'Barbara Manfredi' (
1444 -
1466) was the wife of
Pino III Ordelaffi, lord of
Forlì (
Italy).
She was born in
Faenza, current
Emilia-Romagna, to
Astorre II Manfredi, seignior of that city. At the age seven she was bethrothed to the powerful Pino III Ordelaffi, who married her in
1462.
The following year Pino became ill. His brother
Francesco (Cecco) was suspected of poisoning him, but the Forlivese lord survived. However, when in
1466 Francesco fell ill in turn, and Barbara attempted to poison him. Cecco was in the end assassinated by one of his officers, and Pino could be the sole lord of the city, maintaining that position thanks the support of
Venice.
However, when Barbara suddenly died, the jealous Pino was accused by Astorre of poisoning her. The magnificent sepulchre that her husband commissioned her (now in the
Abbey of San Mercuriale in Forlì) was seen as a proof of his guilty conscience.