Fire and Sword: Angelo della Pergola’s Ferocious Path
Angelo della Pergola (Angelo del Foco)
He was likely born in Pergola, in the district of Madonna del Piano. The son of poor farmers, he rose to prominence as the Count of Biandrate and the lord of Sartirana Lomellina and Zeme. He was the father of Antonio della Pergola and Leone della Pergola.
Born: 1369, ca.
Death: 1428, April
| Year, Month | State, Comp. ventura | Opponent | Command | Area of Activity | Actions Undertaken and Other Salient Facts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1397 | |||||
| May | He serves as a man-at-arms in the service of the Malatesta lords of Fano. | ||||
| 1401 | Fano | Comp. ventura | Marche | He clashes with Guglielmo Lancellotti, known as “il Mecca”. | |
| 1403/1404 | Ubaldini della Carda | City of C. | Marche and Umbria | He is engaged in skirmishes opposing the Ubaldini della Carda of Apecchio and Città di Castello for the possession of some Apennine castles and fortresses. | |
| 1405 | |||||
| … | Naples | Church | |||
| Dec. | Pisa Comp. ventura | Florence, Siena | 600 cavalry | Tuscany | Under the pay of Pisa. The Florentines hire Ludovico Migliorati, who is in the Sienese territory. He attacks his men as they advance disorderly from the Papal States towards Siena. His company is destroyed. Angelo della Pergola moves with the scattered troops into Maremma, where he is opposed by the captains of the “Compagnia della Rosa”, in the service of the Sienese, Giovanni Malvicini and Cataluccio da Orvieto. |
| 1407 | Fermo | Comp. ventura | Marche | He becomes lieutenant general with Pietro Navarrino of the lord of Fermo, Ludovico Migliorati. He besieges Rocca Contrada (Arcevia). At the head of 700 cavalry, he moves against Braccio da Montone, called in for their support by the inhabitants of the locality, in a valley between Arcevia and Certopiano on the side of Monte Sant’Angelo. The opponent, leading only 100 cavalry, positions himself on a nearby hill. The combat ceases in the evening after several hours. Twelve of his horses remain on the field, while almost all the men of Braccio da Montone are wounded. Angelo della Pergola is obliged to abandon the siege operations and return to Fermo. | |
| 1409 | |||||
| Feb. | Florence | Naples | Marche | He leaves the service of Migliorati. He supports Malatesta Malatesta against the troops of Ladislaus of Anjou. He tries to seize Petritoli in the Fermano region by treaty. | |
| June | Tuscany | With Francesco Orsini (300 cavalry), he assists Malatesta Malatesta in the successful ambush at Bagno Vignoni against Gentile da Monterano. | |||
| July | Lazio | Following the landing of Louis of Anjou at Pisa, Angelo della Pergola enters the Papal States at the head of 1500 cavalry. He occupies various cities from the opponents. | |||
| 1410 | |||||
| Mar. | Siena | Pitigliano, Naples | Captain General, 150 lances and 100 foot soldiers | Tuscany | In mid-month, he signs a six-month contract with Siena. He is given the title of Captain General. The contract is renewable and provides for Angelo della Pergola to command 150 lances and 100 foot soldiers. He has the task of fighting the Count of Pitigliano, Bertoldo Orsini, after the withdrawal of the King of Naples from Tuscany. He raids numerous livestock in Maremma; he agrees with a resident of Sovana, Antonio Querciuola, to seize the locality by surprise. He has the consent of the Captain of the People, Niccolò Bulgherini; they are assisted from Grosseto by Tommaso da Castello da San Quirico and Stangalino della Palude. |
| Apr. | Tuscany | He approaches Sovana and places his men in two nearby points while Antonio Querciuola and a Frenchman, an expert climber, climb up via Cupa accompanied by several soldiers. They ascend to the upper city where there are no walls, open a gate, and let his troops in; even the defenders of the fortress surrender without problems; the center is sacked. | |||
| May-July | Tuscany | In May, he is reported at Arcidosso and Montalcino with 900 cavalry and not many foot soldiers. In mid-June, he is at Ospitaletto; in mid-July, he camps with Commissioner Niccolò Bonsignori in the territory of Montalcino and Abbadia San Salvatore. | |||
| Sept. | Tuscany | He obtains Saturnia. In mid-month, a review of his company takes place at San Quirico d’Orcia. He escorts Louis of Anjou to Acquapendente. Upon the expiration of the contract, he goes to Siena to discuss its renewal. Returning to the camp without any commitment, he allows his men to plunder the territory of Montacuto where they are encamped. In the same days, he confronts Tartaglia and Ceccolino dei Michelotti, who are plundering the county of Arcidosso in the Sienese territory. | |||
