Dionigi Naldi’s Leadership in the Wars of Renaissance Italy
Dionigi Naldi (Naldo da Brisighella). A native of Brisighella, he came from humble origins. He was the lord of Torre di Calamello. He was the brother of Carlino Naldi, cousin of Vincenzo Naldi, and uncle of Babone Naldi, Giovanni Naldi, Ottaviano Naldi, and Guido Naldi. He was also the brother-in-law of Perone Naldi.
Born: 1465
Death: 1510, July
| Year, Month | State, Mercenary Company | Opponent | Command | Area of Activity | Actions Taken and Other Notable Facts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1488 | |||||
| May | Florence | Bologna | Romagna | Following the assassination of Galeotto Manfredi in Faenza, he supports the Florentines against Giovanni Bentivoglio, who seeks to seize the city. | |
| 1492 | Romagna | With his cousin Vincenzo and brother Carlino, he founds the mercenary company of the “Brisighelli,” the first company entirely composed of locals. | |||
| 1494 | |||||
| Sept. | Naples | France | Romagna | At the head of 600 men drom Val di Lamone he serves in Romagna under the Duke of Calabria Ferdinando d’Aragona and Niccolò Orsini. | |
| ………….. | Romagna | Expelled from Brisighella for opposing the policies of the Lords of Faenza, the Manfredi family. | |||
| 1495 | |||||
| Dec. | Manfredi | Faenza | Romagna | With Vincenzo Naldi, he assists Ottaviano Manfredi in his fight against Astorre Manfredi. Enters the Val di Lamone but gains no success. Forced to retreat due to the intervention of the Serenissima. Cristoforo Moro, leading some companies of stradiots, tries in every way to capture him. A bounty of 200 ducats is placed on Dionigi and Vincenzo Naldi (1,500 on Ottaviano Manfredi). The properties of the two mercenaries are confiscated, and their homes burned. They are declared rebels. | |
| 1496 | |||||
| Jan. | Romagna | The new Venetian provveditore for Romagna, Domenico Trevisan, revokes the bounty and ban placed on his head. | |||
| 1498 | |||||
| July | Florence | Venice | 500 infantry | Tuscany | Participates in the Pisan War. He attacks the Venetians with some mounted crossbowmen. After a long battle fought hand-to-hand, he and his men are forced to dismount due to exhaustion. During the fight, he mistakenly kills his friend Benedetto Macarone with a crossbow shot. The latter had been pursuing men of Giovanni Gradenigo’s company. On his return, Naldi mistook him for a Venetian. |
| Sept. | Tuscany, Romagna | Stubbornly defends the fortress of Castiglione near Marradi with 150 infantry, buying time for the Florentines to send enough reinforcements. Naldi’s valor and heavy rains force the opponents into a hasty retreat. He is ordered to Modigliana with 200 men from Forlì and as many from neighboring castles to join Gaspare da San Severino. Within a few days, most of his infantry return home. He relocates to Ravenna because Astorre Manfredi, Lord of Faenza, does not want him in Faenza. | |||
| Oct. | Romagna | Together with Ottaviano Manfredi, attempts to incite Brisighella to rebel against the Venetians. | |||
| Nov. | Romagna | Joins Gaspare da San Severino, penetrates Ravenna, makes some prisoners, and sets fire to 28 houses in a small village. Fights the enemies at San Piero in Bagno. | |||
| Dec. | 500 infantry | Tuscany | Reaches Pieve Santo Stefano and joins Pretone da Modigliana to seize Monte della Verna. He leaves the area due to a 50-day delay in payment and heads for Arezzo, but the city closes its gates. He then moves towards Castrocaro Terme. | ||
| 1499 | |||||
