FAMILY HISTORY - A Spectacular Rise

The della Scala may have been considered ordinary, middle-class, Germanic merchants around the year 1200. They took on positions of leadership, becoming involved in local government. At the time when Ezzelino III da Romano (who may have killed 50,000 people) was killed near Soncino, Mastino della Scala was acting as a local leader of Verona. In grave need of capable leadership, the populace gave this family full responsibility and ownership. From that point, the family became incredibly wealthy. One generation of the dynasty was one of the richest families in Europe at the time. And then, in 1387, the Scaligeri lost everything.

UNDERSTANDING THE FAMILY TREE

The della Scala family tree shows the blocks of time each ruling member of the Scaligera family ruled. The timeline to the left shows the years of each lordship.
Dominant limbs start with a ruler's name then continue with his descendants.
The descendants are represented as either a healthy branch, for legitimate children (product of the lord and his wife) or an unproductive branch for illegitimate children (the product of the lord and an extramarital affair.)
For much of their dynastic rule, only the legitimate children were considered worthy of the Lordship of Verona. This changed when Cansignorio designated his two illegitimate sons to rule after his death.
The varying depths of the background represent the five generations of Scaligero rule, meaning each group is composed of only brothers.

EXPLORE THE FAMILY HISTORY OF THE SCALIGERI

MASTINO I

NAME, BIRTH: LEONARDINO DELLA SCALA ( MASTINO I )
DATE OF BIRTH: 1220 ?
DATE RULE BEGAN: 1259, 1260, 1261 ( AGE 30 ? )
DATE OF DEATH: 1277 ( AGE 57 ? )
CAUSE OF DEATH: ASSASSINATED BY RIVALS
FATHER'S NAME: JACOPINO DELLA SCALA
MOTHER'S NAME: ELISA SUPERBI
NO. WIVES ?, NO. KIDS: 1 (LEGIT) + 7 (NON)
SUCCESSORS: NONE

Mastino was governing Verona during the last of the Ezzelino III da Romano years. When Ezzelino III was killed in 1259 and Verona was free of his cruel tyranny, Mastino transitioned to full ownership and control of Verona and territory. Mastino had the castle in Sirmione built after removing 'heretics' from this area.

ALBERTO I

NAME, BIRTH: ALBERTO DELLA SCALA
DATE OF BIRTH: 1245 ?
DATE RULE BEGAN: 1277 ( AGE 32 ? )
DATE OF DEATH: 1301 ( AGE 56 ? )
CAUSE OF DEATH: UNKNOWN
FATHER'S NAME: JACOPINO DELLA SCALA
MOTHER'S NAME: ELISA SUPERBI
WIFE'S NAME: VERDE DI SALIZZOLE
NO. KIDS: 6 (LEGIT) + 1 (NON)
SUCCESSORS: BARTOLOMEO I, ALBOINO, & CANGRANDE I

Alberto, took power in 1377 when his brother, Mastino, was killed. Alberto had served in local governments prior to becoming the Lord of Verona. He had three boys that would grow up to become Lords of Verona. Alberto was not terribly aggressive, adding just a few castles, like this one in Malcesine, during his lifetime. He also peacefully converted the family rule into a signoria.

BARTOLOMEO I

NAME, BIRTH: BARTOLOMEO DELLA SCALA
DATE OF BIRTH: 1270
DATE RULE BEGAN: 1301 ( AGE 31 )
DATE OF DEATH: 1304 ( AGE 34 )
CAUSE OF DEATH: UNKNOWN
FATHER'S NAME: ALBERTO DELLA SCALA
MOTHER'S NAME: VERDE DI SALIZZOLE
WIFE'S NAME: COSTANZA DI ANTIOCHIA & ONESTA DEI CONTI DI SAVOIA
NO. KIDS: 1 (LEGIT) +2 (NON)
SUCCESSORS: NONE

BARTOLOMEO RULED FOR A VERY SHORT PERIOD, BUT IN THAT TIME HE RECEIVED THE HIGHEST PRAISES FROM, MOST NOTABLY, DANTE ALIGHIERI. THE POET WAS IN POLITICAL EXILE AND SPENT TIME IN VERONA AMONG MANY GREAT MINDS. HE PRAISED BARTOLOMEO IN THE DEVINE COMEDY, PARADISE. THE LORDSHIP, AT THE POINT OF BARTOLOMEO'S SUCCESSION, BECAME HEREDITARY.

