Guido II da Polenta (died 1330), also known as Guido Novello, was an Italian who served as lord of

Ravenna Ravenna ( ; , also ; ) is the capital city of the Province of Ravenna, in the Emilia-Romagna region of Northern Italy. It was the capital city of the Western Roman Empire during the 5th century until its Fall of Rome, collapse in 476, after which ...

from 1316 until 1322. The nephew of Lamberto I da Polenta, he acquired the lordship of the city after his uncle's death. In 1316–1321 he was host of

Dante Alighieri Dante Alighieri (; most likely baptized Durante di Alighiero degli Alighieri; – September 14, 1321), widely known mononymously as Dante, was an Italian Italian poetry, poet, writer, and philosopher. His ''Divine Comedy'', originally called ...

. In 1322 he was named ''

capitano del popolo Captain of the people () was an administrative title used in Italy during the Middle Ages, established essentially to balance the power and authority of the noble families of the Italian city-states.Najemy, John M. 2006. ''A History of Florence 1 ...

'' of Bologna and left the government of Ravenna to his brother Rinaldo, who was archbishop of the city though without the Papal confirmation. Ostasio I da Polenta, from the family line of

Cervia Cervia () is a seaside resort town in the province of Ravenna, located in the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna. Cervia is a major seaside resort in Emilia-Romagna, North Italy. Its population was 28,983 at the 2023 census. It is mainly ...

, profited of the situation to kill Rinaldo and seize the power for himself. Guido Novello died in 1330 after trying in vain to reconquer Ravenna.

See also