Cesare Fregoso’s Military Career and His Loyalty to King Francis I
Cesare Fregoso of Rome. Son of Giano Fregoso; brother of Annibale Fregoso and Alessandro Fregoso; brother-in-law of Guido Rangoni and Luigi Gonzaga. He was a knight of the Order of Saint Michael.
Born: 1502
Death: 1541, October
| Year/Month | State/Comp. ventura | Opponent | Conduct | Activity Area | Actions Taken and Other Salient Facts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1511 | Veneto | Lives in Padua. | |||
| 1515 | Genoa | Spain | Lombardy | Fights for the Doge of Genoa Ottaviano Fregoso: at the head of many Genoese and some companies of French soldiers, he moves to Lombardy and ravages the areas near the Po. | |
| 1516 | |||||
| Mar. | Lombardy | Is between Rivolta and Cassano d’Adda. Defeats opponents in a skirmish. | |||
| 1522 | France | At the French court. | |||
| 1524 | |||||
| Mar. | Venice | France | Lombardy | Takes part in the capture of Garlasco. | |
| Apr. | Piedmont | At the camp of Casalino. Is wounded by a gunshot in a small clash. | |||
| June | Piedmont | The Council of Sages divides between him and his brother Alessandro the conduct of men-at-arms previously under their father Giano. | |||
| 1525 | |||||
| Oct. | Veneto | In Verona, for a war council attended by the Captain General of the Serenissima, the Duke of Urbino Francesco Maria della Rovere, Malatesta Baglioni, Luigi Gonzaga, and his father Giano. | |||
| 1526 | |||||
| Feb. | Lombardy | Participates in Crema with other captains at a grand dinner offered by Malatesta Baglioni (14 courses for 80 diners). | |||
| June | Venice | Empire | 50 lances | Lombardy | With his company takes part in the defense of Lodi, recently conquered by the Venetians. |
| July | Lombardy | At the camp of Melegnano. Offers himself for a diversionary action against Genoa. | |||
| Aug. | 48 lances | Lombardy | |||
| Oct. | Lombardy | At the camp of Lambrate. Enters into a dispute with the field master Girolamo Castiglione over the provision of a certain quantity of hay: some soldiers are killed in the brawl and Cesare Fregoso‘s mount is killed. | |||
| Nov. | Veneto | Supports Camillo Orsini with his men in the Veronese area to counter the advance of Giorgio Frundsberg‘s landsknechts. Is placed in charge of guarding Vicenza; is also entrusted with the government of Verona. Moves initially to the defense of Salò, then to the Bergamo area. | |||
| Dec. | Veneto | Francesco Maria della Rovere criticizes his behavior and that of Camillo Orsini in the College of Pregadi. | |||
| 1527 | |||||
| Jan. | Veneto | In Verona. | |||
| Mar. | Emilia | In the Reggio area with Michail Gaissmayr‘s landsknechts. | |||
| May | Lombardy | Faces the imperials between Sant’Angelo Lodigiano and Pizzighettone. Intercepts 200 infantry on the Lambro who have crossed the river in search of loot, attacks them, recovers the prey, and inflicts some losses on them. Returns to guard Lodi. During his stay in this location, a Venetian and a Sforza soldier argue over the possession of a pig. A clash ensues involving men from both sides, ending with the death of more than 100 soldiers on both sides. Cesare Fregoso himself is wounded in the right hand by an arquebus shot. | |||
| July | Lombardy | Leaves the camp of Riozzo (40 men-at-arms) with Babone Naldi, Maffeo Cagnolo, Toso da Collalto (350-500 infantry), Giacomo da Vicovaro, Annibale di Lenzo, and Tommaso di Costanzo (85 light cavalry). Approaches the enemy camp of Melegnano, sets an ambush at Vizzolo Predabissi for 50 men-at-arms, 70/80 light cavalry, and two bands of Spanish infantry and landsknechts (350 men) who are escorting the foragers. In just over an hour, the imperials are defeated with the killing of 100 infantry, the capture of 40 men-at-arms and many light cavalry, and the blocking of 300 carts. In this action, Fregoso distinguishes himself for his valor. Continues his action, places himself between Abbiategrasso and Certosa di Pavia with 14 men-at-arms, joined by Toso da Collalto and his brother Annibale with their infantry, as well as Annibale di Lenzo, Giacomo da Vicovaro, Aventino Fracastoro, and Francesco da Casale with 85 light cavalry. A company of Spanish infantry is attacked and fortifies itself nearby: in a short time, the Venetians jump inside the bastions and take the opponents prisoner with the death of two enemy infantry and the wounding of two Venetian horses. | |||