| Nov. | Siena | Naples | Tuscany | He occupies the castle of Montauto. When informed of the loss of Talamone to the Angevins, he tries to recover the locality but is forced to desist due to difficulties encountered in his action. He signs a truce with Bertoldo Orsini and returns to Siena. | |
| 1411 | Rimini | Tuscany, Romagna | He leaves the service of the Sienese and enters the service of the Malatesta. The Florentines do not grant him passage; from the Arezzo area, he crosses Umbria and arrives in Rimini. He commands 700 soldiers. | ||
| 1412 | |||||
| Oct. | Cesena | Fermo, Antipope | Marche | Under the orders of Andrea Malatesta, he confronts the lord of Fermo, Ludovico Migliorati, and the supporters of Antipope John XXIII. | |
| Nov. | Marche | He is entrusted with the command of the troops when Andrea Malatesta must return to Romagna for some time. | |||
| 1413 | |||||
| Jan. | Marche | He enters Monterubbiano, still alongside Andrea Malatesta, at the head of 600 cavalry. | |||
| Oct. | Marche | He is reported at Montegiorgio. | |||
| 1414 | |||||
| July | He is included as an ally of the Malatesta in the peace stipulated between the King of Naples, Ladislaus of Anjou, and the Antipope. | ||||
| Nov. | Rimini | Fermo, Camerino | Marche | He fights for Carlo Malatesta against the lords of Fermo (Ludovico Migliorati) and Camerino (Rodolfo da Varano). | |
| 1415 | |||||
| Feb. | Marche | He surprises at Montottone Simone dell’Aquila and Bartolomeo Smeducci, who, with 60 cavalry and twenty foot soldiers, have left Monteverde to raid the territory of Montegiorgio: he captures the two captains with 30 men. Simone dell’Aquila will be freed only with the surrender of Monteverde. | |||
| 1416 | |||||
| July | Perugia | Montone | Umbria | Still under the orders of Carlo Malatesta, he opposes Braccio da Montone; he participates in the Battle of Umbertide or Sant’Egidio, commanding the vanguard (1000 cavalry and 800 foot soldiers). Attacked by the rearguard of Tartaglia, he initially seems to prevail over the enemies; the Bracceschi replace tired squads with fresh ones; with the arrival on the field of Cherubino da Perugia, Angelo della Pergola has to retreat until, after seven hours of combat, he is forced into a disorderly flight. He saves himself with 400 cavalry in the Foligno area. The Trinci detain him at the request of Braccio da Montone. His men are robbed. | |
| 1417 | |||||
| … | Rimini | Romagna | Returning to the service of the Malatesta, he arrests in Rimini Martino da Faenza on charges of treason: the condottiero will later be beheaded in Fano. | ||
| June | Bologna | Ferrara | 200 lances and 100 foot soldiers | Emilia | He has the task of recovering the castle of San Giovanni in Persiceto, which has rebelled against the Bolognese to give itself to the Estensi. He besieges the locality with Gozzadino Gozzadini, Bartolomeo Mangili, Simone da Canossa, and Giacomo da Perugia; repels a sortie by the opponents and enters the center after a gate has been opened to him by treaty. The inhabitants flee fearing for their lives. San Giovanni in Persiceto is horrendously sacked. |
| Aug. | Milan | Cremona | Lombardy | He is hired by the Duke of Milan, Filippo Maria Visconti, to fight the lord of Cremona, Gabrino Fondulo. He enters Lodi with 300 cavalry; moves with Opicino Alciati and Giovanni da Cremona to defend the lands of the Cremonese that have just been conquered by Carmagnola (Pescarolo, Soresina, Casalbuttano, Casalmorano, Grumello Cremonese). Attacked by Niccolò da Tolentino, he is defeated at Pieve Delmona. | |
| 1418 | |||||
| Mar. | Marche | At Montecassiano with 60 cavalry. | |||
| 1419 | |||||
| Sept. | Church | Perugia | 100 lances | Umbria | He enters the service of Pope Martin V. He opposes once again the troops of Braccio da Montone under the orders of Muzio Attendolo Sforza. He stations in the territory of Gubbio with Conte da Carrara, Bernardino degli Ubaldini della Carda, Lionello and Ludovico dei Michelotti (a total of 2000 cavalry). |
| Oct. | Umbria | In mid-month, he approaches Assisi near the convent of San Francesco, where a friar shows him a small poorly walled and unguarded door. He breaks into the city with 2000 cavalry and 1200 foot soldiers and reaches the main square with Conte da Carrara and Bernardino degli Ubaldini della Carda: he repels the supporters of Braccio da Montone. | |||
| Dec. | Marche | In Ancona with Angelo da Sant’Elpidio. | |||
| 1420 | |||||
| Jan. | Umbria | With Guidantonio da Montefeltro and Bernardino degli Ubaldini della Carda, he repels an attack on Gubbio by the opponents. | |||
