The first princely dynasty of Urbino affords examples of most of the phases of mediæval jurisdiction on which we have briefly touched in our introductory remarks. [Illustration: _Alinari_ VIEW OF URBINO] From the mists of the dark ages which brooded over the mountains of Central Italy, there emerged a race who gradually spread their paltry highland holding over a broad and fair duchy. In the territories earned by their good swords, and their faithful services to the Church, it was their pride to foster the lessons of peace, until their state became the cradle of science, of letters, and of art. The Counts of Montefeltro, a fief long held by imperial grant, gradually established the seigneury over the neighbouring town of Urbino, which thenceforth gave them their title, and in the thirteenth century they received investiture of it from the popes. Invited in 1371 by the people of Cagli to supplant the usurping Ceccardi, and in 1384, by those of Gubbio,[*18] to expel the tyrannical race of the Gabrielli, they were soon recognised as Church-vassals in both. Casteldurante, partially conquered from the Brancaleoni by Count Guidantonio, was erected into a countship in his person by Martin V. in 1433; and his son Federigo obtained by marriage the remaining fiefs of that family, including S. Angelo in Vado, Mercatello, and Massa Trabaria. Fossombrone was bought by the same Federigo in 1445, from Malatesta of Pesaro. Mondaino, Tavoleta, Sassocorbaro, La Pergola, S. Leo, Sant'Agata, and other townships, were wrested at intervals by the Counts of Urbino from their hereditary foes the Malatesta. The ducal house della Rovere owed to papal nepotism the rich endowments of Sinigaglia and Mondavio in 1474, and those of Pesaro, Gradara, and Novilara in 1513. [Footnote *18: The story of the Counts and Dukes of Urbino in Gubbio, which begins in this year, is a long one, lasting to 1632. Some of the sources of information may perhaps here be given. _Croniche di Gubbio_ di Ser Guerriero, di Fra Gir. Maria da Venezia e di Don Francesco (per cura del Prof. Giuseppe Mazzatinti), _R.I.S._, tom. XXI., parte IV. (Città di Castello, 1902). V. ARMANNI, _Stor. della famiglia de' conti Bentivoglio da Gubbio_ (Bologna, 1682). B. TONDI, _I Fasti della Gloria_ (Venezia, 1684). M. SARTI, _De Episcopis Eugubinis_ (Pisauri, 1755). R. REPOSATI, _Della Zecca di Gubbio ecc._ (Bologna, 1772). SIMON PAOLO, _Diario detto di Marcello Cervino_ (Gubbio, 1848). G. MAZZATINTI, _Cronaca di ser Guerriero di Ser Silvestro Berni_, in _Arch. Stor. per le Marche e per l'Umbria_ (Foligno), vol. I., pp. 195 e 385. G. MAZZATINTI, _Di alcune leggi suntuarie eugubine_, in _Bollettino per l'Umbria_ (Perugia), vol. III., pp. 287-301. F. BALLERINI, _Le feste di Gubbio per la nascita di Federico Ubaldo, dei duchi d'Urbino_, in _Il Muratori_, vol. I., fasc. II. e segg. (1892, Roma). O. SCALVANTI, _Il Mons Pietatis di Perugia con qualche notizia di quello di Gubbio_ (Perugia, 1892).