| Aug. | 80 lances | Lombardy, Piedmont, and Liguria | At Melegnano. With his brother Annibale (50 men-at-arms and 800 Gascon infantry), escorts the procurator Piero Pesaro to Bosco Marengo to meet with Lautrec. From here, he heads towards Liguria to join Andrea Doria‘s troops at Portofino. Arriving in Val Polcevera, he asks to enter Genoa: his request is rejected. Receiving 1500 soldiers as reinforcements from the French, he places the garrison in the monastery of San Benigno and his camp at Sampiedarena, on the very day that Agostino Spinola defeats and captures Filippino Doria with 800 infantry. Cesare Fregoso is attacked at night in the church of San Francesco by Gabriele da Martinengo, who has 2500 infantry and 2 pieces of artillery: Agostino Spinola and Sinibaldo Fieschi capture the sentries placed by Cesare Fregoso at the Porta di San Lazzaro and San Benigno. Fregoso retreats with part of his men to a shipyard behind a large galley; from here he repels the attackers’ blows, puts them to flight, captures Spinola; maintains the initiative with arquebusiers and twenty men-at-arms, repels Fieschi and routs first 7 ensigns of infantry, then another 4 near the monastery of San Teodoro. However, he finds the city gates closed: meanwhile, the people begin to rise in favor of the French. The imperials re-enter Genoa to block the tumult; the Venetians penetrate the city, mixing with the adversaries. He joins with Andrea Doria and together they demand the surrender of the Castelletto where the governor Antoniotto Adorno has taken refuge: the latter desists from resistance, leaves the fortress, and retires to his castle in Silvano sull’Orba. Cesare Fregoso enters Genoa and takes up residence in the Public Palace. He strictly prohibits the sacking of houses and takes an active part in composing internal struggles. After six days, the Genoese give him 2000 scudi as a sign of thanks for his work and 3 pays for his soldiers: the Bank of San Giorgio, finally, recognizes a life annuity of 200 scudi for him and one of his sons. The Council of Sages, for its part, increases his conduct to 80 men-at-arms, of which 30 have already served under Malatesta Baglioni. Teodoro da Trivulzio becomes governor of Genoa by the will of Andrea Doria and the French. | ||
| Sept. | Liguria | Sends Gabriele da Martinengo prisoner to Cremona. | |||
| Oct. | Lombardy | Besieges Pavia: attacked by surprise by some infantry, he saves himself with difficulty from capture thanks to the intervention of Antonio da Castello. The city is finally conquered and sacked by Venetians and French. Cesare Fregoso moves to the camp of Landriano. At the news that 2000 infantry and 50 lances are leaving Milan, with 4 pieces of artillery, heading towards Abbiategrasso, he moves with Pietro da Longhena (250 men-at-arms, 1000 infantry, and many light cavalry) to disturb their incursion and try to introduce 1000 arquebusiers to defend the location. At Binasco, he has some skirmishes with Antonio di Leyva. Abbiategrasso falls into the hands of the imperials. Cesare Fregoso returns to the vicinity within a few days; enters the castle with Roberto da San Severino and takes many prisoners. | |||
