Babone Naldi and the Brisigelli Infantry in Venetian Warfare

Babone Naldi and the Military Forces of Romagna in Venetian Wars

Babone Naldi (Filiberto Babone Naldi, also known as Babbone da Brisighella), of Brisighella. He was the brother of Giovanni Naldi, Ottaviano Naldi, and Guido Naldi, as well as the nephew of Dionigi Naldi, Carlino Naldi, and Vincenzo Naldi.

Born: 1474
Death: 1544, April

Year, Month	State, Comp. ventura	Opponent	Command	Area of Activity	Actions Undertaken and Other Salient Facts
1508
Mar.	Venice	Empire	700 infantry	Veneto	Follows Bartolomeo d’Alviano in Cadore at the head of 700 infantry; positions himself on the right flank of the formation with Rinieri della Sassetta, Carlino Naldi, and Lattanzio da Bergamo. Takes part in the Battle of Tai di Cadore or Rio Secco.
Apr.				Friuli	Supports d’Alviano at Savorgnano. Participates in the assault against the fortress of Gorizia, where he conducts the first attack together with Giovanni dal Borgo.
July				Veneto	In Venice, for the ceremony in which Bartolomeo d’Alviano is presented with the standard and the baton as General Governor of the Serenissima’s troops.
1509
Aug.	Venice	France Empire	500 infantry	Veneto	Together with Carlino Naldi, he commands 1000 provisioned men. Leaves Treviso and goes to the defense of Padua with 500 infantry; he positions his men in the San Giovanni district and fights under the orders of his uncle Dionigi.
Nov.				Veneto	At the conquest of Vicenza with his relative Dionigi.
1510
Jan.				Veneto	Faces 235 French and Imperial infantry in the Veronese area.
May	Venice	France Empire Ferrara	100 infantry	Romagna and Veneto	He is at Montalbano with 100 infantry; recruits new levies in Val di Lamone and in Romagna on behalf of Dionigi Naldi; gathers 1000 men and leads them to Chioggia.
June				Veneto	At the camp of Brentelle, near Padua, with 195 infantry.
July				Veneto	Goes to Venice for the funeral of his uncle Dionigi. Meets the Doge Leonardo Loredan. Immediately returns to Padua because the Romagnol infantrymen wish to serve only under a captain from their own region. Advises that their command be given to his uncle Vincenzo.
Aug.			320 infantry	Veneto	His uncle Vincenzo unsuccessfully requests for Babone a command of 25 cavalry: offended by the Venetian refusal, he asks to leave the field; the proveditori do not grant permission.
Sept.				Veneto	Takes part in the siege of Verona. Put in charge of guarding the artillery in front of the fortress of San Felice with 200 infantry. He is surprised at night by a raid of 1800 German infantry who exit through a breach in the walls. During the action, Zitolo da Perugia is killed.
Oct.				Veneto and Emilia	Leaves Montagnana with 400 infantry. Joins the Papal forces led by Francesco Maria della Rovere in the Ferrarese territory.
1511
June				Emilia	After the rout of Casalecchio di Reno, he is tasked with recruiting new contingents of infantry in Romagna.
July			208 infantry	Romagna and Veneto	Embarks on a galley with his men. From Chioggia, he reaches the Veronese area via river to join the Provveditore Generale Paolo Capello.
Aug.				Veneto	From Padua he goes to the defense of Torino with 230 infantry instead of the 370 envisioned by his contract.
Nov.				Veneto	Links up with Meleagro da Forlì (350 mounted crossbowmen) to reconquer Montagnana and Cologna Veneta.
Dec.				Emilia	At the siege of Bologna. Takes part in an assault on the city walls as part of the squadron commanded by Francesco Maldonado.
1512
Feb.				Lombardy	Sent to defend Brescia; in the city he sets his quarters at San Pietro in Oliveto, below the castle. Commands 800 Romagnol infantry, supported by numerous newly enlisted Bresciani led by Filippino Sala and Giovanni Giacomo Savallo. He is attacked by 500 French men-at-arms and a large company of arquebusiers from the fortress. They are joined by 1500 Gascon infantry. With the help of Baldassarre di Scipione, 60 men-at-arms of Taddeo della Volpe, and Giampaolo Manfrone’s company, he repels two assaults. The opponents then receive reinforcements of another 1000 cavalry under Baiardo (wounded in the thigh by a lance), more Gascon infantry, and a body of Landsknechts: the Romagnol infantry flee and take refuge in a church where they are all killed. The inhabitants rise up in favor of the French and the Venetian defeat is total. Naldi is captured; after ransoming himself with money provided by the provveditore Andrea Gritti, he retreats to Albettone; then heads to Venice to report on the event to the Collegio dei Pregadi.
