His grandsonGuido Novello upheld the power of the house and was alsocapitano del popolo atBologna; he was overthrown in 1322. His chief claim to renown lies in the fact that in 1321 he gave hospitality to the poetDante, who immortalized the tragic history of Guido the Elder's daughterFrancesca da Rimini, unhappily married toGiovanni Malatesta, lord ofRimini, in an episode ofL'Inferno.
Guido's kinsmanOstasio I was lord ofCervia andRavenna from 1322 to 1329. After being recognized as a vassal of theHoly See, he again became independent and went over to theHouse of Este, whom he served faithfully in their struggles with the Church until his death in 1346. His sonBernardino, who succeeded him as lord of Ravenna in 1346, was deposed in 1347 by his brothers,Pandolfo andLamberto II, but was reinstated a few months later and ruled until his death in 1359; he was famous for his profligacy and cruelty.
His sonGuido III ruled more mildly and died in 1390. Then followedOstasio II (died 1396),Bernardino (died 1400),Obizzo (died 1431), Pietro (died 1404),Aldobrandino (d. 1406), all sons of Guido III.Ostasio III (or V), son of Obizzo, was at first allied with the Venetians; later he went over to the Milanese, and, although he again joined the Venetians, the latter never forgave his intrigue with their enemies, and in 1441 they deprived him of his dominions. He died in a monastery in1447.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Polenta, Da".Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 21 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 977.
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