The Spanish Soldier Who Pioneered Professional Warfare in 14th Century Italy
Dalmasio dei Banoli (Diego Dalmasio di Bagnolo, Dalmaz di Banyuls, Dominus Dalmaxius, Almasio di Lincolis). From Majorca.
Death: 1313 ca.
| Year, Month | State, Comp. ventura | Opponent | Command | Area of Activity | Actions Undertaken and Other Salient Facts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1307 | |||||
| Naples | Ghibellines | Emilia | Found with Diego della Ratta defending Bologna at the head of 700 Catalan horsemen. | ||
| Sept. | Naples | Verona Mantua | Veneto and Emilia | Sent to aid Marquis Azzo d’Este to confront the Scaligeri and the Bonacolsi of Mantua. Touches Ficarolo, conquers the castle of Serravalle a Po on the Po and seizes the fleet of Botticella Bonacolsi. Overcomes resistance from defenders (100 horsemen and 1000 infantry), destroys the bridge and tower: among adversaries 300 men are captured or killed, not counting those who die drowning while attempting to flee. Diego della Ratta returns to Bologna so Dalmasio dei Banoli continues operations alone. At the head of 1200 Bolognese also conquers Ostiglia. | |
| 1308 | |||||
| Aug. | Bologna | Emilia | Leaves Bologna with his Catalans and Bolognese militia, recruited in the quarter of Porta Ravenna; goes to Ferrara to provide aid to Fresco d’Este, in difficulty facing a revolt organized by Giacomo Bocchimpani. | ||
| 1309 | |||||
| Apr. | Church | Venice | 500 infantry | Emilia | Sent to Ferrara by the papal nuncio of Pope Clement VI with 500 crossbowmen. Appointed by Robert of Anjou as governor of the city. |
| June Aug. | Emilia | With Francesco d’Este and Galeazzo Visconti repels an attack on the Gate of San Biagio; immediately after prevents adversaries from retreating toward Castel Tedaldo. | |||
| Emilia | Following the victory of the pontificals at Castel Tedaldo and that of Francesco d’Este at Francolino against the Venetian fleet, remains in Ferrara commanding the garrison with cardinal legate Arnaldo Pelagrue. | ||||
| Oct. | Church | Exiles | Emilia | Fails to convince citizens to move toward Massa Fiscaglia against Salinguerra Torelli and Ramberto Ramberti, who have barricaded themselves there. Then agrees with Francesco d’Este: the exiles flee, pursued by pontificals to Comacchio, where Torelli has some boats. | |
| Captain general | Emilia | Appointed captain general of the Church. Has orders to kill Francesco d’Este, suspected of wanting to seize the city with Lamberto da Polenta and Bernardino di Cunio. | |||
| 1312 | |||||
| Aug. | Emilia | Takes advantage of Francesco d’Este‘s departure from Ferrara for a hunting trip, has the gates closed and orders his arrest. Este is surprised at the Lion Gate by some soldiers, who stop him to imprison or kill him in case of resistance: the marquis does not give up, defends himself and is finally killed with a companion, struck first by a natural brother of Dalmasio dei Banoli. The body, mutilated by 50 wounds, is left naked on the street for almost two hours. Immediately Banoli has 3 advisors of his rival captured who, under torture, confess every guilt: these are hanged in front of the shoemakers’ stalls in the quarter of San Crispino. Aldobrandino d’Este is also imprisoned in Bologna but will be released shortly after. A popular uprising, caused by continuous abuses by officers of the King of Naples and Catalan soldiers, provokes his removal from office by Robert of Anjou. | |||
| Dec. | Venice | Zara | 1000 horsemen | Croatia | Offers to enter Venetian service with two sons and two brothers. Contracted for six months. |
| 1313 | |||||
| Jan. Mar. | Remains inactive due to illness. | ||||