| Feb. | Florence | Venice | Romagna, Marche | Refuses to move to the siege of Bibbiena, preferring to join Ottaviano Manfredi and Achille Tiberti with 400 men to attack Sogliano al Rubicone and restore Malatesta Malatesta da Sogliano to power at the expense of his brother Ramberto, an ally of the Venetians. Blocks the road to Niccolò Orsini, ready to support Bartolomeo d’Alviano, besieged at Bibbiena. Some citizens resist performing the military service imposed by the authorities of Forlì, resulting in a fine of 10 ducats for those who fail to report for duty. Naldi is suspected of arranging the murder of Corbizzo Corbizzi of Castrocaro Terme, a member of an ancient Florentine family, on behalf of the Lady of Forlì, Caterina Sforza. The Florentines hunt Naldi to imprison him at the Stinche prison in Florence. He flees to Sant’Angelo in Vado, but is captured by the Feltreschi and imprisoned in the Rocca of Urbino, later released by Caterina Sforza‘s intervention. | |
| Apr. | Romagna | Attends the funeral of his friend Ottaviano Manfredi at the San Girolamo church in Forlì. | |||
| July | Forlì | France, Venice | 500 infantry | Romagna | Attends the inspection of his men in Forlì. He is supposed to support Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan, in the war against the French and Venetians. During this time, Naldi arranges the murder of Galeotto and Carlo Bosi at Castrocaro Terme to avenge the death of Ottaviano Manfredi. Caterina Sforza is given the head and right hand of the first victim. |
| Sept. | Romagna | Moves with 600 infantry to defend Cotignola, which belongs to the Duke of Milan. He captures Granarolo dell’Emilia and repels several attacks by Alvise Venier. | |||
| Oct. | Forlì | Church | Romagna | Forlì is threatened by the papal forces of Cesare Borgia. Naldi enters the Rocca of Imola with 180 men, including 12 from his family, and gives Caterina Sforza his wife and two sons as hostages. | |
| Nov. | Romagna | Defends Imola with Giovanni da Landriano. The papal forces place artillery on the western side of the fortress. He repels numerous attacks by Swiss and Gascon infantry who attempt to enter the castle’s courtyard during a heavy bombardment. When Imola rebels against Sforza, he imprisons the city governor, Giovanni Corradini, and also a relative of the castle commander in Tossignano. Bombards the city. He is threatened with hanging by Borgia if he continues to resist. | |||
| Dec. | Romagna | A carpenter flees the Rocca of Imola and reveals weak points in the fortress to the enemy. A renewed artillery barrage, this time directed at the thinner eastern side of the fortress facing the city, causes an external structure to collapse, and a bastion is captured by the papal forces. Naldi is wounded in the head. He sends his brother and Giovanni da Landriano to Borgia, asking for a three-day truce and offering to surrender the fortress if no reinforcements arrive within that time. After the truce ends, he surrenders on honorable terms and leaves the fortress with his baggage. He and his men receive military honors. Naldi withdraws to Cotignola. | |||
| 1500 | |||||
| ………….. | Church | 1500 infantry | Romagna | With the capture of Caterina Sforza, Lady of Forlì, by the papal forces, he switches to the service of Duke Valentino (Cesare Borgia), handing over several fortresses in the Val di Lamone. | |
| Nov. | Church | Faenza | Romagna | Occupies Brisighella with Vitellozzo Vitelli, Vincenzo Naldi, and Pietro di Murcia. Takes control of the villages and one of the fortresses. Burns down houses belonging to the Buosi family and those of Castagnino da Castagneto, killing four men to further avenge Ottaviano Manfredi‘s death. Some Naldi family members, his political opponents, defend the other fortress, but they are forced to abandon it the following day, surrendering it to the papal forces. He meets with Borgia in Forlì and moves to the siege of Faenza against Astorre Manfredi. After ten days, bad weather and strong resistance from the locals force him to retreat to Forlì with Giulio and Paolo Orsini, Giampaolo Baglioni, and Vitellozzo Vitelli. | |