| Dec. | Lombardy | Is sent with his brother Annibale to aid Gian Giacomo dei Medici engaged in an attack on Lecco. With Roberto da San Severino and Alberto Scotti, he heads towards Milan to enter the city or, at least, to make the Sforza partisans come out. Returns to Lecco on the mandate of the general provider Tommaso Moro to verify the state of the siege: the Venetians decide to withdraw. | |||
| 1528 | |||||
| Jan. | Lombardy, Piedmont | Conducts a diversionary action in Lomellina with Paolo Luzzasco, his brother Annibale, Cosco, Agostino da Clusone, Maffeo Cagnolo: he is given command of the enterprise without Luzzasco‘s knowledge. Moves against Vigevano; touches Gropello Cairoli, Mortara (where the inhabitants hinder his entry); approaches Gambolò, where the imperials are encamped. The adversaries withdraw and he can enter the location with Luzzasco and Annibale Picenardi. Enters Mortara: Paolo Luzzasco refuses to submit to his orders. The dispute is resolved by the provider Tommaso Moro who forces the two captains to come to an agreement. Fregoso heads with Luzzasco to Novara with 70 men-at-arms, 80 light cavalry, and 60 mounted arquebusiers: an ambush is set for them by 100 men-at-arms, 2000 infantry, and 200 light cavalry, hidden in a village and in nearby ditches. Cesare Fregoso senses the deception and retreats after capturing six horses with only three wounded. Still with Paolo Luzzasco, he raids again in the Novara area; at the head of 25 men-at-arms and 50 light cavalry, he puts to flight the cavalry company of Filippo Tornielli, from whom 22 men are taken prisoner. The adversaries do not come out of Novara, so he can undisturbed destroy the mills of the surroundings. | |||
| Feb. | Piedmont, Lombardy | Contacts Filippo Tornielli to have him pass into the service of the Serenissima; still in the Novara area, intercepts with Luzzasco a convoy of 40 carts of wheat, rye, and other cereals, headed to the opposing captain who remains enclosed in the city. After taking some prisoners, he moves to Oleggio where 15 infantry are surprised; he takes possession of Nibbiola, which is sacked with 130 horses captured and 350 infantry stripped. Continues towards Milan; at the end of the month, he leaves Lomellina and returns to Cassano d’Adda. On the way, he places himself under Pioltello; captures some horses and takes possession of many mules belonging to Zuchero. | |||
| Mar. | Lombardy | Stations in the Lecco area with 200 men-at-arms; operates in aid of Gian Giacomo dei Medici, attacked by the troops of Antonio di Leyva. Cesare Fregoso wants to attack the imperials; he does not find the necessary support in Pietro da Longhena. Carenno falls into the hands of the enemy, so he is forced to fall back on Treviolo. He complains about the situation; goes to Venice and to the College of Pregadi; asks for the troops available at the camp of Cassano d’Adda to be increased. 4000 infantry are recruited. | |||
| Apr. | 50 lances and 60 light cavalry | Lombardy | The Council of Sages changes the terms of his conduct and transforms his 30 men-at-arms into 60 mounted crossbowmen. At the death of Annibale di Lenzo, he is also given command of the light cavalry of that captain. He is officially transferred to Friuli as governor of the region in place of the indisposed Taddeo della Volpe. | ||
| May | Lombardy, Piedmont | Has command of the Venetian forces (200 men-at-arms, of which 80 of his conduct, 200 light cavalry and 1000 infantry) and ducal forces (another 1500 infantry) operating in the Pavia area. Joins Annibale Picenardi on the Po; arrives under Tortona and clashes with the imperials at Pontecurone (capture of 25 horses with Medina and Ercole da Sassatello); returns to the camp of Cassano d’Adda where he reaches his father Giano. His transfer to Friuli having fallen through, he moves to the defense of Brescia; takes lodging in the citadel. Joins with the light cavalry of Roberto da San Severino and encounters the rearguard of the landsknechts at Bagnolo Mella. Takes some prisoners. | |||
| June | Veneto | Is summoned to Venice by the Council of Ten. | |||
