Rienzo, Cola di (Nicolà di Rienzo) (c. 1313–1354)
Italian populist leader who tried to restore the greatness of
Rome
Rienzo summoned a Roman assembly on the Capitoline
Hill in May 1347 and assumed the title of tribune with
dictatorial powers, his aim being to replace the power of
the aristocrats and the absentee pope (then resident in
Avignon) with a popular government in Rome. He exe-
cuted reforms and prepared for the election of a Roman
emperor of Italy, but was overthrown by the Roman nobles
(December 1347). He went into exile, but triumphantly
resumed power in August 1354. His dictatorial style made
him unpopular and he was hacked to death by a Roman
mob soon afterward. Nevertheless, he has been honored in
literature and his life inspired Richard Wagner’s opera
Rienzi.
rilievo schiacciato or rilievo stiacciato See SCHIACCIATO
Rimini An Adriatic port and city state in Emilia-
Romagna, northern Italy. At first Umbro-Etruscan, Rimini
was subsequently under the sway of Romans, Byzantines,
Goths, Lombards, and Franks. By the early 14th century
Rimini had accepted papal suzerainty, but was actually
governed by the MALATESTA FAMILY, who were recognized
as lords of Rimini from 1334. In return for political and
military support successive popes supported the creation
of a city state based on Rimini. In the mid-15th century
Sigismondo MALATESTA’s quarrel with Pope PIUS IIand his
defeat (1463) led to Sigismondo’s exile and the restriction
of the Malatesta state to Rimini itself. The fortunes of Ri-
mini declined, and after some years of conflict Rimini be-
came directly subject to Rome (1527). Notable landmarks
have survived from the period of the rule of Sigismondo
Malatesta. These include the fortifications, the castle, and
the so-called TEMPIO MALATESTIANO.
Rivadeneyra, Pedro de See RIBADENEYRA, PEDRO DE
Rizzo, Antonio di Giovanni (c. 1440–c. 1500) Italian
sculptor and architect
A native of Verona, Rizzo worked chiefly in Venice, where
he settled in 1466. He worked with Giovanni AMADEOon
the Certosa di Pavia, but is better known for his tomb of
Doge Niccolò Tròn (c. 1480; Sta. Maria dei Frari, Venice),
which is notable for its scale and detail. Later works in-
cluded Adam and Eve (c. 1485) for the Arco Foscari of the
Palazzo Ducale, Venice, upon which he worked with An-
tonio Bregno (c. 1420–1501), clearly under the influence
of Flemish or German artists. The Scala dei Giganti of the
palace is likewise his work, as is the facade on the eastern
side of the Cortile, rebuilt after the fire of 1483.
Robbia, Luca della See DELLA ROBBIA, LUCA
Robert Bellarmine, St. (Roberto Francesco Romolo
Bellarmino) (1542–1621) Italian cardinal and theologian
He was born at Montepulciano, entered the Society of
Jesus in 1560, and studied in Rome, Mondovi, and Padua,
before being sent to Louvain in 1569. The following year,
after ordination, he began lecturing, and achieved
celebrity upon his return to Rome (1576) as professor at
the Jesuit Collegium Romanum (see GREGORIANA). He lec-
tured and wrote on a variety of controversial subjects, and
was both applauded and castigated for treating Protestant
views fairly. His most important writings were the three
volumes of lectures published under the title Disputationes
de controversiis Christianae fidei adversus huius temporis
haereticos (1586–93). These contained a scholarly and co-
gent appraisal of Roman Catholic doctrine, which was di-
vided into four sections: the Church, the sacraments,
Christ, and the grave.
Pope Clement VIII made Bellarmine a cardinal in
1599, and he was archbishop of Capua (1602–05) until ill
health caused his retirement; he moved first to Montepul-
ciano and then to Rome, where he eventually died. Bel-
larmine continued to write prolifically, his most important
work in later life being De scriptoribus ecclesiasticis
(1613). He was also an early critic of GALILEO, and the two
men shared a mutual respect. He was not canonized until
1930 because of his opposition to papal authority in tem-
poral matters.
The stoneware wine jugs with a bearded face that
were popular in the Rhineland from the mid-16th century
were called “Bellarmines,” apparently because they were
based on Protestant caricatures of the cardinal.Roberti, Ercole de’ See ERCOLE DE’ ROBERTIRobert of Anjou (1278–1343) King of Naples (as Robert
I, 1309–43)
Son of Charles II of Naples, Robert spent much of his
youth as a hostage in Aragon. His ambitions led him to
support the Guelf faction in their struggle against the pa-
pacy—with little success. He was known as a patron of lit-
erature and the arts, numbering GIOTTO and Simone
MARTINIamong his protégés, and was particularly inter-
ested in HUMANISM. He is also credited with the authorship
of moral and theological treatises.Robusti, Jacopo See TINTORETTORodiana, Onorata (died 1452) Italian fresco painter and
soldier
Born at Castelleone, Cremona, she was commissioned by
Marchese Gabrino Fondolo to paint murals in his palace.
When one of his courtiers attempted to rape her, she
stabbed him and escaped disguised as a man. She was
caught and tried for murder, but Gabrino pardoned her.
She then joined a band of condottieri and in 1423 em-44114 4 RRiieennzzoo,, CCoollaa ddii