| Feb. | He pays homage to the Papal Legate, Cardinal of Siena Michele Condulmer. | ||||
| Mar. | Romagna | At the end of the month, he goes to Forlì with Carlo Malatesta, Ludovico Alidosi, and Obizzo da Polenta to meet again with the Cardinal of Siena: the objective is to prepare the war plan for the upcoming campaign against the Bolognese. | |||
| May | Church | Bologna | 700 cavalry | Emilia | He confronts the lord of Bologna, Antongaleazzo Bentivoglio, with Braccio da Montone and Migliorati. He sets the countryside on fire. |
| June | Emilia | He clashes with Gabrino Fondulo: he is saved from defeat by the intervention of Braccio da Montone. With the victory, the two captains decide to cut off the city’s water supply: Fondulo advises Bentivoglio to expel from the city all those unfit for defense. Disorders arise in the Bolognese camp that lead to the entry of the Papal forces into Bologna. | |||
| Oct. | Emilia and Romagna | He meets with Pietro dei Rossi at Borgo Val di Taro. He then moves to the Forlì area with 3000 men between cavalry and infantry. | |||
| 1421 | |||||
| Aug. | Comp. ventura | Church | Emilia | Unable to be satisfied by the Papal forces regarding his pay, he seizes Castel San Pietro Terme and raids the nearby territory. At the end of the month, he meets with Papal envoy Nicola Aldovrandi, who yields to his demands; Angelo della Pergola returns what he has occupied and releases the hostages after being promised 9000 ducats. Payment orders are drawn on the Florentine banks of the Alberti and Giovanni dei Corbici. | |
| Sept. | Romagna | He moves to the Forlì area with 1000 cavalry; he stops at Bagnolo for nine days with the permission of the lord of Forlì, Giorgio Ordelaffi. He moves to the territory of Meldola: from the capital, he is supplied with provisions and forage for the cavalry. | |||
| Oct.-Nov. | Comp. ventura | Cunio | 1000 cavalry | Emilia | At Castel Bolognese. Florence sends him Averardo de’ Medici, who has money delivered to him by the Legate, Cardinal of the Holy Four Alfonso Carillo; in mid-month, he is joined by Francesco Tornabuoni, who persuades him to leave the region. He devastates the territories of Barbiano and Cotignola. The Florentines try to have him in their service. He chooses to enter the pay of the Duke of Milan, Filippo Maria Visconti. |
| 1422 | |||||
| Feb.-Mar. | Milan | Duke of Savoy | Emilia and Piedmont | He moves from the Bolognese area to occupy the Ossola Valley, which has fallen into the hands of the Duke of Savoy. He occupies Domodossola at the foot of the Simplon Pass and continues towards the St. Gotthard; he also seizes the entire Levantine Valley. The militias of the Ticino and Moesa valleys, joined by those of Lugano and Locarno, then invade this valley, pushing as far as Bellinzona. The lords of Bellinzona, the Sax, have in fact sold the city to the cantons of Uri and Oberwalden, and Filippo Maria Visconti has declared this contract null. Hence, the intervention of the ducal forces in Switzerland. | |
| June | Milan | Swiss Cantons | Switzerland | At the end of the month, 4000 Swiss await the Visconti forces in the plain of Arbedo. Angelo della Pergola commands the second squadron; he attacks the opponents with his men-at-arms. The charge is so well conceived that the standard-bearer of Lucerne abandons his banner on the ground. The Swiss recompose the pike square; they throw themselves amid the ducal cavalry armed with halberds and large two-handed swords. With their weapons, they disembowel the horses’ bellies and bring down 400 knights to finish them off. Angelo della Pergola realizes the gravity of the situation and orders his men to fight on foot. The battle resumes and lasts from morning until evening. The final phase sees the victory of Carmagnola. The condottiero does not accept the opponents’ request for surrender and continues relentlessly in his action, pursuing the enemies for forty kilometers towards the Gotthard Pass, up to the Piottino Gorge. The defeated throw themselves down the hills towards the Ticino River. Many drown. The Swiss are defeated with the loss of 3000 men, including 1133 in combat. Among the wounded, many die later. The booty consists of 1200 mules. In Milan, the victory is celebrated with three days of thanksgiving processions and bonfires. | |
| July | Lombardy | For his merits, at the end of the month, he is enfeoffed with Sartirana Lomellina; Filippo Maria Visconti, Duke of Milan, grants him 10,000 florins. Among the witnesses of the act is Erasmo Trivulzio. He swears fealty. | |||
| 1423 | |||||
