The Duke died on the 10th of September, within a few days of the premature decease of Roberto Malatesta of Rimini, his son-in-law, and successor in command of the papal troops.[*201] Aided by the factious barons of the Campagna, the Duke of Calabria had gradually penetrated to the gates of Rome, when Roberto, on the 21st of August, dispersed his army in a pitched battle, and returned in triumph as saviour of the Eternal City. His death supervened in a few days, in consequence of a draught of cold water, or, as some thought, of poison administered by the jealous Count of Forlì; and Sixtus, to testify gratitude or remove suspicion, forthwith erected a monument to his general in St. Peter's, with an epitaph testifying that his life had been attended by valour, his death by victory.[202] [Footnote *201: He died on the same day (September 10) as the Duke. See BERN. ZAMBOTTO, _Silva Cronicarum_, Bib. Civica di Ferrara, MS. 470, f. 104 v. under Settem. 10, 1482: "The Duke of Urbino, Captain-General of all the army of the league, returning sick, in the ducal chambers of the garden towards our Duke's chapel of Our Lady in the palace with continual fever, died to-day at the sixteenth hour, and I saw him lying dead in his room under a covering of crimson velvet. He was conveyed by his own people to Urbino to be buried." Zambotto is writing in Ferrara, the palace--corte--is the present Palazzo del Municipio, and "our Duke" is the Duke of Ferrara. I am able to publish this note by the kindness of Mr. E.G. Gardner who sent it me. His book _Dukes and Poets at Ferrara_ (Constable, 1904) should be consulted concerning Ferrara.] [Footnote 202: The following pompous epitaph was written for Roberto:-- "Io son colui che venne, vidi, e vinsi L'invitto Duce, e Roma liberai, E lui da gloria, e me da vita spinsi." The chief was I who came, and saw, and beat The Duke, till then unconquered, freeing Rome. I spilt my life, but spent my foeman's fame.]