| Dec. | Romagna | Attempts to deceive the Faentines by making them believe their intervention is needed in the Val di Lamone, where the locals have rebelled against the papal forces and are calling for Astorre Manfredi. He clashes in the Val di Lamone with Bernardino da Marciano, who foils his plan. | |||
| 1501 | |||||
| Jan.-Feb. | Church | Florence | Romagna | Alongside Duke Valentino, he moves from Cesenatico to Cesena. Raids Castrocaro Terme, controlled by the Florentines. | |
| Mar. | 2000 infantry | Romagna | Joins Cesare Borgia with 2000 troops to return to the siege of Faenza. Under the pretext of revenge against his political opponents, he again raids the territory of Castrocaro Terme with Borgia’s tacit approval. | ||
| Apr. | Romagna | Continues raiding the Faenza area. Encounters Ettore Galli, a priest from the Val di Lamone and chaplain of Astorre Manfredi, famous for his physical strength. During a skirmish, Naldi is unhorsed by Galli, who attempts to capture him, but Naldi‘s men rescue him and force Galli to flee after wounding him. | |||
| May | Church | Piombino | Tuscany | Participates in the conquest of Piombino. When Borgia leaves the field for Rome, Naldi also withdraws from the army with 150 cavalry and returns to Romagna with Ramiro di Lorca and Piero Gambacorta. He is ambushed and captured by the Florentines near Montevarchi on Caterina Sforza‘s orders, who claims a debt from him. He is imprisoned at Le Stinche in Florence, tortured, and eventually released. | |
| 1502 | |||||
| June | Church | Urbino | Romagna | Attends the inspection of his company in Cesena. Orders the murder of an innkeeper, an enemy of his faction, in Rimini. | |
| July | Romagna | Passes through Cesena with 300 infantry. Captures Santarcangelo di Romagna and Verucchio, where he recruits 1000 infantry (mountain men dressed in yellow and crimson) and trains them in Imola. | |||
| Oct. | Church | Mercenaries | 600 infantry | Romagna | Paolo and Francesco Orsini, Baglioni, and Vitelli rebel against the Church. Naldi moves to Rimini with 600 infantry and prevents Pandolfo Malatesta from entering the city. During the confusion, he is struck on the head by a woman throwing a stone from a window. He is taken to Cesena to recover. Once healed, he assists the papal forces at Verucchio and Serravalle against the people of San Marino. Sends 50 infantry to defend Gradara. His men are hated for their depredations in the Rimini area. |
| Oct. | Marche | Faces Guidobaldo da Montefeltro with 700 infantry. | |||
| Nov. | Marche | Stations in Montefeltro with Marcantonio da Fano to recruit soldiers and 1000 infantry, but recruitment ends after an agreement between Borgia and the rebellious mercenaries. | |||
| 1503 | |||||
| Jan.-Apr. | Marche | Assigned to guard the fortress of Senigallia when Giovanna da Montefeltro is forced to surrender to the papal forces. | |||
| May | Lazio, Romagna, Marche | Returns from Rome to Cesena. Borgia gifts him a jacket and his uniform. He distributes half a ducat to each of his men and moves with 500 infantry to the siege of San Leo with Pietro Remiro and Francesco Spada. | |||
| Aug. | Marche, Romagna | Following the death of Pope Alexander VI, leaves the siege of San Leo and returns to Forlì. Seizes Val di Lamone with 1000 infantry. Negotiates with both the Florentines and the Venetians for control of the territory, with the Serenissima ultimately prevailing. | |||
| Sept.-Oct. | Church | Rimini | Romagna | Stationed in Cesena with 400 infantry on behalf of Cesare Borgia. Causes serious unrest in the city. Repels Pandolfo Malatesta‘s attempt to reenter Rimini. In October, meets Giampaolo Manfrone and Giacomazzo da Venezia in Val di Lamone. | |
