Conrad Malaspina the Elder

Conrad Malaspina, also known as L'Antico or The Old, was an Italian nobleman who lived in the 12th century.^[1] There is no certainty about Conrad's birthdate but most historians agree that it is around 1180, his death date is also uncertain but it is speculated to be around July 1254. Conrad was the forefather of the "Spino Secco" (dried thorn in English) branch of the Malaspina family. Conrad Malaspina's achievements were of fundamental importance for the way Italian territories were shaped. He had very close relationships with Emperor Frederick II as well as many intellectuals and political figures of the time.

He was born approximately around 1180, his father was Obizzo II Malaspina (died circa 1193). He started his diplomatic career in 1198 when he himself confirmed the attornment of the knolls of the “Court of Gondola” to the city of Piacenza. The juridical procedures needed for this attornment had started to be composed years before by his uncles Alberto Malaspina and Morroello Malaspina. His diplomatic career hence began under the supervision of his uncles, who, until he turned 18, were acting in his name, he also worked alongside his cousins, they were tied by their common ancestor, the marques Obizzo I. In the period they worked together they had an intense diplomatic activity trying to solve the contrasts that arose with the Count-Bishop of the diocese of “Luni”, consequentially they signed agreements with the cities of Genoa, Milan, Piacenza, Tortona and Modena.

Starting from the last decade of the XIIIth century the Malaspina family began to have some contrasts with the Count-Bishop of the diocese of “Luni” because of the considerable richness in lands they had acquired from the d’Este family, that had previously stolen them from the da Vezzano family. By 1202 a compromise was found: the parties agreed on reciprocal defense within the borders of the diocese of “Luni” as well as the equal division of the contended lands, under the promise that the bishop would pay an initial amount of money plus a yearly tax.

Between 1210 and 1218 Conrad signed several agreements. Between 1210 and 1212 he signed pacts with Piacenza, Milan and Tortona to ensure the safety of Lombard merchants traveling on the Apennine roads. The Malaspina family was a strong supporter of Emperor Otto von Brunswick in his contrast against pope Innocent the third, Pavia and the marquessate of Monferrato. Even if Emperor Otto von Brunswick lost in the battle of Bouvines in 1214 the Malaspina family kept fighting against Pavia, which was impeding pilgrims from reaching Rome, siding with Milan and afterwards Piacenza. Between 1215 and 1216 Conrad tried to seize some strategic positions on the eastern coast of Liguria thus causing Genoa to react. On both the Genovese and Pavia’s front peace was achieved between 1217 and 1218.

Between April and August 1221 Conrad and his cousin Obizzo, son of Conrad’s uncle Gugliemo, carried out the first separation of the family’s patrimonial assets. The Malaspina’s family domain was divided in two parts, one belonged to Conrad, who is the founder of the Spino Secco branch, the other belonged to Obizzo, who started the Spino Fiorito branch (Blooming Thorn). Such division was preceded by the preventive splitting of Alberto Malaspina’s heredity between uncle Guglielmo Malaspina and Conrad. Upon request, Emperor Frederic the second in 1220 confirmed the validity of the solution regarding the division of the land owned by Conrad and Obizzo in the territories of Liguria, Lombardy and of Lunigiana. Conrad was entrusted with lands in the “Appennino Lombardo", amongst which: Val Trebbia (valley of the river Trebbia) and the castle of Pregola; in Lunigiana^[2] he occupied Mulazzo and the lands on the right of the Magra river.^[3]

The relationship Conrad and his cousin Obizzo started with Emperor Frederick II was very prolific, even though they didn't have a prominent position in his court, they followed him in northern and central Italy during his campaigns. Conrad was at Frederick's side in the battles of Monterosi (1220), Capua (1222) and Pontremoli (1226). Conrad's alliance with Frederick II was briefly interrupted in 1226, because the two cousins sided with Milan and Piacenza, against the Emperial Party. While Obizzo's schism lasted even after the conflict, after a few months, Conrad went back to the emperor's side. Hence in 1248 Frederick II gave all the Lunigiana to Pisa, except for Conrad's land and the castle of Pontremoli, to thank him for his loyalty. After the emperor's death (1250), Conrad went back to his family and managing his possessions, he then helped the Spino Fiorito branch to reestablish its position of power, as reported in a document stating that in 1253 the two cousins occupied for a short period Pontremoli. After July 1254 there are no documents about Conrad's actions but it is known that in 1259 his wife (at the time) Agnesina was widowed (implying his death to be between 1254 and 1259).

Conrad had 7 children in total: Moroello, Franceschino, Albert, Manfredi, Federico, Selvaggia and Beatrice, he also raised as his own the illegitimate child of his cousin Frederik I Malaspina, Conrad Malaspina (the young) (also known as Corradino). His first wife is thought to be Costanza (daughter of Frederick II) but there is no written document confirming this, in 1259 the existence of a new consort is confirmed, Agnesina.

The common management of the family's assets and the political strategies, pursued by Conrad, and his uncles Alberto and Guglielmo Malaspina, reflected the spirit of the courtly period in which the family lived. The Malaspina family became patron to several Provençal Troubadours that were travelling to the northern Italian courts. Some of the most famous were: Raimbaut de Vaqueiras, Aimeric de Pegulhan, Abertet de Sisteron and Guilhelm de la Tor.^[4] To the family members were dedicated several songs, sirventes and tensos, many of which had a political topic.^[5]

In the eighth chant of the Purgatory, Dante Alighieri celebrates their courtly values, especially liberality and hospitality, that were well known in the entirety of Europe.^[6]

La fama che la vostra casa onora,
grida i segnori e grida la contrada,
sì che ne sa chi non vi fu ancora; e io vi giuro, s'io di sopra vada,
che vostra gente onrata non si sfregia
del pregio de la borsa e de la spada.
(Divina Commedia, Purgatorio, Dante Alighieri, Canto 8, Vv. 121–129)^[7]

“Oh!” said I then to him, "I 've never been
in your domains, but where throughout all Europe
dwelleth a man who knows them not? The fame
which honoreth your house, proclaims its lords,
proclaims its district, so that even he
knows of them, who hath never been there yet.
I swear to you, so may I go on high,
that of the glorious use of purse and sword
your honored race doth not despoil itself.
(Divine Comedy, Purgatory, Dante Alighieri, 8th Chant, Vv. 121–129)^[8]

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