Urbino, Duchy of
Years: 1523 - 1625
The Duchy of Urbino is a sovereign state of northern Italy.The first lords of Urbino are the House of Montefeltro, who obtain the title of counts from Emperor Frederick II in 1213.
The first Duke is Oddantonio, who receives the title from Pope Eugene IV in 1443.
The duchy's territories occupy approximately the northern part of the modern region of Marche: they are bordered by the Adriatic Sea in the east, the Republic of Florence in the west and by the Papal States southwards.In 1523 the capital is moved to Pesaro.
After the short rule by Cesare Borgia in 1502–08, the dukedom goes to the della Rovere papal family, who hold it until 1625, when Pope Urban VIII annexes it to the Papal States as Legazione del Ducato di Urbino (later Legazione di Urbino).