Apr.				Romagna	Gathers 1000 infantry in Val di Lamone. With these soldiers he assists the Papal forces in difficulty at Faenza.
Aug.			281 infantry	Lombardy	At the siege of Brescia. Descends from nearby mountains and skirmishes with some Gascon infantry at Costa Longa above Mompiano.
Sept.				Lombardy Romagna	His offer to gather another 1000 infantry in Romagna for the siege of Brescia is accepted: each soldier is given one ducat before departure. He returns under the city with 400/500 infantry and is given command of a colonelcy. He is tasked with recovering Peschiera del Garda along with Guido Rangoni: he points out that this locality is part of the jurisdiction of Verona, controlled by the Empire, with whom the Serenissima currently has a truce. Naldi plays an active role in transferring the artillery destined for the siege of Brescia through Veronese territory.
Oct.			280 infantry	Lombardy	Wounded in the face by a quarrel. Commands, together with Vincenzo Naldi, 1096 infantry, the first reserve squad in case of an attack on the walls of Brescia.
Dec.			417 infantry	Lombardy	309 provisioned men of his company out of 417 are stationed at Pontevico.
1513
Jan.				Veneto	At Zevio to monitor movements of Germans and Spaniards.
Feb.			284 infantry	Veneto
Mar.				Veneto	In Venice. During a ceremony at San Marco, he appears at the side of the Doge Leonardo Loredan and Renzo di Ceri.
May	Venice	Spain Empire	368 infantry
July				Veneto	At the defense of Padua; stationed at the Bastione di Santa Croce with a colonelcy of 2213 infantry. When the Venetian soldiers are challenged to a duel by 10 Germans, he chooses the Italian champions.
Oct.			206 infantry	Veneto	Takes part in the Battle of Creazzo commanding the Romagnol infantry from Val di Lamone; his infantry square is completed by local militia (inexperienced infantry, mercenaries, peasants, and laborers). Facing them is the German infantry of Giacomo di Landau and the Spanish infantry of Ferdinando d’Avalos. The militia who should support his square waver and flee instead of closing ranks. The front lines, left unsupported, cannot resist and are quickly overrun. In the clash, the Venetians lose 400 men-at-arms and 4000 infantry, with the death of captains such as Antonio Pio, Meleagro da Forlì, Ermes Bentivoglio, and Sacramoro Visconti; others, such as Giampaolo Baglioni, Giulio Manfrone, and Malatesta Malatesta da Sogliano are captured. Naldi avoids capture, withdraws to Padua, and returns to defend the city with 206 provisioned men.
Dec.			210 infantry	Veneto	Together with other Romagnol captains he complains about delayed pay; receives reassurances. Commands 210 infantry with nine corporals.
1514
May				Veneto	Granted a contract for 400 infantry.
May			256 infantry	Veneto	At the Brentelle camp. His monthly pay of 60 ducats is confirmed. He brings his wife and children to live in Venice.
July					The Consiglio dei Savi clarifies his engagement terms, reconfirms the monthly pay of 60 ducats in wartime and 40 in peacetime to be drawn from the rebels’ assets; entrusts him with direct command of 1000 infantry.
Sept.				Veneto	Leaves Padua with Bartolomeo d’Alviano. Joins Giulio Manfrone. At the head of 300 infantry, he moves with that captain towards Saletto.
Oct.				Veneto	Follows Bartolomeo d’Alviano in his action to reconquer Rovigo. With Orsino Orsini, he crosses the Adige on a pontoon bridge at Campobianco and enters the city; captures the Spanish captain Pietro Cano, who is released after paying a ransom of 300 ducats.
1515
Mar.				Veneto	In Padua. Informs Bartolomeo d’Alviano about the possible existence in the city of a hostile plot against the Serenissima.
June			244 infantry	Veneto
Aug.				Veneto and Lombardy	Leaves the Este camp in the rearguard. With Bartolomeo d’Alviano at Badia Polesine and then in Lombardy.
Sept.				Lombardy	Takes part in the final phase of the Battle of Melegnano.
