Federico da Montefeltro

Federico da Montefeltro

Profile portrait of Federico da Montefeltro by Piero della Francesca. Federico lost his nasal bridge and his right eye in a tournament.
Duke of Urbino
Reign22 July 1444 – 10 September 1482
PredecessorOddantonio
SuccessorGuidobaldo I
Born(1422-06-07)7 June 1422
Castello di Petroia, Gubbio, Papal States
Died10 September 1482(1482-09-10) (aged 60)
Ferrara, Duchy of Ferrara
Noble familyHouse of Montefeltro
Spouse(s)
(m. 1437⁠–⁠1457)
(m. 1460; died 1472)
IssueCostanza di Montefeltro (December 1460 – February 1461)
Giovanna di Montefeltro (1462–1514)
Isabetta di Montefeltro (c. 1464 – 1521)
Costanza di Montefeltro (1466–1518)
Violanta di Montefeltro
Agnese di Montefeltro (1470–1522)
Guidobaldo da Montefeltro (1472–1508)
FatherGuidantonio da Montefeltro, or possibly Bernardino Ubaldini della Carda

Federico da Montefeltro, also known as Federico III da Montefeltro KG (7 June 1422 – 10 September 1482), was one of the most successful mercenary captains (condottieri) of the Italian Renaissance, and lord of Urbino from 1444 (as Duke from 1474) until his death. A renowned intellectual humanist and civil leader in Urbino on top of his impeccable reputation for martial skill and honour, he commissioned the construction of a great library, perhaps the largest of Italy after the Vatican, with his own team of scribes in his scriptorium, and assembled around him a large humanistic court in the Ducal Palace, Urbino, designed by Luciano Laurana and Francesco di Giorgio Martini.