| July | Lombardy | Is sent to Lodi; with the cessation of danger, he is sent to Orzinuovi and Pizzighettone; is soon recalled from Ghiaradadda due to the disorders caused by the men under his orders. At Martinengo. Has 50 lances and 80 light cavalry under his command. | |||
| Aug. | Lombardy and Veneto | Leaves Martinengo with 100 arquebusiers and heads towards Treviglio: aids Giovanni Naldi, who has fallen into an ambush nearby; defeats the adversaries from whom he captures 60 horses, mostly Spanish. Does not get along with Francesco Maria della Rovere and does not follow him in his attack against the imperials conducted with the French of Saint-Pol. Cesare Fregoso instead goes to Montegrotto Terme and asks the Venetians for permission to leave their service. | |||
| Sept. | 50 lances | Veneto | Summoned to the College, he is sent with 100 light cavalry to Ravenna with the position of governor: he is granted a conduct of 50 men-at-arms and an annual provision of 1000 ducats. | ||
| Oct. | Romagna | In Ravenna. | |||
| Dec. | Captain General of light cavalry | Is praised in Pregadi by the former provider of Ravenna **Alvise |
| 1529 | |||||
| Feb. | Requests an adjustment to his emoluments. | ||||
| Apr. | Venice, Piedmont | In Venice, for a meeting with the Council of Ten. Joins his father in Lombardy; goes to Alexandria to meet with Saint-Pol. | |||
| May | Lombardy | At Belgioioso, for a war council. Leaves Melegnano with Roberto da San Severino; repels an offensive by the imperialists, pushing up to the gates of Milan. | |||
| June | Lombardy | At Cassano d’Adda. Still with Roberto da San Severino, clashes with the imperialists nearby. Among the Venetians, 10 horses are killed; among the enemies, 10 horses and 30 landsknechts; another 60 horses are wounded. He is then reported at Landriano, ready to assault Genoa: the French have promised him the position of governor of the city. Involved in the defeat that occurs nearby, he saves himself at Sant’Angelo Lodigiano. | |||
| July | Lombardy | Sent by Francesco Maria della Rovere on reconnaissance on the Adda to check the construction status of a boat bridge that the imperialists are setting up at Trezzo sull’Adda. Returns to Cassano d’Adda; with Roberto da San Severino, Ambrogio da Landriano and Antonio da Castello, supports della Rovere in an offensive action with 600 arquebusiers, 200 pikemen and 250 light cavalry to surprise attack the enemy cavalry. The imperialists are defeated with the loss of 50 dead and 40 wounded horses, 5-6 captains are taken prisoner including a nephew of Antonio di Leyva; among the Venetians, the losses are more contained. Cesare Fregoso heads towards Monza and diverts the waters of the canals at Inzago: the adversaries are forced to change camp. He carries out an incursion at Capriate-San Gevasio. | |||
| Aug. | Lombardy and Veneto | He is in Brescia with his brother Annibale at the bedside of their dying father. Returns to the camp and is assigned by the Council of the Wise to guard Verona. | |||
| Sept. | Lombardy | With Roberto da San Severino and Sigismondo Malatesta has a skirmish with the adversaries and drives them out of Carpenedolo. Again with San Severino (2000 infantry and some cavalry) he clashes at Manerba del Garda with the landsknechts and forces them to retreat to Lonato. | |||
| Oct. | 37 lances and 200 light cavalry | Lombardy | Stationed at Calvisano and Leno with Antonio da Castello for the lodging of light cavalry: arrived at Leno, he is surprised by 200 cavalry and 400 infantry commanded by Paolo Luzzasco (who now fights for the imperialists). The Venetians defend themselves valiantly, until 1000 landsknechts with 2 pieces of artillery come to the aid of the adversaries from Gambara. 200 infantry of the Serenissima, with Bernardino da Montauto and Mariano da Castello, find themselves surrounded and must surrender after exhausting their ammunition. Cesare Fregoso returns to the defense of Verona with 3000 infantry. In the same month he marries Costanza Rangoni, sister of Guido and widow of the Ferrara count Tommaso Calcagnini. | ||