| Nov. | Church/Venice | Faenza, Forlì | Romagna | Prevents the return of the Manfredi to Faenza and induces the fortress commander to sell it to the Venetians. Conquers Oriolo dei Fichi but fails to take the fortress, defended by Tommaso Numai. Ranges the area as far as Russi. Numai surrenders the fortress in exchange for a pension when help from Antonio Maria Ordelaffi, Lord of Forlì, fails to arrive. Returns to Brisighella, where he and Vincenzo Naldi support Sigismondo Manfredi‘s bid for the lordship of Faenza against Astorre (Francesco) Manfredi. Courted by the Venetian provveditore Cristoforo Moro, he hands over the fortresses under his control to the Venetians. Joins the Venetian pay, besieges Faenza, and with Vincenzo Naldi, Giampaolo Manfrone, and Giulio Vitelli, advocates attacking the city from three sides with 2000 infantry and men from Val di Lamone (one toward the Porta di Imola, after placing two cannons; the second from the fortress, filling the moats with bundles and earth; and the third toward Porta Montanara). A more cautious tactic is proposed by other captains such as Giovambattista Caracciolo, Antonio Pio, and Lazzaro Grasso. After Faenza surrenders, he is sent to Imola to investigate whether the city can be brought under Venetian control. | |
| Dec. | Romagna | In Imola, conducts negotiations to seize the city’s fortress, exploiting internal divisions. The attempt proves unsuccessful. |
| 1504 | |||||
| Feb.-Mar. | Romagna, Veneto | Guards Tossignano. In March, he travels to Venice to the Senate to learn about fiscal decisions made by the Serenissima in Val di Lamone. | |||
| May | Veneto | In Venice, with his cousin Vincenzo at the Council of Savi. | |||
| June | Veneto | Knighted in Venice by Doge Leonardo Loredan. Granted an annual provision of 500 ducats and tax exemption with his cousin Vincenzo. | |||
| Dec. | Romagna | Contacted by Pope Julius II along with Giovanni da Sassatello to incite rebellion in Val di Lamone and Faenza against the Serenissima. | |||
| 1505 | |||||
| Aug. | Martinelli | Tiberti | Romagna | Helps the Martinelli faction against the Tiberti. Facilitates the return of the Martinelli to Cesena. | |
| 1506 | |||||
| Mar. | Veneto | In Venice, to determine which fortresses in Val di Lamone should be maintained or destroyed. | |||
| Apr. | Veneto | Quarrels with Vincenzo Naldi. The provveditore of Faenza forces him to reconcile with his cousin. At the same time, he buys the Tower of Calamello from the Serenissima, gaining the title of lord. | |||
| Sept. | Veneto, Friuli | Gathers 500 soldiers from Val di Lamone (known as the “brisighelli”) and conducts an inspection of his men in Piazza San Marco in Venice in front of the Doge before moving to Friuli. | |||
| Oct. | Friuli | Falls ill in Gradisca d’Isonzo. | |||
| Nov. | Church | Bologna | Friuli, Romagna, Emilia | After the threat from Maximilian I of Austria’s forces subsides, he dismisses his troops and returns to Romagna, passing through Venice. Fights the Bentivoglio on behalf of the Papacy and is dismissed by Pope Julius II after the operations. | |
| 1508 | |||||
| Mar. | Venice | Empire | 700 infantry | Veneto, Trentino | His annual provision of 500 ducats is confirmed, and he is given command of 500, later 200 more infantry. Stationed in the Verona area, he guards Brentonico near Rovereto. He commands 3000 infantry and repels a German attack. He also discovers that some Spaniards in Venetian service are secretly informing the defenders of Agresta about his troops’ movements. He is attacked by 8000-10000 men (including 2000 cavalry). Retreats to the slopes of Monte Baldo with Vitello Vitelli and Iacopo Corso after burning several houses. |
| Apr. | Trentino | Returns to Brentonico. Approaches the imperial camp’s barricades with stradiots and sets up ambushes, in one of which he captures three captains (one commanding 400 infantry, the other two commanding 200 each). In another skirmish near Agresta, his men burn three villages and seize 200 cattle and 300 smaller livestock. He also kills 200 Germans in an ambush. | |||