Oct.				Veneto	In early October moves under Brescia to besiege the city. An assault on the city walls is planned, to be conducted simultaneously at two decoy objectives with intense artillery fire towards Porta Pile and the wall section between the castle and Porta Torlonga. The forces are divided into 3 squads of about 2500 men, mostly Stradiots and Romagnol infantry. There are also numerous Brescian captains including Giovanni Antonio di Val Trompia. Another 2000 men are kept in reserve under Naldi’s orders. The attack is scheduled around midnight, signaled by three fires lit on the nearby mountain. The signal does not appear, and no gate is opened by accomplices as planned. L’Aubigny, defending Brescia, suspects something, occupies the gate supposed to be opened by conspirators, captures one of the traitors, and immediately has him quartered. Before dawn the Venetians withdraw. A few days later, Naldi takes part in the conquest of Peschiera del Garda; he is wounded during the operations.
Nov.				Lombardy	Stops at Lake Garda with his brother Giovanni. Makes it difficult for Brescia’s defenders to obtain supplies.
Dec.				Lombardy	At the siege of Brescia. Invited to dine by the city’s governor; the Venetians prevent him from accepting. Links up with Antonio da Castello and Giovan Corrado Orsini, hindering the advance of 2500/3000 Spanish infantry coming from Verona to relieve Brescia. Naldi moves with his company to the winter camp at Salò. Meanwhile, thousands of infantry, mostly Tyroleans, led by Guglielmo di Rogendorf and Count Ludovico di Lodrone, accompanied by herds of oxen, horses loaded with gunpowder, wagons of provisions, and chests full of money, cross Bagolino and reach the Anfo Pass. Giano Fregoso dispatches Naldi, Antonio da Castello, and Giovan Corrado Orsini against them. The three Venetian captains stop halfway, undecided on what to do.
1516
Jan.				Lombardy Trentino	Another convoy descends from the Trentino. A letter from Gerardo d’Arco is intercepted, requesting more troops to meet him. From Salò, Naldi raids the Val di Vestone: intercepts 200 Germans, defeats them, and devastates the territory up to Lodrone. Moves to Idro and Anfo, where he joins Giano Fregoso and Giovan Corrado Orsini: he clashes with 1500 German infantry by attacking their camp at night. The surprised enemy flees in disorder, suffering heavy losses (500 dead). Gerardo d’Arco and Ludovico di Lodrone are captured, along with 800 infantry and 50 Burgundian men-at-arms. Giorgio di Liechtenstein manages to avoid capture with the money in 16 chests by escaping in a small boat across Lake Idro. Naldi returns to Salò. Gerardo d’Arco will be released in Mantua after paying a ransom of 300 ducats.
Feb.				Lombardy	At the defense of Anfo. His men and those of Giacomino di Val Trompia begin rebuilding the castle.
Mar.				Lombardy	Hangs at Anfo the murderer of Ludovico Cozzalli, who was killed there for private reasons. Moves to Breno with Maffeo Cagnolo; clashes with the Spaniards between Rivolta and Cassano d’Adda.
May				Lombardy	Sent by Teodoro da Trivulzio and Andrea Gritti (Provveditore Generale) with his infantry colonelcy to recover Val Camonica.
Aug.			Captain General of infantry	Verona	At the siege of Verona.
Sept.				Veneto	Given 400 ducats. With Malatesta Baglioni (300 cavalry and 400 infantry), camps at the Campo di Marte near Verona. Repels within the walls a sortie by the defenders (30 cavalry supported by 200 infantry).
Oct.				Veneto and Trentino	Dispatched by Teodoro da Trivulzio with Borghese dal Borgo along the Adige River towards Brentonico, to prevent supplies and reinforcements from reaching Verona’s defenders by river. Some infantry are killed, and others drown trying to escape. Recaptures Crovara (Groara) at the head of his 1200-infantry colonelcy: attacked by Imperial forces, he is aided by Mercurio Bua; despite this, he is forced to yield the position after heavy bombardment. Then cooperates with Bua and Giovanni Naldi in pushing back 4 Imperial infantry standards up to La Chiusa. Bua and his brother request that the men under Naldi receive their overdue pay from Andrea Gritti.