| Nov. | Lombardy | Faces the imperialists at Chiari with 150 light cavalry and 200 arquebusiers: repels them (14 prisoners) and recovers the stolen cattle. | |||
| Dec. | 434 light cavalry | Veneto | At the conclusion of the conflict, 84 horses of his company are sent to lodge in the Veronese area, 150 in the Vicenza area, 150 in Polesine and 50 in Cologna Veneta. | ||
| 1530 | |||||
| Jan. | 50 light cavalry | Veneto | His conduct is reduced to 50 light cavalry; he is appointed military governor of Verona and his provision is increased to 2500 ducats per year. | ||
| May | Veneto | His work in the war is praised by the former Provveditore Generale Giovanni Dolfin and the former Provveditore Generale Paolo Nani. | |||
| Aug. | Lombardy | Obtains from the Venetians the lordship of Cacciabella in the Brescia area, purchased from the heirs of Bonnivet in exchange for some of his lands in the Ferrara area. The Venetians use him in policing operations: in the same month, he receives an order from the Council of Ten to arrest Count Marco Migli who had Marco Antonio Nogarola killed. He moves with 80 horses and executes the directive. | |||
| 1532 | |||||
| Feb. | Veneto | Still in Verona. Complains about the delay in payments. | |||
| May | Veneto | Welcomes Francesco Maria della Rovere to Venice. | |||
| June | Veneto | At Montorio Veronese, at the muster of his men held by Cristoforo Capello: he contests the provveditore when one of his light horses is not accepted. At the end of the review, a large part of his company mutinies with the lieutenant Alfonso Greco. Finally, he accompanies Francesco Maria della Rovere to the Campo di Marte in Verona and attends the muster of 2400/3000 selected troops from the territory. | |||
| July | Veneto | Receives Cardinal Ippolito de’ Medici in Verona, heading to Germany with his entourage as legate of Pope Clement VII. | |||
| Nov. | 25 lances and 200 light cavalry | Veneto | Welcomes the daughter of Emperor Charles V to Verona. |
| 1533 | |||||
| July | Veneto | In Venice, at the College of the Pregadi. | |||
| 1536 | |||||
| ………… | France | Empire | Veneto and Emilia | He departs from Verona with 200 horsemen without permission to assist Guido Rangoni against the imperial forces. The Serenissima (Venice) not only deprives him of his pay and rank; it confiscates his properties in the Veronese area and banishes him from its territories as a deserter; his brother Alessandro is also dismissed. These measures are criticized in the College by both the French and imperial ambassadors. | |
| Apr. | Emilia | In the Piacenza area. | |||
| July | Emilia | At Mirandola. In this locality, 10,000 infantry, of which 2,000 recruited by Cesare Fregoso, and 600 cavalry are assembled. | |||
| Aug. | Emilia, Lombardy, Piedmont, and Liguria | He moves towards Piedmont with Cagnino Gonzaga, Guido Rangoni, Bernabò Visconti, and Piero Strozzi. The troops march along the right bank of the Po River, camp between Parma and Reggio Emilia at Castelguelfo, near Piacenza, and later between Pavia and Tortona. Suddenly, Cesare Fregoso attacks Serravalle Scrivia and threatens Genoa, which had been alerted by a Lucchese deserter serving in Guido Rangoni‘s company. With Bernabò Visconti, through steep mountain paths, he reaches the gate towards the Bisagno while the bulk of the troops set up their lodgings near the Fassolo gate on the hill of Granarolo. He makes a furious assault on the Porta di San Tommaso; his men begin to scale the city walls. The attack is repelled by the German infantry of the imperial commissioner Gomez Suarez and by the fire from the galleys of Antonio Doria, stationed at the river’s mouth. Forced