Fazio Novello della Gherardesca

Bonifazio Novello della Gherardesca, known as Fazio Novello (c. 1305–1340), was the only son of Gherardo Gaddo, count of Donoratico. In 1327 he was among those who accepted Emperor Louis the Bavarian as lord of Pisa; when imperial rule bred discontent, he led the revolt of June 1329 that expelled the imperial vicar, Tarlato of Arezzo, and took power.

That August he made peace with Florence and returned Pisa to papal obedience. In 1332 he beat back a coup by exiles under the former bishop Gherardo Orlandi, and in 1335 he put down a rising of noble and popular houses, an event recalled by a victory tower at the Ponte di Spina.

The Studium Pisano was founded under his rule in 1338. He died on 22 December 1340, and his son Ranieri Novello took over Pisa.