Francesco I Manfredi

Francesco I Manfredi (c.1260 – 29 May 1343) founded the Manfredi lordship of Faenza and lived to see it taken from him by his own son. A Guelph leader in Romagna, he inherited family lands in 1309, became capitano del popolo of Faenza in 1313 and of Imola in 1314, and by 1319 was absolute lord of both.

His son Alberghettino failed to seize Faenza in 1326, but took it in 1327 with the Ordelaffi's backing, and Francesco lost both offices. The papal legate besieged it in 1328 with Francesco's other son Ricciardo at his side, and Alberghettino was beheaded the next year.

Francesco won Faenza back only in 1340, governing for his underage grandson Giovanni, and died there in 1343. His wife Rengarda Malatesta, daughter of Malatesta da Verucchio of Rimini, bore both sons.