Citolo da Perugia: A Key Figure in Venetian Military History

Citolo da Perugia and His Military Achievements Under Venice

Citolo da Perugia (Zitolo da Perugia), identified in some sources as Giorgio Zaccagnini or Giorgio dei Gregori.

Born: 1470
Death: 1510 (September)

Year, Month	State, Condottiero	Opponent	Forces	Area of Activity	Actions and Key Events
……..				Umbria	From a poor family, in the early years of his life he worked as a wool worker. Eventually, he took up a military career.
1499
……..	Florence	Pisa		Tuscany	Served under Paolo Vitelli.
Aug. – Oct.				Tuscany	In August, participated in the attack on the fortress of Stampace. Desirous of plunder, like many others, he unsuccessfully opposed his captain’s orders when Vitelli decided to abandon the operations. In October, his captain was imprisoned by the Florentines for treason; on this occasion, Zitolo da Perugia helped Vitellozzo Vitelli escape to Pisa.
Dec.	Church	Forlì		Romagna	Under the command of Cesare Borgia. He supported Onorio Savelli, Vitellozzo Vitelli, and Giampaolo Baglioni in the attack by the Papal forces on Imola, defended by Taddeo della Volpe. The town surrendered in a short time.
1500	Church			Romagna
1503
May	Florence	Pisa		Tuscany
Sept.	Orsini	Church		Umbria	Helped Giampaolo Baglioni re-enter Perugia.
1504
June	Florence	Pisa	110 infantry	Tuscany	Commanded 110 soldiers.
Aug.				Tuscany	Fell ill in the camp.
1505
Aug.	Florence	Mercenaries		Tuscany	He was granted an annual provision of 250 ducats, and the size of his force was increased to 200 infantry. Participated in the battle of Campiglia Marittima, where Bartolomeo d’Alviano was defeated: in intervening to support the light cavalry of Paolo da Parrano and Malatesta Malatesta da Sogliano, he suffered considerable losses.
Sept.	Florence	Pisa		Tuscany	He was under the command of Ercole Bentivoglio. Along with Piero del Monte a Santa Maria and Chiriaco dal Borgo (3000 infantry), he led the first assault on the city from Porta Calcesana: he was repelled with relative losses by 300 Spanish infantry commanded by Nuno de Ocampo. Bentivoglio also used him in the second assault on the walls; he was tasked with crossing the Arno at the start of the battle with Ceccotto Tosinghi. His infantry reached the bridge but were blocked by some Pisans stationed on the riverbanks. The condottiero was wounded in the thigh by a crossbow bolt; his infantry retreated to the ravelin of Porta delle Piagge. The enemy arrived, and the Florentines were driven from the position. After the defeat, he returned to the camp. At the end of the month, he was sent to Ripafratta with 80 soldiers, replacing Carlo da Cremona, accompanied by Bernardino da Carrara with 30 more soldiers.
Nov.				Tuscany	At the Cascina camp, he seized a chest from a crossbowman, a former captain. He checked its contents and handed them over to the competent authorities.
1508
Aug.	Venice			Veneto	Under the pay of the Serenissima Republic of Venice. He was granted an annual provision of 300 ducats.
Dec.				Lombardy	In Lombardy, he hastily trained 1000 Brescia militia. In Bergamo, Padua, and other locations, similar contingents were also trained.
1509
Mar.	Venice	France, Empire, Ferrara	800 infantry	Lombardy	He reviewed his company in Brescia’s Piazza del Mercato Nuovo. To lift the spirits of the citizens, he simulated some military actions.
Apr.				Lombardy	He was in the Riviera di Salò, in Polpenazze del Garda; at the end of the month, he joined Franco dal Borgo and Meleagro da Forlì to raid beyond the Adda. He reached the gates of Lodi, looted much livestock, and inflicted heavy damage on the surrounding areas; then, he moved around Crema and finally headed to Pontevico, where he was part of the third column commanded by Antonio Pio.
May				Lombardy	Participated in the Battle of Agnadello. With his infantry, he supported the initial victorious action of Alviano with Piero del Monte a Santa Maria and Saccoccio da Spoleto. In the end, the square of the Venetian infantry (4000 men) was crushed by 3000 Swiss, 2000 or 3000 Gascons, and 1000 men-at-arms led by King Louis XII himself. In the fighting, a few men-at-arms and 6000 infantrymen of the Serenissima died, 700 of whom belonged to the company of Zitolo da Perugia. Alviano was captured, and Zitolo da Perugia, repeatedly wounded (five times), suffered the same fate, captured by some crossbowmen of Galeazzo Pallavicini. He was taken to the castle of Agnadello, treated for his wounds, paid the ransom imposed on him, and was released.