| May | Milan | Forlì | Emilia and Romagna | He is in the Bolognese area with Secco da Montagnana at the head of 4000 cavalry and 1000 foot soldiers: ostensibly, he has been called in support by the Papal Legate to recover Castel Bolognese occupied by Antongaleazzo Bentivoglio; in reality, his objective is the conquest of Forlì. The city has rebelled against Lucrezia Alidosi, who governs the state on behalf of her minor son Tebaldo Ordelaffi, whose father, dying, appointed the Duke of Milan as his guardian. Angelo della Pergola enters Forlì in the name of the Marquis of Ferrara, Niccolò d’Este (an ally of the Visconti); among his first acts is to free Antonio Ordelaffi from his twelve-year imprisonment. | |
| Aug. | Milan | Rimini | Romagna | The Florentines urge the Malatesta to confront him. | |
| Sept. | Milan | Florence, Imola | Romagna | He clashes at the bridge of Ronco with the troops commanded by Pandolfo Malatesta and Niccolò da Tolentino. Secco da Montagnana halts the opponents’ advance; when he is about to give way, the reserve squads led by Angelo Beltramello and Drago Lampugnani intervene. The two captains occupy a small hospital, previously a stronghold of the Malatesta and now undefended; they catch the opponents from behind. Angelo della Pergola is the last to enter the action, blocking the Florentines’ retreat. The ducal forces return to Forlì in triumph, welcomed by illuminations and the ringing of bells. | |
| 1424 | |||||
| Feb. | Romagna | He leaves Lugo and goes at night to Imola while the Florentines remain stationary at Modigliana. He approaches the walls of the fortress with ladders, and some deserters open the gates for him: he thus has the opportunity to enter the occupied city with some resistance. Ludovico Alidosi is imprisoned; he is taken in chains to Milan to be confined in the “Forni” of Monza. Conversely, Tebaldo Ordelaffi is freed, who greets Angelo della Pergola as his liberator and, in gratitude, grants him the citizenship of Forlì. | |||
| May | Lombardy | In Milan, at the Castle of Porta Giovia, Filippino Cane cedes to him the County of Biandrate and the Castle of Zeme: title and lordship become effective only after the death of Filippino Cane. | |||
| July | Romagna | He moves to defend Forlì, subjected to siege by the Florentines. Since he is unable to break the enemy’s encirclement, he implements a diversionary action. He leaves Lugo and heads towards the Apennines to attack Alberico da Barbiano in Zagonara. He surrounds the castle with fortifications along the moat and has a second ring erected equipped with palisades, bastions, and trenches to defend against external attacks. He forces the besieged to surrender under terms if the fortress does not receive aid within fifteen days. Upon hearing the news, the Florentine army moves away from Forlì. Forewarned, Angelo della Pergola floods the fields of Zagonara with water from the nearby Senio River, already soaked from heavy rains, to make them impassable for the enemy heavy cavalry charge. Angelo della Pergola relies on the temperament of the opposing captain, Carlo Malatesta, with whom he has served for many years; he takes a defensive stance with 4000 cavalry and 4000 foot soldiers. He is attacked by 8000/9000 cavalry; the first attack is led by Ardizzone da Carrara, followed by those conducted by Niccolò and Gentile Orsini. Guido Torelli, who supports Angelo della Pergola, intentionally retreats towards a marshy area: seeing the Florentines’ fury wane, he orders a counterattack. The opponents flee after many hours of fighting; among the Florentines, 3200/5000 cavalry and 2000 foot soldiers are captured, including Carlo Malatesta. The defeat costs Florence 300,000 florins between ransoms of prisoners, lost weapons, and horses to be replenished in the various companies’ ranks. It is said that Malatesta, furious at the unexpected defeat by someone who had once been in his service, insulted the condottiero by shouting: “O muddy peasant! I am more a friend of the Duke than you.” Offended by the insult, Angelo della Pergola has him shackled and sends him prisoner to Milan. After the victory, he leaves Lugo and heads to Bagnolo. Once again, following the victory, the event is celebrated with three days of processions and bonfires. | |||
| Aug. | Milan | Rimini, Pesaro | Romagna | He conquers Savignano di Rigo, which is sacked; occupies Forlimpopoli, Belfiore, Solarolo, Rocca delle Caminate, and Bertinoro; plunders Savignano sul Rubicone, Verucchio, and Santarcangelo di Romagna; he obtains possession of the castle from Zucca da Mondaino. He reaches the vicinity of Rimini. | |