to retreat with heavy losses, he falls back to Montorio, a castle of the Fieschi, with Bernabò Visconti; in the city, moreover, there was no uprising in favor of the Fregoso. He leaves Liguria and joins Guido Rangoni, who has taken the road to Ovada with 2,000 infantry and 200 light cavalry. He raids the Asti area without encountering resistance; he procures bread and biscuits at the expense of the population. He reaches Viscarda; he goes to Turin to inform Annebault of the imminent arrival of reinforcements; he crosses the Tanaro River with Rangoni and arrives at Ceresole Alba. | |||
| Sept. | Piedmont | At the command of 1,000 infantry and 200 light cavalry, he seizes Racconigi after two assaults; he is wounded in the clash. The imperial garrison is massacred; Annibale Brancaccio and Count Alessandro Crivelli are captured. | |||
| Dec. | France | He reaches Lyon to attend the trial against Sebastiano Montecuccoli, accused of having poisoned the Dauphin of France on behalf of Emperor Charles V (Carlo V). | |||
| 1537 | |||||
| Winter | France and Piedmont | At Pinerolo. After an unsuccessful assault on Barge, he returns to France: he meets with King Francis I. He attacks Barge again with Giampaolo di Ceri, Lelio Filomarino, Vincenzo Strozzi, Battistino Corso, and Galeotto Malatesta. The resistance offered by Annibale Brancaccio is overcome: among the attackers, 100 men are killed, including Filomarino and Girolamo da Camerino. Cesare Fregoso conquers Boves and besieges Asti. | |||
| May–June | Piedmont | He supports his brother-in-law Guido Rangoni in a dispute with Cagnino Gonzaga: the latter disseminates some letters by Pietro Aretino attacking Cesare Fregoso. He challenges Gonzaga to a duel, believing him to be the true instigator of the libels. An inquiry is held, at the end of which Cagnino Gonzaga obtains permission from the King of France to return to his states due to illness. Guido Rangoni is replaced in command by Humières. During the same period, Cesare Fregoso accuses Tolosano di San Dalmazzo of embezzlement committed at Rivoli: he fails to obtain proof of the latter’s misdeeds. | |||
| July | Piedmont | The attack on Turin led by Cesare da Napoli for the imperial forces fails; Cesare Fregoso moves to Alba and quarrels with Giampaolo di Ceri. He relocates to the defense of Chivasso. | |||
| Aug. | Piedmont | He leaves Chivasso with 22 companies of Italian infantry and 300 light cavalry. Cesare da Napoli comes against him; he returns to Chivasso, only to abandon that locality. At Cherasco, he is attacked by Alfonso d’Avalos leading 25,000 infantry, 3,000 cavalry, and supported by 24 artillery pieces (12 cannons, the rest large culverins and bastards). Cesare Fregoso has at his disposal a small number of men relative to the size of the stronghold, also because the infantry banners of his company are incomplete, like those of Baldassarre della Massa, who will later be tried for this fact. | |||
| Sept. | Piedmont and France | Cherasco undergoes an intense bombardment. The Marquis of Vasto orders two assaults on a breach opened in the city walls: they are repelled in two to three hours of fighting with heavy losses among the attackers. Cesare Fregoso‘s soldiers build overnight a trench behind the damaged wall section, protected by a large quantity of wet manure that stops the cannon shots. The imperial forces climb the walls, find themselves facing the trench full of defenders, untouched by artillery fire, and are driven back into the mud-filled ditch in front of the walls. The opponents decide to change objective and to attack the side of the walls towards Mondovì, not protected by any bulwark that could hit the attackers from the flank. After another twenty days, Cesare Fregoso is forced to surrender under terms through his friend Luigi Gonzaga. He can thus return to Pinerolo under escort of the Spanish cavalry and from there move to France to inform the king of his situation. | |||
