Mercenario da Monteverde

Mercenario da Monteverde (c. 1275–1340) was a Ghibelline commander who became tyrant of Fermo in the March of Ancona. He began fighting in 1318, raiding towns around Macerata, and in 1323 defeated the Guelphs under Berardo II da Varano of Camerino at the battle of Osimo.

In September 1328 he took part at Fermo in preliminary peace terms with the papal rector. In 1331 he seized Fermo by a coup and ruled there for ten years, ignoring the repeated demands of Pope Benedict XII that he submit to the Church.

In February 1340 conspirators set on him as he rode with seven companions and killed him. Chroniclers remembered him as a wicked tyrant and enemy of the Church.