| May | Trentino | Leaves Brentonico to support Giovambattista Caracciolo in the attack on Castel Pietra. He repels a night sortie by imperial forces with 1000 infantry, losing only one falconet and a culverin (which were spiked by the enemy). The clash results in the death of 100 Germans and 50 Venetian soldiers. | |||
| July | 1000 infantry | Veneto | After the conflict, he returns to Verona with his men and goes to Venice, where he is welcomed by Doge Leonardo Loredan. | ||
| Nov. | Romagna | In Faenza, monitoring the movements of the papal forces. | |||
| Dec. | Romagna | In Rimini with 300 infantry; returns to Faenza with Carlino Naldi and informs the Venetians that he can raise more than 1000 soldiers. | |||
| 1509 | |||||
| Jan. | Romagna | He and his cousin Vincenzo receive 10,000 ducats to recruit new infantry, but the money is lost when the ship carrying it sinks. | |||
| Apr. | Venice | France | 1000 infantry | Lombardy | Present in Cremona with his men. From there, he sends Pietro di Navarro, steward to his relative Vincenzo, who was captured in Treviglio, to Piacenza to monitor French movements. He moves to Pontevico with 3000 infantry and is placed in the first column under Niccolò Orsini‘s command. |
| May | Captain General of Infantry | Lombardy | Informed that his house in Brisighella was sacked by papal forces. Captures one gate of Treviglio and defeats the French at another gate; the city surrenders under terms. 1500 Gascon infantry and soldiers are released without arms on the condition they would not fight the Venetians, and 51 captains are held captive. His men are allowed to sack the city in retaliation for their recent losses in Val di Lamone. The sack is particularly brutal, causing a scandal even among the Venetians. Participates in the Battle of Agnadello, where he distinguishes himself, but after the defeat, moves to defend Monte di Brianza. The Council of Savi appoints him as Captain General of the Infantry in place of Piero del Monte a Santa Maria, who was killed in action. | ||
| June | Veneto | Follows Niccolò Orsini in retreat toward the east, crossing the Brenta at Sambruson and setting up camp at Mestre. To maintain discipline, he hangs a soldier caught stealing grain from the fields. | |||
| July | 831 infantry, 44 light cavalry | Veneto | Moves through Treviso and Noale. Fortifies Noale with earth and wood bastions. Along with Meleagro da Forlì (500 cavalry and infantry), he captures Castelfranco Veneto. The defenders (150 men) surrender under terms, but are executed as they cross a bridge, and the city is sacked. Later, he moves against Cittadella with 3000 infantry and 1500 cavalry. The Spanish defenders (500 men) request terms for surrender, which he rejects, missing an opportunity for the Venetians to capture the city. He is recalled to Treviso. Takes his troops to defend Padua with Niccolò Orsini after learning of the arrival of 7000 imperial infantry and 300 French lances in Vicenza. He goes to Venice to report to the Collegio dei Pregadi, then returns to Padua, where he commands a regiment of 2031 infantry and 44 mounted crossbowmen. | ||
| Aug. | Veneto | Leaves Porta Codalunga in Padua with light cavalry and infantry to confront the approaching enemy. He narrowly avoids capture in an ambush by Andrea da Capua. Oversees the reinforcement of Padua’s defenses. The Council of Savi rewards him with a house in Padua, a 2000-ducat annuity from the estates of Venetian rebels, and 500 ducats for his daughter’s dowry. | |||
| Sept. | Veneto | In Padua, he is responsible for guarding the section of walls from the San Giovanni Bastion to the Bassanello Bridge. | |||
