Brancaleoni

The Brancaleoni were a noble family of the Marche, in the upper valley of the Metauro, who held the lordship of Massa Trabaria and the county of Mercatello sul Metauro. On the death of Bartolomeo Brancaleoni, lord of Massa Trabaria, in 1424 his daughters Gentile and Piera inherited his domains, while effective power passed to Guidantonio da Montefeltro, Count of Urbino, as papal vicar.

After Piera died, Gentile became sole heiress and in 1437 married Guidantonio's son Federico da Montefeltro, who took possession of the Brancaleoni lands by right of his wife.

Pope Eugene IV confirmed him as vicar and count in 1443, and when Federico became Duke of Urbino in 1444 the Brancaleoni castles, about eighteen in all, were merged into the Duchy of Urbino. Gentile died without surviving children in 1457, and the family's independent rule came to an end.