Nov.				Lombardia	Arrives at Salò with 500 infantry; links up with Giacomino di Val Trompia to attack Anfo again: the fortress surrenders at dawn, on terms, fearing bombardment by artillery.
Dec.			215 infantry
1517
Jan.	Church	Comp. ventura		Veneto	At mid-month, with the end of the conflict, he enters Verona through Porta Calzari following Teodoro da Trivulzio. With the end of the conflict, he enters Papal service to oppose Francesco Maria della Rovere, who attempts to reconquer the Duchy of Urbino.
1521
June					Returns to Venetian service; gathers 300 infantry as a new conflict with the Empire is imminent. He is in Vicenza and Padua for the muster of his men.
Aug.	Venice	Empire		Veneto	Reprimanded by the authorities because in Padua some of his soldiers harassed university students and members of a bishop’s entourage.
Dec.			200 infantry	Veneto and Lombardy	Leaves Padua and reaches Andrea Gritti at the Lonato camp.
1522
Feb.			288 infantry	Lombardia	At the camp of Rovato. Given command of a colonelcy of 1045 infantry.
Apr.				Lombardia	At Monza with Lautrec (Odet de Foix, Viscount of Lautrec). Participates in the Battle of the Bicocca leading 600/800 arquebusiers; coordinates with the Swiss, supporting their assault on the trench protecting the Imperial troops. Counterattacks and recovers some French artillery pieces. With the allies defeated, forced to retreat towards Monza.
July				Lombardia	At the end of the war, his company is reduced from 394 to 200 infantry.
1523
Sept.	Venice	France		Lombardia	Stationed at Crema; has a dispute with Alessandro Marcello. Moves to the Verolanuova camp, given command of a colonelcy of 699 men.
1524
Feb.			500 infantry	Lombardia	At Crema camp with 1200 infantry. Moves to Bergamo upon hearing that Grisons infantry hired by the French might head towards Abbiategrasso; inspects the Bergamasque passes to hinder enemy transit.
Mar.				Lombardia	Offers to make 500 French infantry at Lodi desert. Learns that 80 infantry have left Caravaggio to loot the Morengo countryside: he leaves Romano di Lombardia and surprises them as they return with the spoils. The plunder is recovered, ten enemies killed, and twenty captured. Continues the action; with 1000 infantry he traps 220 infantry from Lodi near Caravaggio. The French are robbed. Giano Fregoso sends him to monitor 5000 Grisons infantry who, with Renzo di Ceri, seek to join the French at Abbiategrasso.
Apr.				Lombardia	Arranges plans with Giovanni de’ Medici (Giovanni dalle Bande Nere) and Giano Fregoso for a common line of action against the Grisons infantry; stations with his men near Bergamo, forcing the enemy to retreat due to lack of supplies and money. With renewed French threats, he is given funds to gather 500 infantry.
1525
Jan.				Lombardia	Returns to defend Bergamo. Accused of treason by the Provveditore Generale Piero Pesaro, he is taken in chains to Venice before the Consiglio dei Dieci.
Feb. Apr.				Lombardia	Quickly exonerated, stays in Brescia for three months.
May			500 infantry	Lombardia and Veneto	Sent from Bergamo to Legnago and the Polesine to monitor Imperial movements along the borders of the Serenissima.
Oct.	Venice	Empire		Lombardia	At the defense of Crema.
Nov. Dec.				Lombardia	The Duke of Urbino Francesco Maria della Rovere sends Malatesta Baglioni to defend Crema. Babone Naldi is outraged by this decision and asks Piero Pesaro (Provveditore) to be transferred to Asola. The request is denied. In December, still in Crema, he reaches a modus vivendi with Baglioni.
1526
June			500 infantry	Lombardia	Leaves Crema and supports Malatesta Baglioni in the conquest of Lodi: initially remains guarding the town; then joins Francesco Maria della Rovere at the Melegnano camp.
Aug.				Lombardia	In Lodi.
Sept.			285 infantry
Nov.				Lombardia	Tasked with imprisoning the ducal governor of Lodi (a city of the Duchy of Milan allied with the Serenissima), Giovanni Clemente Vistarini, accused of intending to hand over the city to the Imperial forces.
Dec.			500 infantry	Emilia	Given funds to recruit 500 infantry. Sent with his company to defend Piacenza, supporting Guido Rangoni. In the city, he sets fire to the Borgo di San Lazzaro; sends his squad leader Giovanni Andrea da Faenza towards Fiorenzuola d’Arda with 100 arquebusiers. Extracts first-hand information from some prisoners on the movements of the Landsknechts in the nearby territory.