| Nov. | Veneto | After the imperials lift the siege of Padua, he moves toward Camisano Vicentino and from there to Vicenza. With 500 men, he crosses the moats (where 40 infantry, including a nephew of his, drown) and penetrates the gardens of the San Bartolomeo Monastery, taking the Pusterla suburb. His men enter through a gate but are repelled by enemy forces, especially papal soldiers. He stops near San Girolamo Church and fortifies his position, requesting artillery to breach the gate. His attack is repelled by Gaspare da San Severino, causing heavy losses. Vicenza eventually surrenders under terms. Naldi then turns toward Verona, reaching San Bonifacio and stopping at San Martino Buon Albergo. With Niccolò Orsini and Lattanzio da Bergamo, he assaults the San Lazzaro suburb, but with no unrest favoring the Serenissima inside the city, he retreats to Colognola ai Colli. | |||
| Dec. | Veneto | Fortifies himself in Lonigo. | |||
| 1510 | |||||
| Jan. | 868 infantry, 50 light cavalry | Veneto | From Lonigo, he makes sorties toward Villanova and Monteforte d’Alpone. With Niccolò Orsini and Lattanzio da Bergamo, he decides to concentrate forces on the Soave-San Bonifacio defensive line. Frees two of his friends, Stefano Fantaguzzo and Meazzo, captured by the Venetians at San Bonifacio. | ||
| Apr. | Veneto | Complains to the Venetians about delayed payments. Combined with rampant disease, which kills many soldiers, his forces are depleted. He attempts to recruit 1800 infantry but lacks funds for advances. | |||
| May | 872 infantry, 50 light cavalry | Veneto | Meets with the provveditori at San Bonifacio to discuss French threats to Polesine. Presses for the reconquest of Vicenza, which the Venetians have lost in the meantime. Falls ill. After the fall of Legnago, he is forced to abandon offensive operations and returns to Brentelle Camp near Padua. He frequently expresses his frustration with the lack of funds and the constant turnover of constables, which hinders those who fought in Padua’s defense from replenishing their companies, while many newcomers are hired. His men clash with Lattanzio da Bergamo’s troops in Padua, and he has strong disagreements with Zitolo da Perugia. | ||
| June | Veneto | Stays in Padua, guarding the accommodations with Lucio Malvezzi, Antonio Pio, and Provveditore Generale Paolo Capello. Andrea Gritti, another provveditore generale, attempts a diversion toward Limena. Naldi inspects the defensive works at Monselice and, along with other mercenaries, reports a bleak assessment. | |||
| July | Veneto | Supports the appointment of Lucio Malvezzi as general governor. In Padua, he is tasked with reinforcing the Codalunga Bastion, but the work halts due to insufficient funds for military expenses. Falls seriously ill with a sudden fever and is taken to Venice in a feverish state. The Venetians send two doctors, Bartolomeo da Montagnana and Bernardino Speroni, to treat him. Andrea Gritti and Vincenzo Naldi visit him, but he dies the same month. He is buried in Venice in the Church of Santi Giovanni e Paolo beside Niccolò Orsini. In August 1512, the Council of Ten confirms the privileges already granted to his wife Dianora Valgimigli and their daughters (a house in Padua and an annuity of 2000 ducats). |
Sources
-Con Vincenzo Naldi “(Tra) i riformatori della fanteria alla quale diedero un più grande sviluppo di azione, rispetto alla cavalleria.” ARGEGNI
-“Fu uno dei più valorosi capitani del suo tempo (anche se perfido e ingrato verso gli amici), ed è considerato a tutt’oggi, con il cugino Vincenzo, tra i più capaci riformatori della fanteria veneta, alla quale diede un grande sviluppo di azione rispetto alla cavalleria. Dionigi dotò le truppe di Brisighella di una propria divisa, costituita da una casacca metà bianca e metà rossa, in un’epoca in cui gli eserciti non erano ancora dotati di una vera e propria uniforme.” WIKIPEDIA
