256 Federico da Montefeltro
or other dues. New ones were added throughout the
Middle Ages and became days of liturgical or civic PRO-
CESSIONSor dramatic presentations involving cycles of
plays or even parodies of authority all sponsored by the
town or a guild. Elaborate dinners might be included in
the celebration, especially among the richer elements of
aristocratic society.
JUDAISM AND ISLAMMedieval Judaism, following biblical law, celebrated seven
festival days or holidays during the year. On these days
work was forbidden and certain practices, prayers, and
rites were to be followed, such as on the Ros-Ha-Shanah,
Passover, or the Day of Atonement.
Islam noted special occasions such as Ashura, the
commemoration of the Martyrdom of al-Husayn, when
the Shiites practice mortification, displays of sorrow, and
tragic reenactments of martyrdom. Others commemorate
pilgrimages and the festive birthday of Muhammad
(Mawlid) with special meals and the honoring of
deceased loved ones. The breaking of the fast at the end
of RAMADANwas also annually celebrated with feasting
and joyous celebration.
See alsoCOOKING AND COOKERY; FASTING AND ABSTI-
NENCE; MYSTERY AND MIRACLE PLAYS; SABBATH.
Further reading: Madeleine Pelner Cosman, Fabu-
lous Feasts: Medieval Cookery and Ceremony(New York:
G. Braziller, 1976); Madeleine Pelner Cosman, Medieval
Holidays and Festivals: A Calendar of Celebrations(New
York: Scribner, 1981); Miriam Davis, “Festivals and Holi-
days” in Encyclopedia of Medieval Literature,ed. Robert
Thomas Lambdin and Laura Cooner Lambdin (Westport,
Conn.: Greenwood Press, 2000), 188–196; K. A. Heinrich
Kellner, Heortology: A History of the Christian Festivals
from Their Origin to the Present Day(London: K. Paul,
Trench, Trübner, 1908).
Federico da Montefeltro(1422–1482) Italian military
leader, patron of the arts
Born in 1422 as an illegitimate son to the count of Mon-
tefeltro, he became lord of Urbino from 1444, first as
count, then from 1474 as its second duke. He has been
well educated by VITTORINOda Feltre and learned sol-
diering from Niccolò Piccinino (1386–1444). Federico
had enjoyed a highly successful and lucrative career as a
mercenary general or CONDOTTIERIfor the highest bidder.
He channeled much of the ensuing wealth into patronage
of the arts, architecture, book collecting, and humanist
scholarship. Even as the illegitimate son of Count
Guidantonio (d. 1443), he attained rule over his father’s
papal vicariates after his half-brother’s murder in 1444.
By the end of his life he had attained many honors
including becoming gonfaloniere of the church, a knight
of the Neapolitan Order of the Ermine, and a knight of
the Garter. He had established such a high reputation
because of his successful and generally honorable mili-
tary career, political achievements and reputation for
good government, marriage alliance, discerning and aes-
thetic patronage of the arts and architecture, and employ-
ment of humanist scholars who wrote in his praise as a
Christian prince who appreciated classical culture, texts,
and manuscripts. He died in 1482.
See also BISTICCI,VESPASIANO;PIERO DELLA
FRANCESCA.
Further reading: Cecil H. Clough, The Duchy of
Urbino in the Renaissance (London: Variorum, 1981);
Maria Grazia Pernis and Laurie Schneider Adams, Fed-
erico da Montefeltro and Sigismondo Malatesta: The Eagle
and the Elephant(New York: P. Lang, 1996).Feltre, Vittorino da SeeVITTORINO DAFELTRE.Ferdinand II (V)(the Catholic)(1452–1516)king of
Aragon, Castile, and León
Born in 1452 Ferdinand was the son of John II, the king of
ARAGON(r. 1458–79). In the midst of civil wars, he was
given a sound humanist education and gained considerableKing Ferdinand II of Aragon, Dutch School, 1490–1500,
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, Austria(Erich Lessing /
Art Resource)