A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/D'Andalo, OB Brancaleone Galeaxa
D'ANDALO, or BRANCALEONE GALEAXA.
Nothing is known of the early youth of this lady, but that she belonged to the noble house of Saviolo of Bologna. She lived in the thirteenth century, a melancholy epoch for Italy, divided and torn to pieces by factions and princely demagogues. In 1251, her husband, Brancalcone D'Andalo, was selected by the upper council of Bologna to go to Rome, where the imbecile administration wished to confer on him the dignity of Senator, and to obtain the advantage of his services in appeasing their dissensions. He declined going until they sent hostages to Bologna. Galeana remained at Bologna to receive these noble Romans, and upon their arrival wrote to her husband a very elegant Latin letter, describing them and their reception. She then proceeded to Rome, where she found D'Andalo precipitated from his honours—the caprice of popular favour had turned—he was in a dungeon, and his life menaced. Struck with horror, she sunk not under this blow, but courageously presented herself to the council, and with a manly eloquence did this Bolognese matron appeal to the public faith; and solemnly one by one call upon the weak and perfidious individuals who had invited her husband to this snare. The good cause triumphed: Galeana had the felicity of returning home with D'Andalo, endeared to him by her virtuous exertions. She died in 1274.