1527
Jan.				Emilia	The Papal Commissioner Francesco Guicciardini harshly criticizes the Venetians because, due to delayed pay, Naldi is in Piacenza with fewer troops than expected; the condottiero rejects the accusations.
Feb.				Emilia	Near Piacenza, he captures an old acquaintance, Beraldino Beraldo, serving the Imperial forces. Naldi shows him all the city’s defensive works and then releases him so he can report their strength to the Landsknechts.
Mar.			500 infantry	Emilia	His soldiers harass the civilian population with their demands. With the enemy’s departure, Babone Naldi remains in Piacenza; a revolt by the inhabitants forces him to lock himself in the monasteries of San Sepolcro and San Sisto. At the end of the month, he can leave the city; the Collegio sends him to the Polesine.
Apr.				Veneto	With Pietro Francesco da Viterbo, tasked with fortifying the passes of Canda and Villamarzana and setting up some bastions. In charge of guarding the bridge at Ficarolo with four artillery pieces: he leaves the place due to the energetic protests by Duke Alfonso d’Este of Ferrara because his men caused serious damage in the Ferrarese territory. At the end of the month, he offers to poison the Connétable de Bourbon; the proposal, initially accepted, is indefinitely postponed by the Venetian Senate.
May				Lombardia	Returns to Lodi.
June				Lombardia	Crosses the Lambro River with his colonelcy, four artillery pieces, and numerous sappers under Provveditore Generale Domenico Contarini: while marching on the bridge with Giampaolo Manfrone, Giacomo Novello, Ambrogio da Landriano, Antonio da Castello, and Gian Ludovico Pallavicini, he is attacked by Imperial troops from Melegnano. A skirmish occurs with two bands of Italian infantry fortified in a church, supported by Antonio de Leyva. Reinforcements arrive from Milan: 14 Landsknecht banners and 4 of Spanish and Italian infantry with some artillery pieces. In the clash, Cesare da Napoli is wounded in an arm and the Spanish captain Jacheto is killed. Other minor skirmishes follow.
July				Lombardia	Leaves the Riozzo camp; with many light cavalry, heads towards Milan without encountering much resistance. At Giano Fregoso’s suggestion, he leaves the camp with Maffeo Cagnolo, Toso da Collalto (350/500 infantry), Cesare Fregoso (40 lances), Giacomo da Vicovaro, Annibale di Lenzo, and Tommaso di Costanzo (60 light cavalry). At Vizzolo Predabissi they ambush the enemy escorting supply wagons: 50 men-at-arms, 70/80 light cavalry, and 2 bands of Spanish and Landsknecht infantry (350 men). The enemy is defeated in a little over an hour: 100 infantry killed, 40 men-at-arms captured, and many light cavalry taken.
Aug.				Lombardia	Present at the conquest of Melegnano. Falls ill at the camp.
Sept.				Lombardia	Sent to relieve Sant’Angelo Lodigiano: his mere presence compels the Imperial forces (500 infantry, 60 men-at-arms, 100 light cavalry with five artillery pieces) to withdraw without fighting.
…				Lombardia	Due to 40 days of delayed pay, he appeals to Domenico Contarini and Giano Fregoso for the necessary funds: threatens to abandon the camp with his men. He is barely convinced not to carry out the threat.
1528
June	Florence	Empire	500 infantry	Tuscany	Granted a contract for 500 infantry in wartime; commands the territorial levies; awarded an annual pay of 400 ducats, and his son Paolo receives a monthly pay of 10 ducats. With taxes and other benefits, his yearly pay amounts to 680 ducats. He sets up with 16 infantry companies on the right bank of the Arno. Captain General is Ercole d’Este, son of Duke Alfonso d’Este of Ferrara.
1529
June	Florence	Empire		Tuscany	In charge of defending the right bank of the Arno. Commands a territorial infantry force divided into 30 squads.
Aug.	Venice	Empire	500 infantry	Romagna	Returns to Venetian pay with a contract for 600 infantry, 200 of which under the orders of his son Paolo. Goes to Ravenna; given command of an infantry colonelcy of 500 men.
