The March of Ancona ( or Anconetana) was a frontier march centred on the city of Ancona and later Fermo then Macerata in the Middle Ages.Biondo Flavio (1559) Italy Illuminated, ed. Jeffrey A. White Its name is preserved as an Italian region today, the Marche, and it corresponds to almost the entire modern region and not just the Province of Ancona.

History Originally part of Imperial Italy, the march was constituted around 1100 from the March of Fermo and a southern portion of the Byzantine Pentapolis. Initially the new march took the name of its first ruler: marca Guarnerii or march of Werner. There were disputes between the Empire and the Church over rights and jurisdiction in the March. In 1173, an imperial army under Christian of Mainz invaded the March against pro-papal resistance led by Countess Boltruda Frangipani. In 1177, Pope Alexander III referred to it as "partly belonging to the empire but largely to the church".

The march was definitely acquired by the Papal States during the pontificate of Innocent III in the year 1198. It was initially governed by a papal nominee called a rector. The rector of Ancona, like the rectors of other papal provinces, was under the authority of a general rector reporting directly to the pope. Under the papacy, the March had three towns of over 10,000 people: Ancona, Ascoli Piceno and Fermo.

The province was reorganized by the Constitutiones Sanctæ Matris Ecclesiæ in 1357. The march followed the Adriatic as far north as Urbino and contained the cities of Loreto, Camerino, Fermo, Macerata, Osimo, San Severino, and Tolentino

From the late Middle Ages onward, however, the effective administration of many towns in the March of Ancona was largely exercised by local urban elites organized in hereditary patriciates. The popes came to rely on these local aristocracies, seeing them as essential for maintaining peace, preserving social order, and ensuring the regular collection of taxes.Zenobi, Bandino Giacomo. Ceti e potere nella Marca pontificia. Formazione e organizzazione della piccola nobiltà fra '500 e '700. Bologna: Il Mulino, 1976.

According to Paul Sabatier's biography of St. Francis of Assisi, "The Road to Assisi", the March of Ancona became the home of the spiritual Franciscans after Francis' death.

Rulers Werner (1093–1109) Conrad of Lützelhard (1177– ) Markward von Annweiler (1184–1202)

Marquess

House of Este The line of "Marquesses of Este"("Marchesi d'Este") rises in 1039 with Albert Azzo II, Margrave of Milan. The name "Este" is related to the city where the family came from, Este. The family was founded by Adalbert the Margrave. who might have been the true first Margrave of Milan of this family. In 1209 Azzo VI is named the first "Marquess of Ferrara", and the title passed to his descendants, and Este Marquisate's was delegated to a cadet branch of the family. Later, were also created the Marquisates of Modena and Reggio.

RulerBornReignDeathConsortNotesAzzo VIc.11701209-1212November 1212 Sofia Aldobrandini1189two childrenSophia (Eleonora) of Savoybefore 1192one childAlix of Châtillon22 February 1204two children Son of Azzo V. In 1209 was made the first Marquess of Ferrara. Aldobrandino Ic.11901212-121510 October 1215 UnknownBefore 1215three children Son of Azzo VI and SofiaAzzo VII Novelloc.12051212-126416 February 1264 Giovanna of Puglia1225five childrenMabilia Pallavicini1238no/two children Son of Azzo VI and Alix Obizzo II1247 or 12521264-129320 January or 13 February 1293 Jacopina (Fieschi) of Lavagna1263three childrenConstance (della Scala) of Verona1289two children Grandson of Azzo VII, as bastard son of Azzo's son, Rinaldo. Azzo VIIIAfter 12631293-130831 January 1308 Giovanna OrsiniSeptember 1282three childrenBeatrice of SicilyApril 1305no childrenSon of Obizzo II.Francesco Ic. or after 12891293-131223 August 1312 Orsina Orsinifour childrenSon of Obizzo II.Aldobrandino II?1293-132626 July 1326 Alda Rangoni1289four childrenCo-ruled with his sons and nephews, following a pro-Este revolt in Ferrara.Rinaldo?1326-133531 December 1335 Lucrezia di Barbianoone childCo-ruled with his brothers and cousins, following a pro-Este revolt in Ferrara.Niccolò I?1326-13441 May 1344 Beatrice of Mantua21 April 1335no childrenCo-ruled with his brothers and cousins, following a pro-Este revolt in Ferrara.Obizzo III14 July 12941326-135220 March 1352 Jacopa PepoliMay 1317no childrenFilippa Ariosti(lover until 1347)27 November 1347ten children(legitimated 1347)Co-ruled with his brothers and cousins, following a pro-Este revolt in Ferrara.

House of Sforza

Francesco I Sforza (1434–1443).

References

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