-“Capitano, ed uomo perfido ed ingratissimo.” CONTI
-“Uomo di assai coraggio, comeché di bassa nazione, esaltato da’ Viniziani per le molte fanterie che loro facilmente conduce di Romagna con Carlino suo fratello.” DA PORTO
-“Uom forte.” BEMBO
-“Valoroso, e fedel capitano.” BONIFACCIO
-“Valoroso Capitano.” BERTONDELLI
-“Valorosissimo Capitano, il quale fu di bontà d’animo, e di virtù, e di fede verso la nostra Repubblica senza paragone.” P. GIUSTINIAN
-“Celebre capitano.” SPRETI
-“Pedariae militiae magistro.” ARLUNO
-“Con fra Leonardo Prato “Prode guerriero.” DOGLIONI
-“Distinguished infantry captain.” MALLETT
-“Di merito e grido non minore (fra Leonardo Prato).” VERDIZZOTTI
-“Uomo d’armi e di gran parentado colà (in val di Lamone).” VILLARI
-“Uno dei più riputati capitani dei fanti del tempo.” ALVISI
-“Valoroso soldato e di grande onore.” BURRIEL
-Con Vincenzo Naldi “Rinomati Capitani, arditi, infaticabili in mezzo alle armi non meno che ne’ civili negozii.” RIGHI
-Con Vincenzo Naldi “Famosi condottieri del secolo XVI, capi di parte in val di Lamone, reputatissimi poi in tutta Italia.” ZAULI-NALDI
-“Condottiero espertissimo.” GUICCIARDINI
-“Hor di la fantaria fiorita e bella/…/ Dionysio di Naldo di Brisigella/ di questa è general capitano.” CORDO
-“Al mondo non è già guerrier sì saldo/…/ questo è colui che di prudentia vale/ questo è colui che i tramontani fa caldo/ questi è colui che non ha paragone/ d’inzegno, o fortia, saper o ragione/…/ questo è colui che per sua fortia magna/ per tutto è ditto il falco di Romagna.” F. M. SACCHINO (Spavento d’Italia)
-Ad Agnadello “Il primo con suo squadron bello/ dionisio fu quel franco bresigello/…/ El bresigello entrò fra li nemici/ con tanta furia, e con tanto ardimento,/ che ne fece molti miseri, e infelici/ donandoli di morte alto spavento/ come in un bosco schianta le radici/ d’ogni alto faggio un furibondo vento/ così costui fra gli altri in quella guerra/ stratia, rompe, fracassa, abatte, atterra./ Era tutto coperto d’armadura/ e ne le mani una gran roncha havea/ sì che copriva intorno la pianura/ di gienti occise in la battaglia rea/ menando colpi sì fuor di misura/ ch’ogni franco guerrier di lui temeva/ e quando lo vedea ver lui venire/ era sforzato in altra parte gire.” DEGLI AGOSTINI
-“I brisigelli (i fanti romagnoli), prima ancora dei celebri “tercios” spagnoli, hanno al loro interno delle bandiere (o compagnie) di scoppettieri, che vedono in sottordine delle divisioni di 20 soldati comandati da un caporale, in grado rapidamente di formare batterie di 60 uomini da usare contro le cavallerie avversarie in combinazione con i più numeroso picchieri.” SANTANGELO
-“Ce Naldo était un des meilleurs capitaines d’infanterie de cette époque, et il avait longtemps servi sous les Sforzas.” SABATINI
-“Il quale percorse una straordinaria carriera al servizio di Venezia, dove esercitò al contempo delicati e fondamentali compiti di riforma politico-militare e ricevette onori altrettanto desueti, se non unici, per uno straniero..Documenti conservati presso l’archivio di Stato di Faenza, afferenti al periodo 1504-1509, attestano..l’autorità e l’influenza che Dionigi esercitava sulle comunità montane della Val Lamone, ritraendolo nell’atto di emettere arbitrati, comporre liti ed anche di agire in giudizio contro terzi per questioni di carattere patrimoniale…Grazie a Dionigi, i brisighelli, formati sul modello delle fanteria pesante svizzera, divennero un’arma molto più agile e duttile, che si adattava alle situazioni più favorevoli ed era in grado, all’occorrenza, di combattere secondo tecniche diverse..Dotò (le sue compagnie) di schiere di fucilieri molto più efficaci e risolutive in battaglia, che potevano contare inoltre sul fondamentale appoggio tattico dell’artiglieria e integrarsi egregiamente con la cavalleria leggera stradiota.” BAZZOCCHI
