Andrea Malatesta (30 November 1373 – 20 September 1416[1]) was an Italiancondottiero, a member of the Malatesta family of Romagna. He is also known as Malatesta da Cesena, a city he had inherited in 1385 from his father, Galeotto, together with Cervia and Bertinoro. In 1388 he was also recognized lord of Fossombrone.
In 1398 Malatesta was made Senator of Rome by Pope Boniface IX, a position he held for some one year driving some attacks on the Colonna family's lands. In 1399, as the Ghibelline party in the city had organized a plot against him, he confiscated their lands, including Verucchio. In 1402, together with his brother Pandolfo, he went into the service of Galeazzo Maria Visconti, fighting in the expedition against Bologna and in the victorious battle of Casalecchio. After the duke's death, he was hired again by the pope, and in 1403 he was able to expel the Visconti from Bologna, capturing a large booty in the following campaigns in the neighborhood. In 1404 he fought against Alberico da Barbiano, and in 1406 he seized Forlì.
After other minor operations, Malatesta was hired by Perugia, which named him capitano generale, against Braccio da Montone. However, he fell ill and was replaced by his brother Carlo Malatesta; he died in September 1416.
Marriage
Malatesta married in 1391 [2]his first marriage Ricciarda or Rengarda Aldosi,[2]daughter of Bertrando Alidoso with whom he had;
Galeotto Malatesta, married to Nicolina Fortebraccio, da Camerino
Lucrezia died young and was said to have been poisoned by her father for conspiring against her illegitimate brother Antonio becoming her fathers successor, or by her husband for committing adultery. She died just days after giving birth to their daughter Laura Malatesta (called Parisina)
Thirdly Malatesta married Pollisena Sanseverino[3] with no issue.[3]