ALBOINO

NAME, BIRTH: ALBOINO DELLA SCALA
DATE OF BIRTH: ?
DATE RULE BEGAN: 1304 ( AGE ? )
DATE OF DEATH: 1311 ( AGE ? )
CAUSE OF DEATH: ILLNESS
FATHER'S NAME: ALBERTO DELLA SCALA
MOTHER'S NAME: VERDE DI SALIZZOLE
WIFE'S NAME: CATERINA VISCONTI & BEATRICE DA CORREGGIO
NO. KIDS: 5 (LEGIT) +1 (NON)
SUCCESSORS: MASTINO II & ALBERTO II

ALBOINO WAS OLD ENOUGH TO TAKE CONTROL OF VERONA WHEN BARTOLOMEO DIED, BUT HE HAD NO EXPERIENCE. HE WAS ALSO AN INFERIOR LEADER AND LEFT NO GAINS FOR HIS CITY OF VERONA. IN 1308, ALBOINO CHOSE TO RULE ALONGSIDE HIS YOUNGER BROTHER CANGRANDE.

CANGRANDE I

NAME, BIRTH: CAN FRANCESCO DELLA SCALA ( CANGRANDE )
DATE OF BIRTH: 1291
DATE RULE BEGAN: 1308 ( AGE 17 )
DATE OF DEATH: 1329 ( AGE 38 )
CAUSE OF DEATH: KILLED BY WAY OF POISONING
FATHER'S NAME: ALBERTO DELLA SCALA
MOTHER'S NAME: VERDE DI SALIZZOLE
WIFE'S NAME: GIOVANNA DE SVEVIA
NO. KIDS: 0 (LEGIT) +8 (NON)
SUCCESSORS: NONE

Cangrande was a natural leader / warrior and his father, Alberto, knew it early in Cangrande's life. Records indicate he was knighted when he was three years old. He was always fascinated by the role his family had and was given the chance to co-rule at 17 years old. When Alboino died three years later, it was Cangrande who led Verona on to phenomenal prosperity. He was a regional leader for the Ghibelline alliance and lord of Vicenza, Padua, Treviso, Belluno, Feltre, Monselice, Bassano, and Imperial Vicar of Manua. He was known as a gracious winner and had a very intellectually curious nature.

MASTINO II ( & ALBERTO II )

NAME, BIRTH: MASTINO II DELLA SCALA
DATE OF BIRTH: 1308
DATE RULE BEGAN: 1329 AGE ( 21 )
DATE OF DEATH: 1351 AGE ( 43 )
CAUSE OF DEATH: UNKNOWN
FATHER'S NAME: ALBOINO DELLA SCALA
MOTHER'S NAME: BEATRICE DA CORREGGIO
WIFE'S NAME: TADDEA DA CARRARA
NO. KIDS: 7 (LEGIT) +5 (NON)
SUCCESSORS: CANGRANDE II, CANSIGNORIO, & PAOLO ALBOINO

Born in 1306 Alberto II and 1308 Mastino II, they took power in 1329. Mastino was an independent and aggressive military leader. The brothers added several cities to their impressive dominion: Brescia, Parma, and Lucca. Because of miscalculations and poor diplomacy, an immense league was formed against the Scaligeri. In 1339 they signed a treaty, losing much of their lands and prestige. Their possessions dwindled to Verona and Vicenza. The Serraglio was started, but paused due to the outbreak of the plague in 1348. Mastino II died in 1351, leaving the Lordship of Verona and Vicenza to his brother, Alberto II, and son, Cangrande II.

( MASTINO II & ) ALBERTO II

NAME, BIRTH: ALBERTO II DELLA SCALA
DATE OF BIRTH: 1308
DATE RULE BEGAN: 1329 AGE ( 21 )
DATE OF DEATH: 1351 AGE ( 43 )
CAUSE OF DEATH: UNKNOWN
FATHER'S NAME: ALBOINO DELLA SCALA
MOTHER'S NAME: BEATRICE DA CORREGGIO
WIFE'S NAME: TADDEA DA CARRARA
NO. KIDS: 0 (LEGIT) +2 (NON)
SUCCESSORS: NONE

Born in 1306 Alberto II and 1308 Mastino II, they took power in 1329. Mastino held the military power, while Alberto was more diplomatic. The brothers added several cities to their impressive dominion: Brescia, Parma, and Lucca. Because of miscalculations and poor diplomacy, an immense league was formed against the Scaligeri. During the war, Alberto was held as prisoner in Venice. In 1339 they signed a treaty, losing much of their lands and prestige. Their possessions dwindled to Verona and Vicenza, becoming a buffer state to the powerful neighboring cities. The Serraglio was started but paused due to the outbreak of the plague in 1348. Mastino II died in 1351, leaving the Lordship of Verona and Vicenza to Alberto II and Cangrande II, son of Mastino II. When Alberto II died a year later, Cangrande II took full control.