| Sept. | Romagna | He besieges Rocca San Casciano: following a treaty, the castellan and the podestà Piero Gianni surrender the fortress to him in exchange for the payment of 300 florins: he threatens to have the podestà hanged for addressing him in a friendly manner due to his vile conduct. He takes Monte Cerro, Predappio, Monte Sacco, Monte Cornetto, and Tredozio, all castles fallen without a fight. He finds extreme resistance instead from the defenders of Montepetra: Angelo della Pergola has all the land around the castle burned to force Biagio del Melano, who is in defense, to surrender. He throws clothes and straw from above and throws his two sons over them; he lets himself die suffocated by the flames despite the Visconti offering him ladders and ropes to save himself. The youths are handed over by Angelo della Pergola to their relatives. | |||
| Oct. | Romagna | He obtains Portico di Romagna: the podestà Zanobi dal Pino is brought before him and urges him to leave the Romagna Apennines to head directly towards Tuscany. Indignant at the betrayal, he has him dressed in coarse linen cloth painted with inverted lilies. His head is shaved, and more lilies are painted on it: some spit in his face, others pluck his beard hairs; he is mocked by all; painted sheets with snakes are torn off and put in his mouth so that, as a Guelph, he learns to become a Ghibelline. The man dies suffocated. | |||
| Nov. | Romagna | He conquers Dovadola by agreement; moves towards Faenza; he is welcomed with all honors by Guidantonio Manfredi. He reaches Bagnolo and invades the lands of the Malatesta of Pesaro. | |||
| Dec. | Marche and Tuscany | He enters Gradara, where he is received with all honors by Galeazzo and Carlo Malatesta: this does not prevent him from declaring his hosts prisoners and sacking the castle. He attacks the fortress of Cozzano, fief of Giovanni Gambacorta: his assaults are in vain, even when accompanied by the digging of underground tunnels to collapse the walls. In retreating, he places some of his men in ambush; they kill 16 defenders who have left the castle to monitor the Visconti’s movements. He returns to the Marche; sacks Gabicce, Fiorenzuola di Focara, Casteldimezzo, and Granarola. Prisoners and spoils are taken to Forlì. Upon leaving this locality, he receives the order from the Duke of Milan to release all prisoners. He sets up his winter quarters in Faenza. | |||
| 1425 | |||||
| Jan. | Romagna | He still opposes Pandolfo Malatesta in the Cesena and Rimini areas; he forces him to go personally to Milan to negotiate peace with the ducal forces. | |||
| Apr. | Milan | Count of Savoy | Piedmont, Emilia | He goes to Asti to fight the Savoyard troops commanded by Marshal Manfredo of Saluzzo, Ludovico of Savoy-Acaia, and Luigi Costa, lord of Carrù, Bene, and Trinità. The swelling of the rivers behind him, which prevents the flow of supplies to his troops, soon induces him to retreat. The Florentines, supported by the Genoese exiles of Tommaso Fregoso, attempt to seize Genoa, controlled by the ducal forces. Angelo della Pergola, with 1000 cavalry, crosses the Piacenza and Parma regions to confront Giovanni Fieschi near Borgo Val di Taro. He is surprised by superior forces while approaching this locality. | |
| June | 1000 cavalry | Lombardy | He passes through the Cremona area with his company. He meets with the Duke of Milan at Cusago. | ||
| July | Milan | Count of Savoy | Lieutenant Ducal | Piedmont | He returns to Piedmont. He proceeds to the capture of the castle of Borgo San Dalmazzo, defended by Oddone di Ceva. The Marquis of Ceva is taken prisoner with his family members. In the same days, Filippo Maria Visconti asks him to exempt Malatesta Malatesta from paying the ransoms imposed on him. Angelo della Pergola is appointed Lieutenant Ducal. |
| Aug. | Romagna | In Forlì’s main square, he has one of his men-at-arms beheaded after being caught stealing from a citizen’s house. | |||
| Sept. | Milan | Florence, Faenza | Romagna | He leaves Forlì with Secco da Montagnana, enters the Faenza area, reaches Villafranca and Reda; from Lugo, he is joined by Francesco Sforza. Together, the two condottieri head to Santa Lucia, where they have vines and trees cut down up to the gates of Faenza. He returns to Lugo with Secco da Montagnana: their men begin to mutiny due to delayed payments. After settling the due compensations, he leaves Forlimpopoli and returns to the Faenza area, still with Secco da Montagnana and Angelo Beltramello, to hinder the opponents’ activities in the countryside. Guidantonio Manfredi does not prevent their raids from Faenza. Castrocaro Terme is threatened. | |