June				Veneto	He went to Venice; he was met by a member of the Council of Ten, who gave him money. He claimed that the defeat was due to the lack of intervention by the men-at-arms of Antonio Pio and, above all, to the conduct of Giacomo Secco. The Venetians ensured his care as his wounds had not yet healed. He was received by the Collegio dei Pregadi and Doge Leonardo Loredan; his provision was increased to 400 ducats a year, and he was given a company of 1000 infantry to be recruited in the Perugia area. He and Lattanzio da Bergamo were asked for advice on the fortifications of the Marghera camp.
July			300 infantry	Veneto	He reached Mestre with 300 infantry; with Taddeo della Volpe and Lattanzio da Bergamo, he stormed Padua through Porta Codalunga, left half-open for the passage of some peasants with three carts of wheat. The resistance of the Imperial governor Leonardo da Trissino (300 German infantry) and Brunoro da Serego (50 men-at-arms) was quickly overcome. Zitolo received two minor wounds in the clash. The Imperial forces retreated partly to the castle and partly to the Palazzo del Capitaniato, defending themselves briefly before surrendering. Zitolo, along with Lattanzio da Bergamo, plundered the palaces of rebellious families, including that of Antonio Capodivacca. The Provveditore Generale Andrea Gritti instructed him to stop the men of Sebastiano Bernardi, who intended to loot some houses; Stefano Moneta opposed him, killing his horse and one of his squad leaders. Nevertheless, Zitolo went to Venice to ask for a pardon for Moneta; for his actions, he was praised in the Council of Ten. He was tasked with recruiting between 250 and 800 infantry; he was given a house in Padua and some properties, which brought him an annual income of 200 ducats, previously belonging to the rebels. He supervised the defenses of the castle of Stra, again with Lattanzio da Bergamo.
Aug.			900 infantry	Veneto	Some stradiotti informed Zitolo da Perugia of Francesco Gonzaga’s attempt to bribe them. Zitolo joined forces with Lucio Malvezzi and surprised Gonzaga at Isola della Scala. He pretended to conduct reconnaissance along the Castelbaldo-Montagnana line toward the borders with the Este territory, with part of his troops advancing by land and part by boat via the river. He aimed directly at Legnago, where his men were joined by Vincenzo Cassina, Piero Spolverini, Girolamo Pompei, and 1500 peasants from the area. He sent out scouts, who shouted, “Turk! Turk!” (the nickname of Gonzaga), to make the camp think that the stradiotti deserters were arriving. He entered the town by night, encountered weak resistance, and captured Gonzaga and Boisy. In the action, they seized horses, artillery, jewelry, and weapons valued at 20,000 ducats. He returned to Padua, which was under siege by the troops of Emperor Maximilian of Austria. He was tasked with defending the Codalunga bastions with 2050 infantry.
Sept.			300 infantry	Veneto	With 300 infantry and a good number of arquebusiers, he assisted Malvezzi in repelling the Imperials who tried to divert the waters of the Bacchiglione River at Porta Santa Croce. The enemy was driven back and forced to take shelter behind a wall. Niccolò Orsini intervened, placing two falconets and a cannon, resolving the situation. At the end of the month, there was heavy bombardment along the Codalunga/Ognissanti section, where Zitolo was wounded in the leg by debris from an artillery strike. Shortly after, five infantry flags, promised 5000 ducats for victory, charged the Codalunga bastion. Zitolo da Perugia detonated mines laid in the moat, creating large gaps in the enemy lines. Despite his injury, he led a counterattack, disabling seven artillery pieces (three large and four smaller ones) and setting fire to the powder magazines. 250-300 Spanish and German infantry were killed or wounded.
Oct.				Veneto	Other attacks by German infantry were repelled. Zitolo da Perugia was again wounded in the leg by artillery splinters. As the besiegers used “gatti” (battering rams) to breach the walls of the Codalunga bastion, the condottiero repeatedly raised a cat on a pole to taunt the enemy, singing, “Su, su, chi vol la gatta, venga innanti del bastione, dove in cima de un lanzone la vedrete star legata, su, su, su chi vol la gatta?” (“Come, come, whoever wants the cat, come to the bastion, where at the top of a lance, you will see it tied, come, come, come, whoever wants the cat?”).
Nov.				Veneto	Fell ill. Could not follow the troops in the conquest of Vicenza.
