Toynbee "Rinièr da Càlboli"

As D. and Virgil pass on their way through the Circle of the Envious they hear two spirits conversing, and expressing wonder at D.'s being alive ([Purg. xiv. 1-8]), these are Guido del Duca and Rinieri da Calboli ([Purg. xiv. 88]) in the course of his conversation with R. Guido refers to the ferocious doings of his grandson Fulcieri da Calboli, during his tenure of office as podestà at Florence ([Purg. xiv. 55-66]) [Fulcieri]; then, addressing D., he contrasts Rinieri, whom he describes as 'the prize and honour of the house of Calboli', with his degenerate grandson, adding that none of R.'s descendants has equalled him in worth ([Purg. xiv. 88-90]) [Guido del Duca].

Rinieri, who was born probably at the beginning of cent. xiii, was podestà of Faenza in 1247, of Parma in 1252, and of Ravenna in 1265 (the year of D.'s birth). In 1276 he and some of his neighbours, among whom was Lizio da Valbona ([Purg. xiv. 97]), with the help of the Florentines, made war upon Forlì; after occupying several strong places in the mountains, they retired to Rinieri's stronghold of Calboli, in the upper valley of the Montone, and made preparations to stand a siege, funds for the purpose being supplied by the Guelphs of Bologna. The place, however, being attacked by Guido da Montefeltro, at that time captain of Forlì, they were forced to surrender; Guido spared their lives and property, but burned the castle to the ground. After this outbreak the Calboli family were not allowed to return to Forlì until 1284. In 1279 Rinieri, who was evidently a person of great authority in Romagna, was present at Imola, at a treaty between the Accarisi and Manfredi of that city; and in 1291 he appeared, together with Malatesta da Verrucchio ([Inf. xxvii. 46]) and Mainardo Pagano da Susinana ([Inf. xxvii. 50]; [Purg. xiv. 118]), as surety for Guido da Polenta ([Inf. xxvii. 41]) in an agreement between him and Stefano da Colonna, lately count of Romagna, among those present being the counts of Romena and of Mangona and the Florentine ambassadors, Lapo Saiterello ([Par. xv. 128]) and Guelfo Cavalcanti. In 1292 Rinieri was a second time podestà of Faenza, of which Mainardo Pagano was at that time captain. During his tenure of office at Faenza the Faentines refused to pay a levy exacted by Aldobrandino da Romena, count of Romagna, and were supported in their refusal by the podestà and captain of the city. The count in consequence demanded the expulsion of the latter; whereupon Rinieri and Mainardo, with a strong force from Faenza, marched against Forlì, where Aldobrandino, with his brothers Aghinolfo and Alexander ([Inf. xxx. 77]), together with the counts of Mangona ([Inf. xxxii. 55-57]) and of Castrocaro ([Purg. xiv. 116]), Alberico de' Manfredi ([Inf. xxxii. 122]), and many other powerful Ghibellines, were assembled with their troops, made their way into the city and put them to flight, taking prisoners Aghinolfo, the count's brother, and his son, whom they carried back with them to Faenza. The Calboli now gained ground in Forlì, and soon (in 1294) provoked the Ghibellines to expel them. Two years later, however, in June 1296, while the Ghibellines of Romagna were engaged in an expedition against Bologna, the exiled Guelphs from Forlì, with the help of their allies from Ravenna and Rimini, made themselves masters of Forlì, and drove out their old enemies. But their triumph was shortlived, for the Ghibellines under Scarpetta degli Ordelaffi ([Inf. xxvii. 45]) and Galasso da Montefeltro (Conv. IV. xi. 14) hastened back and once more expelled the Guelphs, many of whom were killed and taken prisoners, among the former being Rinieri da Calboli and his brother Giovanni, as is recorded by Benvenuto. [See T. Casini, 'Dante e la Romagna', GD, i (1895), 19�27, 112�124, 303�313.] [Calboli.]