| Oct. | Umbria, Tuscany, Emilia | He moves to Umbria and Tuscany, touches Citerna, Montecchio, Borgo San Sepolcro (Sansepolcro); with Guido Torelli, at the beginning of the month, he takes advantage of the discord among the Florentine condottieri to defeat Ardizzone da Carrara, Niccolò Piccinino, and Bernardino degli Ubaldini della Carda in the upper Tiber Valley at Anghiari. Shortly after, he moves to Lunigiana to face Giovanni Fieschi. He is reported at Borgo Val di Taro. | |||
| Nov. | Milan | Swiss Cantons | Captain General | Romagna, Emilia, Lombardy, Piedmont | He is recalled from Romagna with Erasmo Trivulzio to confront the Swiss in Lombardy. He leaves Forlì through the Porta Schiavonia; meets with Pietro dei Rossi, touches Borgo Val di Taro, crosses Lombardy, and enters the Ossola Valley, where he confronts Peterman Rysig of the Canton of Schwyz, who has invaded the Formazza Valley with 500/600 soldiers. |
| 1426 | |||||
| Jan. | Emilia | He is at Malandriano with 1200 cavalry divided between Montecchio Emilia, Castelnuovo, Casalpò, and Cavriago: he prohibits his men from plundering the Este territories. | |||
| Feb. | Milan | Florence, Duke of Savoy | Umbria, Tuscany, Piedmont | In Umbria with 4000 cavalry; he camps at Monte Santa Maria Tiberina, plunders the territory between Cortona, Arezzo, and Sansepolcro. He is transferred to Asti to defend the Marquis of Ceva, recommended by the Visconti, from a possible offensive action by the Duke of Savoy. | |
| Mar. | Milan | Florence, Venice, Mantua | Romagna | He returns to Romagna. He is contacted by the Venetians, who offer him a contract of 1000 cavalry and 200 foot soldiers, as well as the lordship of Imola (to be conquered): negotiations are unsuccessful. | |
| Apr.-May | Romagna, Emilia, Lombardy | He definitively leaves Romagna; at the end of April, he moves to the bastion of Cantone; he connects with Erasmo Trivulzio, who reaches him from Parma with 1000 foot soldiers and 50 cavalry. Together, they march towards the Panaro River to set up a pontoon bridge at Bomporto. Blocked on the riverbanks, at the beginning of May, he reaches Trecasali and moves to the Bolognese area; crosses a canal near San Giovanni in Persiceto on a bridge of barrels and surprises the company of Guido da Fabriano. He enters the Modena area, takes advantage of Niccolò d’Este‘s immobility on the Panaro, and reaches Casa del Bosco, near Vignola, with Torelli and 2000 cavalry: with him are numerous sappers who open a path for him through the woods. A new bridge is built over the Panaro; the Visconti forces cross it without being disturbed by the Florentines. He is ordered to move towards Brescia to join Sforza. Continuous disputes arise in the Visconti camp between Piccinino and Sforza on one side, proponents of an offensive strategy, and Angelo della Pergola and Torelli on the other, who advocate greater prudence. | |||
| … | Captain General | Lombardy | He is given supreme command of the troops against Carmagnola. Under his orders serve 15,000 cavalry. He plunders the Mantua area and finds little opposition from Gian Francesco Gonzaga: he floods the territory by breaking the banks of nearby rivers, devastates and burns everything with such fury that he is nicknamed Angelo del Fuoco (“Angel of Fire”). Another version states that he earned this name at the beginning of his career, when, during a night assault, to make the opponents believe he had a larger number of soldiers, he resorted to a famous stratagem of Hannibal by lighting fires on the horns of many oxen. | ||
| Nov. | Lombardy | Brescia falls into the hands of the Venetians. | |||
| Dec. | Lombardy | A truce is stipulated between the parties. | |||
| 1427 | |||||
| Mar. | 1000 cavalry | Emilia and Lombardy | He besieges and captures Brescello following intense bombardment; soon he is pushed back from the castle, losing supplies and some horses. He is replaced as Captain General by Carlo Malatesta (of the Malatesta of Pesaro) due to his continuous disputes with Piccinino, Sforza, and also Torelli. Hostilities resume; he marches with Piccinino into the Cremona area; captures Casalmaggiore with the help of the ducal Po fleet (20 galleons, 3 large “ganzere,” and another 12 river vessels) despite the stubborn resistance of the Venetian provveditore Fantino Pisani. The opponents surrender under terms if they do not receive aid within three days. | ||
| May | Emilia and Lombardy | He attacks Brescello again, which is supported by the Venetian fleet. With Piccinino, Sforza, Torelli, and other captains, he sets up an ambush at Gottolengo for Carmagnola: the Venetian condottiero is caught with his men in disarray. Angelo della Pergola, Torelli, and Cristoforo da Lavello leave the castle and defeat Nanne Strozzi, who commands 400 cavalry. The outcome of the clash remains uncertain due to the final intervention of Gian Francesco Gonzaga, which somewhat rebalances the fortunes in favor of the Venetians. | |||
