Fermo

Fermo was a hill city in the Marche overlooking the Adriatic. In 1337 the Monteverde family ruled it among a succession of lords who were generally recognised as papal vassals.

Francesco Sforza was expelled in 1446. Oliverotto Euffreducci seized power in 1495, but was murdered on Cesare Borgia's orders in 1503. His son Ludovico fell at Montegiorgio in 1520. Fermo then passed to direct rule by the Papal States and remained a provincial capital in the March of Ancona.