Isotta degli Atti

Who is Isotta degli Atti?

Isotta degli Atti was an Italian Renaissance woman, who was the mistress and later wife of the condottiero and lord of Rimini Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta

She was born in Rimini, the daughter of Francesco degli Atti, a wealthy wool trader and banker. She was noticed by Sigismondo Malatesta at the age of 12 or 13, in the period when his nearby residence was being restored and the lord of Rimini was a guest of Francesco. As early as 1447 Sigismondo and Isotta had perhaps a son, Giovanni, who died as a newborn; he was buried in the Malatesta church of San Francesco. Their relationship became public only in 1449, after the death of Sigismondo's second wife, Polissena. The two married in 1456.

During the period in which Sigismondo Pandolfo had been excommunicated by Pope Pius II, Isotta governed Rimini on his behalf. After her husband's death, she acted as regent for her son Sallustio. The latter was assassinated the following year by Roberto Malatesta, an illegitimate son of Sigismondo Pandolfo, who took control of Rimini. She died in 1474 and was buried in the church of San Francesco.

She is featured in Ezra Pound's Cantos.