A Trustworthy Condottiero: Corrado Lupo’s Service to Hungary
Corrado Lupo/Konrad Wolfhardt (Konrad Wolff von Wolfurt) of Bregenz, in Lower Saxony. Brother of Ulrico Lupo. Lord of Nocera Superiore and Guglionesi.
Death: 1360 ca.
| Year, Month | State, Mercenary Company | Opponent | Command | Area of Activity | Actions Undertaken and Other Salient Facts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1347 | |||||
| June | Hungary | Naples | Abruzzi | Takes part in the conquest of the Kingdom of Naples. Enters Lanciano. | |
| 1348 | |||||
| Jan. | Abruzzi | With his brother Ulrich, he falls out with Werner von Urslingen (Guarnieri di Urslingen), whom he suspects of treason; convinces King Louis I of Hungary (Ludovico d’Ungheria) to dismiss his compatriot and his company. | |||
| May | Puglia | He is in Barletta with the sovereign when the latter embarks to return to Hungary; remains in Italy as viceroy of Puglia with 1,200 German and Hungarian horsemen. Governs without oppressing the population. His brother Ulrich stations in Naples guarding Castelnuovo. | |||
| Aug. | Hungary | Naples | Puglia and Abruzzi | Receives money from Hungary and moves to Abruzzi: summons all the German horsemen in pay in Tuscany and neighboring regions; gathers 2,000 armored cavalry (barbute). Leaves part of them for the defense of Puglia. | |
| Nov.–Dec. | Campania and Puglia | The Voivode of Transylvania, Stephan Lackfi (Stefano Lackzfy), lands at Manfredonia. Corrado Lupo departs from Guglionesi with 1,200 horsemen to aid the defenders of the castle of Lucera, led by Malgerio di Guilborio, who have long resisted the siege by the Angevins. He crosses the Biferno River upstream, eluding 800 horsemen led by Giovanni Pipino d’Altamura and Giovanni di Asperg. In a day, he covers 40 miles, reaching Lucera by evening. His men enter the castle to rest. The next morning, he challenges Louis of Taranto (Luigi di Taranto) to battle by sending a glove via his trumpeter. The challenge is accepted by Giovanni di Asperg and Giovanni Pipino d’Altamura; Werner von Urslingen (Guarnieri di Urslingen) opposes the clash and convinces Louis of Taranto to decline. Corrado Lupo supplies the castle defenders and heads to Foggia to purchase provisions, intending to pay. Defended by Niccolò Calabro, his first assault is repelled; he renews the attack at dawn for several hours. A third six-hour attack overcomes all resistance; the city is sacked. Over 2,000 people, including women and children, take refuge in the cathedral. The Count of Trivento defends them with his men. After two days, he facilitates their evacuation to Ascoli Satriano, escorted by a hundred horsemen. The loot from Foggia is valued at 22,000 ounces of gold, about 90,000 florins. Corrado Lupo proceeds to Manfredonia to meet Stephan Lackfi, then returns triumphantly to Foggia. He moves toward Bari; the road is blocked by the Angevins. He joins the Voivode, negotiates with Werner von Urslingen, and forces the opponents to abandon the siege of Lucera. | |||
| 1349 | |||||
| Apr. | Puglia | Reported near Bari at Masseria di Lama; joined by Giovanni Pipino d’Altamura (who also switched to the Hungarian side). | |||
| May | Puglia and Campania | Fra Moriale and Count Lando also join the King of Hungary’s pay; with them, Corrado Lupo sacks Lucera, Troia, and Canosa; his forces grow to 10,000 soldiers. Approaches Barletta with the Voivode of Transylvania; the castle, defended by Raimondo del Balzo, surrenders after a few days. A stormy meeting with Altamura in Bisceglie results in Giovanni Pipino d’Altamura being imprisoned. Corrado Lupo and Werner von Urslingen protect him from the Voivode’s wrath. They then invade the Benevento valley; at Arpaia Pass, they clash with 500 Angevin horsemen led by Giovanni di Asperg and Bamberlingen, resulting in heavy casualties on both sides. Overcoming resistance, Corrado Lupo sacks Arpaia and Arienzo, reaches Cancello and Arnone, builds a wooden bridge over the flooded Volturno River in two days, crosses it, and with the Count of Trivento attacks Acerra. Through negotiations, they enter the city, which is sacked by German mercenaries despite Hungarian captains’ opposition. Many citizens are imprisoned for ransom. Corrado Lupo enters Capua, heads to Aversa, which opens its gates due to previous atrocities by his men; he proceeds toward Naples, reaching Casanova. He is knighted with other German captains. | |||