Dec.				Veneto	Convalescing, he went to Venice, where he was received by the Council of Ten and Doge Leonardo Loredan.
1510
Feb.			510 infantry	Veneto	He was sent to Polesine; he joined forces with Pio and Giovanni Greco, leaving Badia Polesine with the Provveditore Giovanni Paolo Gradenigo. They arrived at Castelnuovo sul Po to oppose the Este forces. 25 horsemen went ahead, retreated in sight of the enemy, and led them into an ambush. 30 men-at-arms, 60 mounted crossbowmen, and 100 Este infantry were captured.
Apr.				Veneto	His men grumbled about delayed wages. He was spotted in Monselice with Pio, inspecting the state of the castle fortifications. He requested permission to go to Venice to protest that the promises made to him had not been kept.
May	Venice	France, Empire	645 infantry	Veneto	He complained about his condition; he asked for permission for his wife and children to join him from Umbria. He expressed opposition to hiring Piero Gentile and supported Pier Onofri da Montedoglio. He was offered a 100-ducat increase in his annual provision and permission to complete his company with 800 infantry. He participated in a war council with Provveditore Gradenigo when the French prepared to attack Polesine. He pressed for abandoning Rovigo. He moved to the camp at Brentelle, near Padua, and quarreled with Dionigi Naldi, asking to leave the camp. He was transferred to Treviso with 645 infantry, traveling via Camposampiero and Noale. He was summoned to Venice to explain the retreat from Polesine. He defended the decisions of the Provveditore, arguing that it was impossible to defend such a large territory with only 60 men-at-arms and 600-700 infantry against the French army. During the same period, he attended a session of the Great Council, which included Gonzaga. In the Collegio, he asked for a 100-ducat increase in his provision, command of 800 infantry, and, above all, to be freed from Naldi’s orders. He was sent back to Treviso with the promise of command over 900 infantry, his provision was raised to 600 ducats, and his family was allowed to move to Padua. With money borrowed from the Podestà of Treviso Girolamo Marin, he was able to pay his men an advance; he marched along the road to Fiera di Primiero to block the advance of German infantry coming from Agordo.
June – July			600 infantry	Veneto	He asked for an increase in the number of men under his command. He fell ill and underwent several bloodlettings. After recovering, he summoned more infantry, even at his own expense, and sent Giannino del Conte to Venice to report on the precarious state of Treviso’s fortifications. He was given money to recruit 100 infantry; he was also tasked with supervising the improvement of the city’s defenses. Disagreements arose with Provveditore Alvise Mocenigo. He reinforced the Santi Quaranta bastion and, with Chiappino Vitelli, pressed for the demolition of the Nodari bastion, which had been ordered by Fra Giocondo. He continued to oversee the defensive works, despite skirmishes with enemy forces stationed near the Piave River. He returned to Venice, asked to be allowed to move to Cittadella, and requested the payment of back wages. Alvise Mocenigo permitted him to proceed to the town.
Sept.			Chief of Artillery	Veneto	He moved to Montebello Vicentino and forced the enemy to retreat. He was at San Martino Buon Albergo with Chiriaco dal Borgo, where Pietro Antonio Battaglia accused him of cheating his men out of pay. Together with Chiriaco dal Borgo and Lattanzio da Bergamo, he decided to bombard Verona from Porta Vescovo to the Castello di San Felice. He camped nearby with his company. He commanded the artillery when the Bergamasco Captain was mortally wounded. 1800 German infantry and some French cavalry sallied from Porta San Martino to seize the artillery. Zitolo armed himself, fought bravely without a helmet, and repelled the Landsknechts’ assault. He died from head wounds. Various accounts of his death exist: some claim he was killed by a German with a two-handed sword, others by a halberd strike to the head by one of his squad leaders. His soldiers, grieving over their captain’s death, drove the enemies from the position, killing 40 infantry and capturing another 50, including three captains, one of whom was Francesco Maldonado. He was buried with honors in Padua in the Basilica di Sant’Antonio, opposite Lattanzio da Bergamo’s tomb. Other sources claim he was buried in Venice in the Church of Saints John and Paul. A street near the cathedral in Padua was named after him. He was praised by Cesare Alessi in his “Elogia civium Perusinorum”.