| Oct. | General Captain of Light Cavalry | France | Francis I welcomes him festively in the Dauphiné and rewards him with gifts and pensions; he is given for some time the command of the light cavalry in place of Annebault, captured by the imperial forces. | ||
| 1538 | |||||
| June | France | After the Peace of Noyon (June), he is at the side of the King of France during his meeting with Charles V (Carlo V). Subsequently, he goes to Villeneuve with Guido Rangoni and Camillo Orsini for the next meeting with Pope Paul III. | |||
| Lombardy | At Castel Goffredo, guest of Luigi Gonzaga. In the same year, he is accused by Pietro Aretino along with Gonzaga of being the instigator of the assassination of Francesco Maria della Rovere, poisoned in Venice by his barber. | ||||
| 1541 | |||||
| Spring | France | He departs for Paris with the French ambassador to Constantinople, Antonio Rincon. He spends a long time at court where he and Rincon are assigned the task of promoting an alliance of Venice with the Franco-Turkish front against the imperial forces. He intercedes with the King of France so that he is granted permission to divert to Liguria, suffering from a severe famine, part of the wheat destined for the areas controlled by the French in Piedmont. | |||
| July | Piedmont | He arrives at Rivoli where he meets with some French emissaries. His presence is noted. To cross Lombardy and reach Venice more quickly, he chooses the river route, despite Guglielmo di Bellay (Langley), French governor of Piedmont, trying several times to dissuade him from using this route. | |||
| Oct. | Lombardy | He embarks with a small escort. He is assassinated along with Rincon by the governor of Milan, Alfonso d’Avalos, despite the contrary opinion of the emperor. The murder is carried out at the confluence of the Ticino and Po rivers; in a second boat accompanying him, some men transporting letters and 150,000 ducats reach Piacenza safely. After two months, the boatmen who guided his vessel are released by the Spaniards; they arrange for the bodies of Cesare Fregoso and Rincon to be found, buried in the mud and half-eaten by stray animals. The captain’s left hand is recognized by the absence of a finger; it is placed in a bag and sent by his wife Costanza Rangoni to the King of France. After his death, a spy network organized by him is discovered in Venice with the help of Agostino Abbondio and some Venetian gentlemen like Matteo Leoni, Costantino, and Niccolò Cavazza. The properties owned by the family of Cesare Fregoso in the Venetian territory are confiscated. The condottiero wrote a poem in honor of Queen Marguerite of Navarre. He corresponded with Pietro Aretino. He had as his secretary Matteo Bandello, with him in Verona from 1529 to 1536, who dedicated a novella to him and recalled him several times in his works, portraying him as a refined man, pleasure-loving, fond of perfumes, sweets, embroidered clothes, luxurious clothing accessories. He had a majestic palace built in Garda near the northern gate of the city. From 1538 to 1541, he was often a guest of the Marquis Luigi Gonzaga at Castelgoffredo along with Bandello. He married Costanza Rangoni, widow of Tommaso Calcagnini. |
Sources
-“Fu.. chiamato da Francesco re di Francia, e tenuto in tanto pregio, che niuno v’havea d’Italiani così grato e accetto a quel grandissimo re, come era desso.” FOGLIETTA
-“Strenuo capitano.” GUAZZO
-“Era uomo distinto nelle arti di guerra e di pace, nell’ architettura militare molto perito, l’amico degli artisti e degli uomini di lettere, e nelle sue cose sempre magnifico. E’ conosciuto un suo carme in lode della regina di Navarra Margherita di Valois.” LITTA
-“Capitano illustre de tempi nostri..Chiarissimo guerriero, famoso nell’armi e nell’attioni del mondo.” SANSOVINO
