Scaliger

The House of Della Scala, whose members were known as Scaligeri () or Scaligers (), was the ruling family of Verona and mainland Veneto (except for Venice) from 1262 to 1387, for a total of 125 years.

== History == === Reign of the Scaligeri in Verona 1259 - 1387, 1404=== When Ezzelino III da Romano was elected podestà of the commune in 1226, he was able to convert the office into a permanent lordship. Upon his death in 1259 the Great Council elected as podestà del popolo Mastino I della Scala, who succeeded in converting the signoria (seigniory) into a family inheritance, governing at first with the acquiescence of the commune, then, when they failed to re-elect him in 1262, he effected a coup d'état and was acclaimed ("people's captain"), at the head of the commune's troops. In 1277 Mastino was killed by a faction of the nobles. The reign of his brother, Alberto I della Scala as capitano (1277–1302) was an incessant war against the counts of San Bonifacio, who were aided by the House of Este. Of his three sons, Cangrande I della Scala inherited the podestà position in 1308, only the last shared the government (1308) and made a name as warrior, prince and patron of Dante, Petrarch and Giotto. By war or treaty he brought under his control the cities of Padua (1328), Treviso (1329), and Vicenza.