The Horrific Fate of Ugolino della Gherardesca

A famous political leader made famous by Dante’s Inferno.

Ugolino and his sons in their cell, as painted by William Blake circa 1826.

Ugolino della Gherardesca (1214–1289) was an Italian nobleman and Duke of Donoratico. At the time, Italy was a patchwork of city-states. Many cities were split between the political rivals, the Guelphs and Ghibellines. The Guelphs supported the Holy Roman Empire, while the Ghibellines supported the Pope.

Ugolino was born in Pisa, which the Ghibellines controlled. His family was of Germanic descent and became firm supporters of the Holy Roman Emperor and the leading Ghibelline family in Pisa.

In 1256 to 1258, Ugolino participated in a war against Sardinia. He was awarded the southwestern portion of the Judicate of Caligari, which had a rich silver mine. He also founded the port city of Villa di Chiesa, which is now better known as Iglesias.

By 1271, Ugolino was the patriarch of the della Gherardesca family. He took steps to preserve his political power in Pisa while surrounded by hostile neighbors. He arranged a marriage between his sister and Giovanni Visconti, judge of Gallura, and a leading Guelph of the region. This marriage raised suspicions among his fellow Ghibellines.

In 1274, political unrest in Pisa led to the arrest of both Ugolino and Visconti. They were…