-“Ebbe l’onore di venire raffigurato in una statua al naturale commissionata allo scultore Lorenzo Bregno, posta dal Senato veneziano su una delle porte della basilica dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo, tomba di dogi e di condottieri, a pochi metri dalle statue di Niccolò Orsini, accanto al quale in vita aveva combattuto a lungo, di Pompeo Giustiniani, di Orazio Baglioni, a poche decine di metri dal grande monumento equestre di Bartolomeo Colleoni, opera del Verrocchio. Un onore raro, un’eloquente dimostrazione del tributo di affetto che Venezia gli aveva riservato…Al di là degli onori a lui tributati, venne testimoniata da tutti gli storici la sua capacità di organizzare la fanteria secondo modelli nuovi, anche se mutuati originariamente dalle strategie de i tedeschi e dei lanzichenecchi, creando blocchi compatti di picchieri perfettamente in grado di vanificare le carche della cavalleria pesante, ed affiancandoli a squadre di cavalleggeri mobili e sincronizzate con i fanti e a nuclei altrettanto compatti di balestrieri e di soldati muniti di armi da fuoco. L’addestramento di questi ultimi, seguito personalmente da Dionigi e da Vincenzo, si svolgeva in gran parte a Brisighella, che era ormai diventata una delle palestre più accreditate in Italia in tema di progresso nell’uso delle artiglierie.” SPADA
-“Fu uno dei più valorosi capitani del suo tempo ed è considerato a tutt’oggi, con il cugino Vincenzo, tra i più capaci riformatori della fanteria veneta, alal quale diede un grande sviluppo di azione rispetto alla cavalleria. Dioniso dotò le truppe di Brisighella di una propria divisa costituita da una casacca metà bianca e metà rossa, in un’epoca in cui gli eserciti non erano ancora dotati di una vera e propria uniforme.” Brisighella.amacittà.it>>indexphp>>collezione
-“Viene ricordato con una statua di marmo dello scultore Lorenzo Bregno, nella chiesa dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo. Il condottiero vi figura in piedi, rivestito di una lorica a capo scoperto, con la mano destra reggente un’alabarda, dietro una grande finestra a trafori gotici chiusa da pregiati vetri colorati opera dei vetrai Girolamo Moretto e Giovanni Antonio da Lodi. Ai piedi della statua è incisa la scritta “Imperator, ductor, eques, milesque Dionisi Naldi conduntur hic ossa/ hic juniorem Ferdinandum regni a Gallis pulsum restituit/ Florent. Reipublicae peditatum praefect ornavit/ Veneti dignitatem imperii sustinuit fide ac fortitudine incomparabili/ inter alios duces pedit. praefect. Patavium servavit. Moriens ex nimis vigiliis/ hoc virtuti suae perpetuum monumentum/ clarissimo Lauredano princ. ex amplis Senat auctoritate maruit/ Obiit aetatis suae ann. XLV-1510.”” www.conoscerevenenezia.it
-“Gli è dedicata una via a Brisighella. Nel palazzo municipale è stata posta nel 1865 una lapide che lo ricorda. “A Dionisio di Naldo nel secolo XVI condottiero/di Brisighella/delle fanterie venete/capitano generale/delle italiche riformatore/la Patria. MDCCCLXV…Nel santuario del convento di Santa Maria degli Angeli o dell’ Osservanza, sito sempre in Brisighella, vi è una lapide che lo ricorda assieme con il cugino Vincenzo. “A Vincenzo Naldi brisighellese primo della famiglia e di questo nome ad essere onorato dal Senato della Repubblica veneta delle insegne della milizia e della veste aurea. A Dionigi suo cugino per gli stessi meriti onorato degli onori per il suo valore alla carica suprema di comandante di tutti i militi salito, al quale il Senato decretò fosse posto per ricordarlo una statua. Morì, essendogli sopravvissuto Vincenzo, all’età di 45 anni nell’anno 1510.” TABANELLI
SPECIFIC BIOGRAPHIES
D. Zauli Naldi. Dionigi e Vincenzo Naldi in Romagna (1494-1504)
Alessandro Bazzocchi. La ricerca storica e archivistica su Dionigi e Vincenzo Naldi in rapporto alla dominazione veneziana nella valle del Lamone.