| Apr. July | Croatia | Lands with Bonpaone of Catalonia (1000 horsemen, 1000 infantry, 1000 crossbowmen transported by 15 galleys) at Pontadura a few kilometers from Zara. Reorganizes troops and after eight days marches against the city. Camps near the Fountain, by the sea, to maintain contact with the Venetian fleet, and fortifies behind some palisades, equipped with towers, which he had prepared. The Ban of Croatia Mladeno Subich gathers Slavic and German militia and positions himself at Barcagno, two miles from his camp, with headquarters near the church of San Giacomo. Three months of skirmishes follow. At the end of service Dalmasio dei Banoli asks the Venetians to renew the contract with three months’ advance pay because his men – due to approaching worse weather conditions – need tents and barracks. As a counteroffer he is granted only one month’s advance pay and reduction of monthly pay from 5 to 4 ducats per month. | |||
| Aug. | Croatia | Has bitter disputes with the Venetians; makes contact with the Ban of Croatia; is promised 2000 ducats by the people of Zara. Is guaranteed another 1000 ducats annual provision and assured guaranteed transport (always at Zara‘s expense) when he decides to leave Croatia. Accepts. | |||
| Sept. | Zara | Venice | Croatia | At the beginning of the month prepares to assault Zara on behalf of the Venetians; pretends to agree with adversaries who must open the gates to his Catalan soldiers. In reality, united, they should have attacked the Serenissima‘s ranks together. A soldier named Lelio discovers the treaty, informs the provveditori who prepare necessary countermeasures and fleet protection. Dalmasio dei Banoli enters as guard of Zara, persuades inhabitants to capitulate under honorable conditions and accept Venetian rule. | |
| Puglia | Requests transport to Puglia according to agreements; 5 galleys are shipwrecked during the voyage. Dalmasio dei Banoli barely reaches the Italian coast aboard the ship on which he embarked. According to some sources, on the contrary, drowns at sea during the crossing. |
Sources
-“Uno di quei capitani di ventura, che poi tanto si moltiplicarono in Italia, quando..fu trovato più comodo il far la guerra con truppe mercenarie, e sorse gara a chi più potesse stipendiarne per essere poi da quelle o tradito o signoreggiato.” ROMANIN
-“Ch’aveva acquistato nella guerra di Ferrara, militando per Ecclesiastici, nome di gran valore.” MOROSINI
-“Valoroso nell’armi; ma difettoso di fede.” G.B. CONTARINI
-“Castigliano, huomo riputato assai.” PIGNA
-“Viro nephando.” DE’ FERRETI
-“Uomo esperto nelle armi.” SABELLICO
-“Uomo prode e valoroso.” MUSSATO
-“Dalmazio de’ Banoli non fu soltanto uno dei primi condottieri ingaggiati da Venezia; lasciò presagire anche quello che sarebbe stato il comportamento di alcuni dei suoi più famosi successori tentando di tradire i suoi ingaggiatori passando al servizio degli ungheresi. Sembra comunque improbabile, per quanto la sua condotta infida attirasse l’attenzione di molti cronisti, che questo esempio abbia avuto conseguenze di rilievo sull’evolversi degli atteggiamenti veneziani nei confronti del reclutamento militare.” MALLETT
-“Di nascimento Spagnuolo e di sottil concetto.” VERDIZZOTTI
-“Assassinio di Francesco d’Este “Un giorno che Francesco (d’Este) era uscito dalla città per andare a caccia, il rettore e capitano generale della Chiesa Dalmasio dei Banoli fece chiudere le porte della città, ordinando nel contempo l’arresto del marchese al suo ritorno. Francesco non si diede per vinto, difendendosi gagliardamente con tutte le sue forze e non accettando di arrendersi, ma alla fine, sopraffatto, venne ucciso e lasciato sulla strada. La sua figura rimane quella di uno degli Estensi più seri e consapevoli di quel secolo e le accuse mossegli contro con evidenti forzature vennero smentite dal verdetto di un processo regolarmente istituito, che riconobbe in pieno la sua innocenza e restituì ai figli Azzo e Bertoldo i beni provvisoriamente requisiti.” CHIAPPINI
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