Sept.				Veneto and Lombardia	Operates in the Veronese area. With 300 infantry moves between Rivoli and Cavaion Veronese; clashes with Landsknechts who have burned some villages. Moves to defend Salò.
Dec.			200 infantry	Veneto	Peace with the Imperial forces is signed. Returns to guard duty in Verona.
1530
Jan.			50 infantry	Veneto	His available force is further reduced.
1531
Mar.				Veneto	Granted the rank of colonel. Also granted a monthly pay of 66 ducats for ten months each year.
Nov.					With his brother Guido, challenges Sigismondo Malatesta to a duel, accusing him of causing the dismissal of Roberto da San Severino and showing repeated cowardice; the duel ends unfavorably for Malatesta.
1532
Feb. Apr.				Veneto	Still in Verona, lodges with his men in the Castel San Pietro. Tasked with watching the stretch of walls between Porta San Giorgio and Porta Vescovo. One of his companies is transferred to Crema.
May June			250 infantry	Veneto and Greece	Sent to defend Corfu due to Turkish threats. A first muster takes place at the Lido (Venice) before departure and a second at his arrival on the island in front of Provveditore Giovanni Moro.
Sept.				Veneto	In Verona. With 25/30 mounted crossbowmen, tries to maintain order in neighboring territory during the passage of Imperial troops heading to Hungary.
Oct.				Veneto	Meets Francesco Maria della Rovere in Treviso.
Nov.				Veneto	Babone and Guido Naldi are granted honorary command of 75 lances.
Dec.			50 infantry	Veneto	In Verona.
1533
Apr.				Veneto	Creditor of 400 ducats from the Venetians for his pay.
…				Veneto	In Verona with his brother Guido when Enea Naldi, a member of their family, is assassinated inside a church in Brisighella during mass by a hired killer of the rival Carroli family. The two condottieri leave the city, both temporarily free from any military commitment, to carry out a true expedition of revenge in Romagna, ending with the killing of many Carroli family members, the rape of their women, and the burning and looting of their houses in Brisighella and the surroundings. After the reprisal, the attackers flee. They leave the Papal State territory, where the incident took place, to find refuge in the Serenissima’s domains. The measures taken against them by the papal governor Francesco Guicciardini prove useless.
1536
…				Lombardia	Tasked with Antonio da Castello to gather 6000 infantry and 500 light cavalry for the renewal of the alliance between the Serenissima and the Empire. The troops assemble at Asola; they are soon recalled because Venice is not involved in the Franco-Imperial conflict.
…	Venice	Ottoman Empire	Captain General	Greece	Upon the death of Giacomo Novello, Naldi offers to command the troops defending Corfu against the Turks. In Greece, he commands 2000 Italian infantry and 2000 Greeks; has the suburbs demolished to reduce the area to be defended around the main city.
Sept.				Greece	Attacked by Sultan Solimano (Suleiman)’s troops (25000 men under Barbarossa). The Ottomans have 30 cannons, including one giant 50-caliber piece, the largest in the world at that time. Artillery fire begins against the citadel. Corfu has strong defenses. The city, located on the eastern coast of the island, lies behind and below the high citadel overlooking the rocky peninsula extending towards the Albanian coast, controlling land and sea access. Inside the citadel there is a garrison of about 2000 Italian infantry, aided by an equal number of armed inhabitants and the crews of Venetian ships present in the port. There are ample supplies of provisions and ammunition; morale is excellent. Exceptional rains that month prevent the enemy from effectively using their cannons in the mud; moreover, dysentery and malaria spread in the Turkish camp. After barely three weeks of siege, the Ottoman army is forced to embark again.
1538
Oct.			300 infantry	Greece	Still reported at the defense of Corfu, commanding 300 provisioned men.
…				Greece	Replaced in command of the troops by Valerio Orsini.
1544
Apr.					Dies in Padua; according to other sources he died in battle after being wounded in the chest by an arquebus shot. He is buried in Padua in the Chiesa del Carmine in a niche above the main entrance door. There is an anonymous portrait of him in the Pinacoteca Comunale of Faenza.

