Duchy of Urbino

Long ago, there was a land in Italy.

It was called Urbino. It had many leaders. One leader loved art. He helped artists make things.

He built a big palace. He also built strong forts. The land became very rich.

Later, the leaders moved. They moved the main city to Pesaro. This was a big change.

At last, the land changed hands. It became part of a new place. It was a very special time in history.

The Duchy of Urbino was a small land in central Italy.

It became a duchy in 1443. A leader named Oddantonio da Montefeltro was the first duke. He did not rule for long. His brother, Federico da Montefeltro, took power next. Federico was a great leader. He was a soldier and a patron of the arts. A patron is someone who helps artists. He helped many famous artists work at his court. He also built a large library. Under his rule, the land became very rich.

Later, Guidobaldo da Montefeltro became the duke. He protected many artists too. His time was hard because of fights with the Papal States. These are lands ruled by the Pope. After him, Francesco Maria I della Rovere took over. He moved the capital city to Pesaro in 1523. This was a big change for the people.

The ruling family changed to the della Rovere family. The last duke was Francesco Maria II della Rovere. He died in 1631. After that, the land became part of the Papal States. A daughter named Vittoria took the family's art and jewels to Florence.

The Duchy of Urbino was an independent land in central Italy.

It sat in a place we now call the Marche region. The land was bordered by the Adriatic Sea to the east. To the west was the Republic of Florence. The Papal States were located to the south. This small state was very important during the Renaissance. It was a place where art and power met.

Life in the duchy changed as different leaders took control. First, it was a county established in 1213. In 1443, Pope Eugene IV made it a duchy. This happened when he named Oddantonio da Montefeltro as the first duke. Oddantonio ruled for less than a year before he was killed. After that, his brother Federico took over the government. Federico was a famous leader and a soldier. He also helped many artists grow their talents.

Federico da Montefeltro made the duchy very rich and strong. He married Battista Sforza in 1459 and ruled until 1482. He built a grand palace and many strong fortresses. He also gathered a huge library of books. Many famous artists worked for him at his court. These included artists like Piero della Francesca and Paolo Uccello. Even the young artist Bramante spent time there. Under Federico, the land reached its largest size.

New families eventually took over the rule of the land. Guidobaldo da Montefeltro ruled after Federico. He protected artists like Raphael and Luca Signorelli. Later, the della Rovere family took control. Francesco Maria I della Rovere was a key leader. He moved the capital from Urbino to Pesaro in 1523. He also built beautiful homes like the Villa Imperiale. His son, Guidobaldo II, continued to support many famous painters.

History shows that the duchy eventually came to an end. The last duke was Francesco Maria II della Rovere. He died in 1631, which was a very big year. After his death, the Pope took control of the land. This process is called devolution. The land became part of the Papal States. However, the family did not lose everything they owned. A daughter named Vittoria took many jewels and paintings to Florence.

The Duchy of Urbino was an independent state located in central Italy.

It occupied the northern portion of the modern Marche region. The territory was bordered by the Adriatic Sea to the east. To the west, it met the Republic of Florence. The Papal States formed its southern border. This duchy was a major center of culture and power during the Renaissance. It functioned as a small but highly influential political entity.

The state began as a county established in 1213. Its status changed significantly in 1443 through a papal nomination. Pope Eugene IV appointed Oddantonio da Montefeltro as the first Duke of Urbino. Oddantonio's reign was very short, lasting from 1443 to 1444. He was assassinated after less than one year of rule. Following this event, his older half-brother Federico da Montefeltro took control of the government. Federico became one of the most prominent princes in Italy.

Federico da Montefeltro was a complex leader who balanced war and art. He was a skilled military commander and a capable statesman. He married Battista Sforza in 1459 and ruled until 1482. During his reign, the duchy reached its maximum territorial expansion. He also oversaw a period of notable economic prosperity. Federico was a great patron of the arts and protected many famous creators. He commissioned the construction of the Ducal Palace and various fortresses. He also assembled one of the most important libraries of the Renaissance era.

The court of Urbino became a magnet for world-class artists. Many famous figures lived or worked there during the height of the Renaissance. These included painters such as Piero della Francesca and Paolo Uccello. Other notable artists were Luca della Robbia and Pedro Berruguete. Even the young artist Bramante spent time at the court. The architect Francesco di Giorgio Martini designed many of the state's fortifications. This concentration of talent made Urbino a central hub for artistic innovation.

Leadership eventually passed through different hands and families. Guidobaldo da Montefeltro ruled after a period of regency. He was often ill, which limited his military career compared to his father. However, he still protected artists like Raphael and Luca Signorelli. His court produced the famous literary work, *The Book of the Courtier*, by Baldassare Castiglione. Later, the della Rovere family took control. Francesco Maria I della Rovere was the fourth Duke. He expanded the state to include Senigallia and Pesaro. In 1523, he moved the capital from Urbino to Pesaro.

In 1563, a unique religious development occurred within the territory. The Ecclesiastical province of the Archdiocese of Urbino was created. This was a rare event because Urbino was a fiefdom of the Papal States. It was the first archdiocese and ecclesiastical province established within the Papal States. The only other similar case was the province of Ravenna from the Roman Empire era. This change highlighted the complex relationship between the duchy and the Church.

The duchy's independence ended in the early 17th century. The last duke was Francesco Maria II della Rovere. He died in 1631, which led to the devolution of the state. Devolution is the process where a territory is transferred to another authority. Pope Urban VIII claimed the duchy based on feudal rights. He officially annexed the land to the Papal States. While the state was lost, the family kept their personal belongings. Francesco's daughter, Vittoria, took the paintings and jewels to Florence.

Historical records provide specific details about the duchy's wealth and people. In 1610, estimates placed the annual income at over 200,000 scudi. By 1624, another estimate suggested a revenue of 300,000 scudi. The population varied according to different historical counts. A census in 1598 placed the population at 115,121 people. A later census before the dissolution recorded 220,000 people. The land covered an area of 5,556 square kilometers. This meant there were nearly 40 people for every square kilometer.