CANGRANDE II

NAME, BIRTH: CANGRANDE II DELLA SCALA (CAN RABBIOSO)
DATE OF BIRTH: 06/07/1332
DATE RULE BEGAN: 1351 AGE ( 19 )
DATE OF DEATH: 1359 AGE ( 27 )
CAUSE OF DEATH: KILLED BY YOUNGER BROTHER, CANSIGNORIO
FATHER'S NAME: MASTINO II DELLA SCALA
MOTHER'S NAME: TADDEA DA CARRARA
WIFE'S NAME: ELISABETTA DI BAVIERANO.
NO. KIDS: 0 (LEGIT) +8 (NON)
SUCCESSORS: NONE

Cangrande II initiated the construction of Castelvecchio in Verona in 1354. At this moment in history, the Gonzaga family from Mantua, Venice, and Milano's Visconti family posed serious threats to Verona. Construction was completed in 1376, 17 years after he was killed by his younger brother Cansignorio.

CANSIGNORIO ( & PAOLO ALBOINO )

NAME, BIRTH: CANSIGNORIO DELLA SCALA
DATE OF BIRTH: 03/05/1340
DATE RULE BEGAN: 1359 AGE ( 19 )
DATE OF DEATH: 1375 AGE ( 35 )
CAUSE OF DEATH: ?
FATHER'S NAME: MASTINO II DELLA SCALA
MOTHER'S NAME: TADDEA DA CARRARA
WIFE'S NAME: AGNESE D'ANGIO-DURAZZO
NO. KIDS: 1 (LEGIT) +3 (NON)
SUCCESSORS: ANTONIO & BARTOLOMEO

Cansignorio was born in 1340, but took power in 1359 after killing his brother. He ruled with his younger brother Paolo Alboino (born in 1344). Cansignorio imprisoned Paolo Alboino in Peschiera and eventually had him killed as Cansignorio was near death in 1375.

( CANSIGNORIO & ) PAOLO ALBOINO

NAME, BIRTH: PAOLO ALBOINO DELLA SCALA
DATE OF BIRTH: 1343
DATE RULE BEGAN: 1359 AGE ( 16 )
DATE OF DEATH: 1375 AGE ( 32 )
CAUSE OF DEATH: KILLED BY OLDER BROTHER, CANSIGNORIO
FATHER'S NAME: MASTINO II DELLA SCALA
MOTHER'S NAME: TADDEA DA CARRARA
WIFE'S NAME: N/A
NO. KIDS: 0 (LEGIT) +0 (NON)
SUCCESSORS: ANTONIO & BARTOLOMEO

Paolo Alboino was born in 1343, but took power in 1359 when the oldest of the three brothers was killed by the second oldest brother. The two brothers technically ruled together for several years, but Cansignorio imprisoned Paolo Alboino in Peschiera and eventually had him killed as Cansignorio was near death in 1375.

BARTOLOMEO II ( & ANTONIO )

NAME, BIRTH: BARTOLOMEO II DELLA SCALA

DATE OF BIRTH: 1358

DATE RULE BEGAN: 10/18/1375 AGE ( 17 )

DATE OF DEATH: 7/12/1381 AGE ( 23 )

CAUSE OF DEATH: POSSIBLE POISONING BY BROTHER, ANTONIO

FATHER'S NAME: CANSIGNORIO DELLA SCALA

MOTHER'S NAME: MARGHERITA DEI PITTATI

WIFE'S NAME: N/A NO. KIDS 0

SUCCESSORS: NONE, , VISCONTI TAKE POWER

Illegitimate sons of Cansignorio, Bartolomeo II and Antonio took power as young teenagers in 1375. Antonio killed his brother, Bartolomeo, in 1381.

( BARTOLOMEO II & ) ANTONIO

NAME, BIRTH: ANTONIO DELLA SCALA

DATE OF BIRTH: 1362

DATE RULE BEGAN: 1375 AGE ( 13 )

DATE OF OUSTER: 1387 AGE ( 25 )

DATE OF DEATH: 1388 AGE ( 26)