| July | Lombardy | With Guido Torelli and Francesco Sforza, he attacks Carmagnola in his fortified camp of Castelsecco near Pizzighettone: he reaches the moat and fights with the enemy infantry. He sends forward the numerous peasants who follow his ranks for potential looting in the enemy camp. They cannot flee and are mercilessly killed by the opponents’ troops; Angelo della Pergola finds a less defended point in the wall formed by the wagons, penetrates with impetus to the center of the camp. A new struggle and terrible confusion ensue; after four hours, the ducal forces are repelled and must retreat to Cremona, pursued by the Venetians almost to the city’s gates. Many are killed, and 500 prisoners are taken among the Visconti forces. | |||
| Oct. | Lombardy | He is defeated by Carmagnola at Maclodio: in reality, with Guido Torelli, he tries to oppose the tactics of Carlo Malatesta, Niccolò Piccinino, and Francesco Sforza, aimed at leading the troops along a raised road like a bank around which there are swamps impracticable for cavalry and thickets where the Venetians have previously placed many archers and crossbowmen. The ducal forces are defeated. In the clash, 10,000 men are captured, including his son Antonio and Captain General Carlo Malatesta. The prisoners are almost immediately all freed by Carmagnola, as was customary at the time, to avoid having to feed so many men when provisions are not abundant. According to some sources, Angelo della Pergola also initially falls into the opponents’ hands, only to be freed by Sforza‘s intervention. | |||
| 1428 | |||||
| Feb. | Lombardy | He camps at Palazzolo sull’Oglio with Piccinino commanding 3000 cavalry and 4000 foot soldiers; with the help of Avelonio Suardi, he sets out; takes advantage of the Venetian army’s dispersion in the surrounding territory to regain control of the area; enters the Valle di San Martino and commits devastations and violence of all kinds there, among which those inflicted on Val Calepio remain memorable. He occupies a bastion defended by Giovanni da Deruta; enters Caprino Bergamasco, where he captures Scaramuzza da Pavia and Pietruccio di Calabria. | |||
| Mar. | Milan | Florence | Monaco and Liguria | He moves to the Riviera di Levante to take Monaco from the Grimaldi, allies of the Florentines. | |
| Apr. | Lombardy | He dies suddenly in Bergamo from a hemorrhage. According to other sources, he dies in Cremona. His coat of arms is at first that of the Montaini, a flame divided into five points, and then the one preserved in the memories of Siena, a bull’s head. His portrait is in the former convent of San Giacomo di Pergola, now the Museum of the Gilded Bronzes. |
Sources
-“L’altro della milizia è il paragone,/ Il valente è gagliardo Pergolese,/ Angel, che fu fra gli altri un fier leone.” Cambino Aretino riportato da FABRETTI
-“Uno dei più famosi Capitani di quel tempo.” AMMIRATO
-“Personaggio spigoloso, ma intraprendente.” DECEMBRIO
-“Uno dei migliori capitani viscontei.” COGNASSO
-“Molto sperto in maneggiar l’armi, e condurre ne i tempi della guerra.” ALBERTI
-“Famosissimo Capitano di quei tempi.” PELLINI
-“Capitan molto famoso.” GIOVIO
-“Angelum rei bellicae gloria clarum.” BIONDO
-Con Francesco Sforza e Niccolò Piccinino “Soldati di alto valore.” MAGENTA
-“Valoroso capitano di ventura de que’ tempi.” GAMURRINI
-“Fortissimus dux.” F. ADAMI
-“Comandante di grido.” BONOLI
-“Locumtenens meus, qui erat ut ita dixerim alter ego, et fide, ac strenuitate ceteris excedebat, nullis pro me parcens laboribus, nec expensis, sed patienter, et constantissime incomodo quoque perferens, qui profecto ille erat, de quo majus poteram facere capitale.” Da una memoria di Filippo Maria Visconti raccolta dal DAVERIO
-“Tre anni dopo la morte dello Sforza e di Braccio spariva così dal teatro della guerra uno dei più valorosi guerrieri che aveva con essi contribuito a rialzare le sorti della milizia italiana. Meno fortunato nella storia, non però indegno di stare a fronte ai due grandi campioni, egli ebbe tutte le qualità caratteristiche di un valente condottiero, e nella sua lunga vita, passata fra il tumulto delle armi, diè prova di una meravigliosa energia, di un’audacia insuperabile. La storia non ci ha tramandato il suo ritratto, ma dalle azioni narrate balza fuori una maschia figura, dai lineamenti decisi, dall’occhio fiero: una tempra ferrea, avvezza alle fatiche, domata fra gli stenti della vita venturiera.”