| June | Campania and Puglia | Sends a torn and bloodstained glove to the King of Naples. To lure the Angevins into open battle, he simulates a division between German and Hungarian troops. The opponents are deceived and attack his camp at Melito di Napoli. Corrado Lupo emerges from Aversa to confront them. Initially, the battle favors the opponents, who capture Corrado Lupo; an intervention by Count Lando from behind the Neapolitan cavalry secures victory for the Hungarians. Twenty-five leading barons of Naples are captured, including Roger of San Severino (Ruggero da San Severino), Roberto di San Severino, Raimondo del Balzo, the Count of Sant’Angelo, and captains like Giovanni di Asperg, Guglielmo da Fogliano, Armagnac, Giovanni Malatesta, and Paolo Manfredi of Reggio Emilia. No Hungarians or Germans are killed; Angevin losses total 1,000 dead and prisoners. The Voivode, short on funds, grants the troops 150,000 florins from ransoms to cover back pay. Roger of San Severino is tortured to pay his ransom of 33,000 florins. Others follow. Remaining captains are released after paying ransom and surrendering arms and horses, promising not to fight the King of Hungary again. Corrado Lupo advances toward Aversa with Nicholas Konth, Count of Bars; at Eboli, he learns Salerno has rebelled under Guglielmo di Ruggero. He quickly reaches Salerno, preventing Angevin troops from landing. The Voivode Stephan Lackfi becomes reluctant to meet the German horsemen’s demands; according to Florentine chronicles, Corrado Lupo conspires with Werner von Urslingen, Fra Moriale, and Count Lando to kill him. Stephan of Transylvania is forced to retreat to Manfredonia. Other sources say he goes to Barletta with the King of Hungary, who opposes sacking the city. Corrado Lupo offers to remove troops from the center. A violent clash occurs between 2,000 Hungarian horsemen and fewer Germans; the Germans appear to relent but later seize a city gate and resume plundering. Hungarians intervene again, forcing the mutineers to retreat. | |||
| July | Abruzzi | Captures Giovanni and Ristagno Cantelmi, Giovanni da Leonessa, and Tommaso d’Aquino at the castle of Argegno. | |||
| Sept. | Naples | With Nicholas Lackfi and his elder brother Stephan, Voivode of Transylvania, he meets in Naples at the Church of Sant’Antonio with Raimondo del Balzo to cancel the duel planned between Louis I of Hungary and Louis of Taranto. | |||
| Oct. | Campania | Remains in Aversa until Christmas. Continues to devastate Terra di Lavoro. | |||
| 1350 | |||||
| Jan. | Campania | Reconciles with the King of Naples: makes an agreement with Louis of Taranto where 100,000–120,000 florins are given to his men. Hands over Capua and Aversa to Cardinal Legate Annibaldo da Ceccano. Soldiers divide half a million florins, excluding jewels, armor, and horses from previous loot. For context, annual revenues of the Kingdom of Naples were just over 400,000 florins under King Robert of Anjou (Roberto d’Angiò) and about 290,000 florins under Queen Joanna I of Naples (Giovanna d’Angiò). | |||
| Feb.–Mar. | Campania, Abruzzi, and Puglia | Gathers 700 horsemen and returns to lands controlled by the King of Hungary. Leaves Armanno Fretzmann in Teano; heads to the Benevento valley to confront Count Luigi di Apice and Giovanni di Fontanarosa, Angevin partisans. The agreement with the King of Naples fails due to lack of the Voivode’s consent. Retreats to Guglionesi with 1,500 Hungarian soldiers, controlling territory between the Biferno River and Chieti. Joins Louis I of Hungary in Bari, who landed at Manfredonia with new troops. Leads soldiers toward the bridge of Canne. Due to delayed pay, many German mercenaries desert to Barletta to protest to the Voivode of Transylvania. The rebels return to the camp at Canne after being repelled; no one is punished, and back pay is settled. Corrado Lupo is appointed viceroy of Abruzzi; reaches Ruvo di Puglia to reclaim it from German and Italian mercenaries turned brigands. | |||
