Oddantonio da Montefeltro

Who was Oddantonio da Montefeltro?

Oddantonio da Montefeltro was the first duke of Urbino in Italy.

Oddantonio succeeded his father Guidantonio as count of Urbino. He was the half-brother of Federico da Montefeltro. The testamentary division of the county between Oddantonio and Federico is not known; nor is the relationship between the two. However, it has been suggested that Federico provided at least some financial support to his brother via his activity as condottiero.

On 25 April 1443, at the age of sixteen, in a ceremony in Siena the Pope Eugenius IV made him Duke of Urbino as a reward for his support in the war against the Sforza in the Marche. .

Oddantonio exhausted the treasury of the small state with his excessive life style, and consequently had to exert heavy taxes over the duchy. He also sought the support of their arch-enemies, the Malatesta, seemingly reaching a complete independence from them.

In the night between 21 and 22 July 1444 he was killed by conspirators in the Ducal Palace, together with his counsellors Manfredo dei Pio da Carpi and Tommaso di Guido dell'Agnello.

Federico succeeded him as Duke of Urbino. Questions have been raised about the possibility of his involvement in Oddantonio's assassination, though no definitive proof of any such involvement exists.