Sources

-“Che per haver honor morir non cura/…/Ne le battaglie un marte veramente/…/ d’acquistar sempre honor avido, e caldo./ (Alla difesa di Brescia)/ Babon de Naldo, l’ardito campione,/ in man portava una forte alabarda,/ spezzando ogni corazza e celadoni/ perchè armatura alcuna non riguarda,/ e fece tante prove quel barone,/ che trar adietro fece l’antiguardia,/ ponendo in rotta la lor prima schiera/ con battaglia crudel, spietata e fiera.”/…/ (Alla battaglia di Creazzo) Babbone naldo non stava a dormire/ ma con molto furor fra li nemici/ con la ronca a due mani si vedea agire/ facendo molti miseri, e infelici. /Mai non fu visto in hom cotanto ardire/ sì che copria di morti le pendici/ e per la turba sdruscellando striscia/ come fra l’erba fa l’adirata biscia.” DEGLI AGOSTINI

-“Babon de Naldo che non sta a dormire/ Quando ch’è intrato nel aspro zambello!” CORDO

-“Il quale nelle ultime guerre di terra ferma haveva generato di se ottimo concetto di persona di molto valore, e d’altrettanta fede verso la Rep. e che all’hora teneva nella sua militia grado di Colonnello..Soldato valoroso e fedele.” PARUTA

-“Praefectus fortis, usque militiae peritus, et pro spectata virtute numquam satis laudatus.” G. ROSSI

-“Fu capitano di ventura di buona rinomanza.” ARGEGNI

-“Uomo fedelissimo alla Repub. e reso illustre per le gesta sue nella guerra d’Italia.” A. MOROSINI

-“Vecchio e fedele condottiere.” ZORZI

-“Fu capitano di ventura di buona rinomanza.” ARGEGNI

-“Babone fu senza dubbio uno dei condottieri più capaci di quegli anni, in grado di alternare una sorprendente varietà di ruoli. Al comando di contingenti interarmi italiani e stranieri inflisse severi rovesci alle forze imperiali.” BAZZOCCHI

-Sulla sua tomba è riportato il seguente epitaffio “Babono Naldo et prudentia et pro/ bitate claro: qui multos annos nobiliss./ Venetorum imperio pedestres copias/ ducens, operam fidemque suam/ strenue praestitit./ Paulus ac Dionysius filii suae in eum/ voluntatis, testimonium ad ponendum/ curarunt/ Vixit ann. LXX. OBIIT PRID. ID. APR./ MDXLIIII”