| Apr. | Campania | Occupies Capua again. | |||
| May–Aug. | Campania | Leading 30,000 Hungarians, 15,000 Germans, 20,000 Lombard and Tuscan soldiers, and 6,000 natives of the Kingdom of Naples, he assaults Aversa with the Voivode. The four-month siege is marked by Hungarian atrocities against prisoners and civilians. Defenders under Giacomo Pignatelli repel all assaults; in one, the King of Hungary is wounded. | |||
| — | Abruzzi | A truce brokered by Pope Clement VI ensues; Corrado Lupo halts with his German bands in Guglionesi and Lanciano. | |||
| 1351 | |||||
| — | Abruzzi | Attacked by Galeotto Malatesta and Rodolfo da Varano, serving Louis of Taranto. The Angevin army has 2,000 horsemen and 9,000 foot soldiers. | |||
| Oct. | Abruzzi | Outnumbered, Corrado Lupo strengthens defenses of his strongholds. Retreats to Lanciano with 500 German horsemen; near there, he surprises Galeotto Malatesta foraging for food, routing the opponents. | |||
| Nov. | Abruzzi and Puglia | Besieged in Lanciano’s castle, the adversaries retreat due to severe cold and lack of provisions. He then joins Bertrando della Motta to devastate the counties of Andria and Bitonto. | |||
| 1352 | |||||
| Spring | Mercenary Company | Siena | Tuscany | Arrives at Ossaia with 500 armored cavalry; devastates Val di Chiana; opposed by Sienese led by Francesco Accarigi. Werner von Urslingen is captured by the opponents. | |
| Sept.–Oct. | Siena | Tuscany | Operates in Val di Chiana and Monte San Savino. In October, seizes Piancastagnaio. | ||
| — | Campania | After peace between the King of Hungary and Queen Joanna I of Naples (Giovanna d’Angiò), he serves Emperor Charles of Bohemia (Carlo di Boemia). Gathers Germans in the Kingdom of Naples and fortifies Nocera Superiore (granted by Joanna) with 700 armored cavalry; raises the imperial banner. Bribed by Louis of Taranto, he sells the town and the county of Guglionesi for 35,000 florins, disbands his company, and promises not to raid the Kingdom of Naples for two years. | |||
| 1356 | |||||
| June | Hungary | Venice | Veneto | Reported at San Vito al Tagliamento. Besieges Conegliano Castle, obtaining it by negotiation. At month’s end, with the Count of Aquileia and Ban of Bosnia, Tvrtko, he attacks Treviso with 4,000 German, Friulian, and Hungarian horsemen. Ravages territory up to Marghera, captures vessels loaded with provisions and arms for the city, and hangs their crews. | |
| July | Veneto | Visits Padua with the Ban of Bosnia to see the Carrara family; obtains supplies to continue war against Venice. Continues besieging Treviso with 40,000 Hungarians and Slavs. Venetians demolish two monasteries on the Botteniga River for defense. With King Louis I of Hungary‘s arrival, an army of 80,000 encircles the city. His men plunder Paduan lands despite daily supplies from Francesco da Carrara. Intimidated by continuous pillaging, Carrara stops supplying Corrado Lupo‘s camp, leading to the Hungarian army’s dissolution due to famine. | |||
| Aug. | Veneto | A general attack fails; tensions between Hungarians and Germans escalate. At month’s end, the King of Hungary abandons the siege of Treviso, crosses the Piave River, leaves 2,000 horsemen in Conegliano under nephew Charles of Durazzo (Carlo della Pace), and returns to Hungary with the rest of the army. | |||
| 1358 | Campania | Elected viceroy of Naples following Queen Joanna I of Naples (Giovanna d’Angiò)‘s departure from the city. | |||
| 1360 | Dies. |
Sources
-“Homo molto experto.” N. DI ALESSIO
-“Celebre per molte segnalate imprese.” RONCHETTI
-“Costui aveva il re (Ludovico d’Ungheria) provato fedele e ardito in molti suoi servigi…Franco capitano e sollecito.” VILLANI
