Ezzelino III da Romano (April 25, 1194 – October 7, 1259) was a feudal lord in the March of Treviso (the modern Veneto) who was a close ally of the emperor Frederick II and ruled Verona, Vicenza and Padua for almost two decades. He became infamous as a cruel tyrant though much of his sinister reputation may be due to the propaganda of his many enemies.