-“Perito dell’architettura militare. Il P. Oldoini cita un carme da lui composto e lo rimprovera di aver condotto genti straniere a’ danni della patria.” CAPPELLINI
-“Acquistò nell’armi molto grido.” MAFFEI
-“Garzone ancor su l’Adige più volte/ Del sangue de’ nemici il fiume tinse.” BANDELLO
-“Seguiva el duca (Francesco Maria della Rovere) ancor Cesare fregoso/ che per Fialte armato o vero Antheo/ membruto di persona valoroso/ nato del sangue par di Capaneo/ & ne l’arme quel tanto orgoglioso/ a’ hercul non stimerebbe né Theseo/ e per farne Francia il paragone/ sectanta lance ha seco in su l’arcione.” CANDELFINO
-In una scaramuccia tra Rivolta e Cassano d’Adda. “Fra li thedeschi con furor si caccia/ e fa più d’un guerrier rimaner vile,/ tanto animosamente si procaccia/ con l’arme in man mostrandosi virile.”/…/ (All’assedio di Verona) “Fra li thedeschi con furor si caccia/ e fa più d’un guerrier rimaner vile./ Tanto animosamente si procaccia/ con l’arme in man mostrando virile/ troncando a chi il capo, a chi le braccia/ per modo tal che la nemica turba da l’impresa smarrita conturba.” DEGLI AGOSTINI
-Alla difesa di Cherasco. “Era di dentro un Cavaliero Franco/ Che di liguria è nato e’l nome tiene. Dico del sangue che non viene manco/ Di farsi honor con la tenace spene./ Quest’ havea fermo l’uno, et l’altro sia/ Del loco forte quanto si conviene./ Et Cesare Fregoso ne vien detto/ che di servir a franza ha gran diletto.” ALBICANTE
-“Patrizio genovese nemico mortale di Andrea Doria, autore di trame volte a riportare la patria nell’orbita francese e farsene doge.” PELLEGRINI
-“Gli anni veronesi (1530-36) furono caratterizzati da un’intensa vita di corte, che il Fregoso riunì nella dimora cittadina e nei suoi possedimenti gardesani: il Bandello che compose in quel periodo le “tre parche”, ne rammenta in alcune Novelle i fasti e i personaggi di maggior spicco, quali F. Berni e G. Fracastoro. Vi intervenivano, nondimeno, anche G. Dolfin, influente patrizio veneziano, e i nobili veronesi Serego, partigiani dell’imperatore, che garantivano al Fregoso gli appoggi indispensabili per muoversi in un contesto politico favorevole -dopo la pace di Bologna (1530)- a Carlo V. Un effetto di ambigua equidistanza avevano avuto anche le sue nozze con Costanza Rangoni, concluse con la mediazione del solerte segretario nell’autunno 1529, che lo avevano reso cognato di Guido Rangoni, uomo d’arme di simpatie francesi, e di Luigi Gonzaga di Castel Goffredo, capitano imperiale. Rimase tuttavia fedele servitore della corte francese alla quale trasmetteva le notizie inviategli dai corrispondenti genovesi, dai cognati e dalle spie veneziane, tra cui alcuni magistrati…Il Fregoso, le cui gesta furono esaltate dal Bandello nel quarto dei “Canti XI”, trasse cospicui vantaggi dalla guerra (contro gli imperiali in Piemonte): tra il 1538 e il 1539 le sue entrate aumentarono fino a circa 6000 scudi all’anno, contando anche cospicui donativi del re, mentre si fecero più strette le sue aderenze a corte con Margherita di Navarra e con il connestabile Anne de Montmorency. Se ne ebbe chiaro esempio allorché Pietro Aretino gli mosse l’accusa di aver fatto avvelenare il duca di Urbino Francesco Maria della Rovere (agosto 1538). Fallirono infatti tutti i tentativi di coinvolgerlo nelle inchieste e Francesco I, forse non estraneo a un delitto che decapitava il comando della Lega veneto-imperiale di quell’anno contro i Turchi, lo dichiarò innocente. Si giovò nello stesso periodo anche della relativa distensione delle relazioni tra Asburgo e Valois, ottenendo, per intervento della corte imperiale, la revoca del bando veneziano e la restituzione dei beni. Fissò, nondimeno, come sua dimora, la piccola corte del Gonzaga a Castel Goffredo, che divenne il centro della sua attività politica e diplomatica.” BRUNELLI
-“Zelantissimo del servizio del re (di Francia), ed in molta grazia appresso a lui.” BOTTA
Featured image: wikipedia