Sources

-“Uomo di grande esperienza.” MACHIAVELLI

-“Astuto, fosco di colore, minaccevole nel sembiante, grave, robusto di forze, e buon parlatore.” FABRETTI

-“Colonnello molto stimato di fanti.” GUICCIARDINI

-“La morte del qual è stata de grandissima molestia a tutto questo exercito, per trovarse pochi par homeni in Italia de fanti a pé.” SANUDO

-“Le cui opere in questa guerra furono tali, che non mai debbono invecchiare o’ annullarsi.” MOCENIGO

-“Fu reputata la sua morte a tutta la città (Perugia) dannosa, per aver carestia de pari suoi.” MATARAZZO

-” Eccelso e degnio/…pien di valore/ exemplo di fortezza, e di bontate,/ costui per acquistar ne l’arme honore/ andava sol fra mille schiere armate.”/…/ Cittolo Perugin pien di valore/ exempio di fortezza, e di bontate/ costui per acquistar ne l’armi honore/ anderia sol fra mille schiere armate./ (All’assedio di Verona) “Cittol fu il primo il qual con una ronca/ fé quel dì cose inusitate, e nove,/ tal che con la sua falce in man adunca/ sembrò la morte a tante extreme prove./ Questo guerrier ardito, e valoroso/ nel combatter parea che mettessi ale/ e si mostrò quel dì tanto animoso/ ch’el nemico da lui fuggir non vale./ Et era tutto quanto sanguinoso/ e più che combattea facea più male/ tagliando e discipiando in ogni canto/ tal ch’altro non s’udia che grido, e pianto/…/ Ma la fortuna invidiosa, & rea/ malvagia, traditrice, aspra e molesta/ fe che mentre Citol combattea/ con estremo furor, e gran tempesta/ facendo in l’armi quel che far potea/ fosse percosso adietro ne la testa/ d’una alabarda, per la qual ferita/ il famoso guerrier lassò la vita./…/ Quivi il corpo de Cittolo fu accolto/ da marcheschi con pianto, e con dolore./ E quel da poscia in un bel panno avolto/ mandato fu a vinetia a grande honore/ del qual si dolse il suo senato molto/ e per mostrar se li portava amore/ dov’era il pittiglian al guerriero pulcro/ fece far un superbo, e bel sepulcro.” DEGLI AGOSTINI

-“Era di primi fanti a piedi de Italia.” AZIO

-“Huomo fortissimo.” MARCELLO

-Con Saccoccio da Spoleto “Uomini ed eglino d’eccellente e chiara virtù.” BEMBO

-Con Lattanzio da Bergamo “Ambi valorossi et valentissimi homeni et vigilantissimi in ogni loro operatione et pratici di fortifichare citade.” PRIULI

-“Huomo illustre e chiaro in guerra.” P. GIUSTINIAN

-Con Lattanzio da Bergamo “Due de lor (i veneziani) primi, e più riputati capitani.” GIOVIO

-“Capitano valoroso.” GUAZZO

-“Viro armis praeclaro..Vir militia incomparabilis.” VERI

-“Tante volte nominatosi con fama e grido.” VERDIZZOTTI

-“Sotto la disciplina dell’Orsini (Niccolò) e del Vitelli (Paolo), divenuto Capitano di gran fama…Fu uomo di grande astuzia, fosco di colore, minaccevole nel sembiante; ma pieno di gravità; di forze robustissimo; et benché non avesse lettere, discorreva con molta grazia et eloquenza. Nello scrivere egli proprio voleva dettare le lettere. Et quando fu ucciso era in prospera età, poiché arrivava all’anno quarantesimo, et poco prima aveva preso una ricca moglie di Orvieto.” CRISPOLTI

-“Che a dir di lui/ vorrebbe un Tullio arpino (Cicerone)/ …/ Ma il Citol più con la sua compagnia/ Che quel bastione con suo grande ardire/ Vol pur difendere da quella genia/ Dove ciascuno exorta ad ben ferire/ Et che voglian mostrare suo gagluiardia:/ Che tutto han lì dentro apparecchiato/ Arme al bisogno: & foco lavorato” CORDO

-“Ardito e presto.” SACCHINO

-Con Achille Tiberti “Contribuirono, in maniera determinante a valorizzare in Italia la più rivoluzionaria novità dell’epoca moderna, le armi da fuoco, che in breve rappresentarono le più potenti tra quelle da lancio esistenti sino a quel momento, gli archi lunghi all’inglese e le balestre.” BAZZOCCHI

-“Alhora el franco citol da perosa/ con la so squadra presto dentro introssi/ per far che la sua fama sia famoso/ quanti ne giunge tutti trabucava/ e li soi fanti fan cosa ritrosa/ quanti ne giunge tanti ne amazava./ …/ El zitol da Perugia ove lascio io/ che non vuolle mai con l’arme arrender/ le cose e se pel campo fallo Iddio/ che non ho lingua ch’el possa comprender/ fece venir di se piatoso e più/ che come morto fra corpi il fe prendere/ cinque ferite have nel capo quello/ & fecelo portar drento il castello.” Da “La storia del fatto d’arme di Geradadda” in GUERRE IN OTTAVA RIMA

-“Quel feroce Citol troppo è manifesto/ Che era per tutto dove bisognava/ Tutti exhortando con parlar honesto/ Sì che ogni fante alhor più si infiammava./ Era poi inver nemici aspro e rubesto/ Che morti de ciaschuno fulminava/ Con foco & ferro ciaschedun caciando/ Chi da lui campa a Dio aricomando.” Da “Guerre orrende d’Italia” in GUERRE IN OTTAVA RIMA

-Con Lattanzio da Bergamo “Gli eroi della difesa di Padova.” PIERI

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