Arsuf had been captured by the Muslims in 1187 but on September 7, 1191, had fallen again to the Crusaders after a battle between Richard I of England and Saladin.

John of Ibelin, Lord of Beirut (1177—1236) had in 1207 become Lord of Arsuf when he married Melisende of Arsuf (born around 1170).

Their son John of Arsuf (who lived from around 1211 to 1258) had inherited the title.

The title then passed to John of Arsuf's eldest son Balian of Arsuf (1239—1277) who had built new walls, a large fortress, and in 1241 a new harbor.

The city has been ruled from 1261 by the Knights Hospitaller.

Baibars captures Arsur in 1265 after forty days of siege.

The Mamluks raze the city walls and the fortress to their foundations, fearing a return of the crusaders.

The destruction is so complete that the site is abandoned.

Malatesta da Verucchio, who had ejected the Ghibelline (proimperial) leaders from Rimini and established his family's rule over the city, dies in 1312.

He was originally the leader of the Guelphs in Romagna and became podestà (chief magistrate) of Rimini in 1239.

In 1295, he made himself complete master of Rimini by killing the chief members of the rival Ghibelline family, the Parcitati, including their leader Montagna.

His eldest son was Giovanni Malatesta, famous for the 1285 tragedy, recorded in Dante's Inferno, in which he killed his wife Francesca da Polenta and his younger brother Paolo, having discovered them in adultery.

He is succeeded as seignior of Rimini by his other son Malatestino, who, like his father, is mentioned by Dante in his Inferno (XVII, 48-48; and XVIII, 76-84), described as a tyrant like his father, and as the assassin of Guido del Cassero and Angiolello da Carignano.

Malatestino had been podestà of Cesena (1290–1295), capitano del popolo of Bologna in 1296, podestà of Rimini (1302) and capitano del popolo of Florence (1303).

On inheriting the lordship of Rimini, he subsequently adds Cesena and Jesi.