-Con Antonello da Milano, Fabrizio da Capua e Secco da Montagnana “Qui in re militari admodum praestabant.” BRACCIOLINI
-Con Secco da Montagnana, Angelo Belmamolo, Fabrizio da Capua, Bertolino di Zambuono, Petrino da Tortona, Guido Torelli “Conductores et armorum viri illustrs.” REDUSIO
-Con Gaspare dei Pazzi “Utriqui viri fortes et bello clari.” CRIVELLI
-“Invecchiato nell’armi.” ROSMINI
-Con Guido Torelli “Condottieri viscontei di buona fama.” OPERTI
-“Uno dei più prodi ed esperti condottieri del secolo XV.” BOSI
-“Fu uno de’ più celebri capitani del suo secolo.” UGOLINI
-Con il Carmagnola “Esperti nella guerra moderna.” ROVELLI
-“Possa ne vien colui che inver rimosse/ de sì alta fama Carlo Malatesta,/ col tempo usando ardire, ingenio e posse,/ Angelo egli è, per cui ancor fa festa/ la pergola, sua patria..” SANTI
-“Capitano invitto.” CIMARELLI
-“Molto esperto in maneggiare l’armi e condurre cavallerie in tempo della guerra.” COLUCCI
-“Uomo ardito e pugnace.” A. MARINI
-“Il Della Pergola scelse in questa battaglia (Zagonara) metodi di combattimento quali la diversione, la rapida e incalzante successione dei tempi, lo scontro diretto per risolvere in tempi brevi il combattimento – che gli furono propri anche in altre occasioni. Nelle sue battaglie più famose, il Della Pergola si affidò soprattutto alla forza delle armi usando tattiche rudimentali, ma in definitiva al condottiero visconteo va riconosciuto un indubbio ardimento e coraggio nella guerra combattuta, e specialmente in questa battaglia, che fu dura e feroce, e fu presa ad esempio da W. Block (Die Condottieri, Berlin, 1913), per confutare la nota tesi machiavelliana delle “battaglie senza sangue” di quell’epoca. Dopo Zagonara, per diversi mesi, continua a seminare il terrore in Romagna conquistando castelli e terre dei Malatesta, quando si dirige verso la Toscana senza risparmiare il saccheggio e la spoliazione dei territori e delle popolazioni: in tale speciale attitudine alla brutalità il della Pergola si mostrò erede dei costumi feroci delle compagnie di ventura del XIV secolo piuttosto che partecipe delle innovazioni introdotte da Braccio (di Montone) e Sforza (Muzio Attendolo Sforza) nelle tecniche di combattimento.” COVINI
-“Fu uno dei più valorosi capitani di ventura del XV secolo, noto come Angelo dal Foco…E’ tra i personaggi storici della tragedia di Alessandro Manzoni il Conte di Carmagnola. Dal Foco è raffigurato come un prudente consigliere che cerca di dissuadere l’inesperto Malatesta (Carlo) dall’affrontare la battaglia (di Maclodio). Di fronte all’ostinazione e alla voglia di combattere del Malatesta, l’anziano condottiero si schiera in prima fila e si batte valorosamente.” WIKIPEDIA
-“In questo condottiero va riconosciuta una reale figura del rinascimento: l’impegno professionale è al centro dell’attività di Angelo, il volere appartenere a un signore del territorio italiano è un’altra delle qualità, così come sarà la scelta finale del proprio servizio.” BECI
-(Alla battaglia di Sant’Egidio) “E Angiol della Pergola oltre spinge/ colla sua squadra../ Non uscì mai falcon di suo capello,/ verso pura colomba come questo/ gì verso Cherubin (Cherubino da Perugia) col suo drappello./ Primo intra gli altri valoroso e presto,/Siccome capo a tutti gli altri e guida,/ per darne esempio a tutto quanto il resto,/ ben par che a morte il nimico disfida;/E nel primiero scontro si sentièro/Arme, trombetti, corrisori e strida.” Lorenzo Spirito riportato da FABRETTI
-“(Nel 1428 muoiono tre condottieri ducali. Il primo è Fabrizio da Capua)…; secundo, Magnificus Angelus de Pergola, locotenens meus, qui erat, ut ita dixerim, alter ego, et fide, ac strenuitate ceteros excedebat, nullis pro me parcens laboribus, nec espensis, sed patienter, et constantissime incommoda queque perferens, quo maius non poteram facere capitale.” Da una lettera scritta da Filippo Maria Visconti all’imperatore Sigismondo riportata dal BECI
-“Grande e valente capitano.” GIANELLI
-“Reputato uno dei più valorosi capitani del suo tempo.” COLESCHI
SPECIFIC BIOGRAPHIES
-B. Fagioli. Angelo della Pergola. Capitano di ventura del secolo XV.
-M. Beci. L’Italia delle compagnie di ventura. Un condottiero. Angelo dal Foco della Pergola.
Fonte immagine in evidenza: beniculturali.it
