Fra Leonardo Prato: Military Career and Service Records- Condottieri di ventura

The life and exploits of Fra Leonardo Prato against the Ottoman Empire

Fra Leonardo Prato (Fra Lunardo da Prato) of Lecce. Uncle of Mariano da Lecce and Giovanni Bernardino da Lecce. A Knight of Rhodes and privateer against the Turks. He held the title of Bailiff of Venosa.

Death: 1511 (March)

Year, Month	State/Comp. ventura	Opponent	Contract	Area of Activity	Actions Undertaken and Other Key Events
1479	Rhodes	Ottoman Empire		Greece	Knight of the Order of Saint John of Rhodes operates as a corsair against the Turks. Holds the position of bailiff of Venosa.
1481	Naples	Ottoman Empire		Apulia	Fights against the Turks in the War of Otranto. At the end of the conflict, oversees the repair of the city’s fortifications.
1494	Naples	Milan, France		Liguria	At the command of a galley, supports Frederick of Aragon (Federico d’Aragona) in his action against Genoa.
1495
…	Naples, Venice	France		Apulia	Incites rebellion in Lecce: persecutes the supporters of the Duke of Camporosso who aided the French. Many are condemned to the oars in the galleys.
May				Apulia	Together with Cesare of Aragon, joins the Venetian troops in Brindisi.
…				Apulia	Appointed governor of Taranto and Manfredonia.
1496
Sept.–Oct.				Apulia	Besieges George de Silly in Taranto with his galley, 7 Venetian galleys, and 4 Biscayan ships from Brindisi. Waits six weeks in front of the island of Our Lady for the rest of the Venetian fleet; once joined by 19 additional Venetian galleys, he commands the operations. Blocks the city’s sea supply routes.
1498				Apulia	Stationed in Lecce. Ordered to increase tariffs on goods destined for Venetian-controlled ports in Apulia.
Nov.				Apulia	Collects taxes imposed on Jews in Apulia on behalf of King Frederick of Aragon. Attends the king’s wedding to Isabella del Balzo.
1499
June				Apulia	In Brindisi. The Venetian governor Giorgio Lion does not allow him to take a galley trapped in the port belonging to his brother.
July				Apulia	Appointed viceroy of Otranto and Bari. Reports the presence of the Turkish fleet in Apulian waters.
Aug.–Sept.				Apulia	Presses the King of Naples to give orders for the destruction of the olive groves of Monopoli to provoke a rebellion among the population against the Venetians. Gathers money and troops for the Aragonese in Lecce.
1500				Albania	Negotiates an agreement with the Turks to fight against the Venetians. Frequently on missions to Valona.
1501	Naples	Spain, France		Apulia	Noted in the vicinity of Trani. Gathers 500–600 light cavalry. Assists Queen Isabella in seeking refuge in Taranto.
…				Apulia	Appointed governor of Taranto. Together with Count Antonio of Guevara, tutor to the son of King Frederick of Aragon, he is besieged in the city by Consalvo de Cordoba. Loses all hope of effective defense when the Spanish succeed in transferring a flotilla into the Mar Piccolo.
1502				Apulia	Surrenders under conditions to Cordoba, with the stipulation that no reinforcements would arrive within four months. At the agreed time, hands over the city and the fortress. The Duke of Calabria is taken to Spain despite previous promises.
…				Greece	Travels to Rhodes with his galley to resume corsair activities.
1503	Spain	France		Apulia	With Fabrizio Colonna, inspects the camp of La Palisse, who, with 200 lances and 300 mounted archers, is about to join the Duke of Nemours near Barletta.
Apr.				Apulia	Takes part in the Battle of Cerignola.
Aug.				Campania	Takes possession of the Duchy of Ariano, taken from Alberico Carafa.
Dec.				Campania, Lazio, Apulia	Participates in the Battle of Garigliano, where he is noted for the fury with which he attacks the French. Sent with 700–800 light cavalry and stradiotti, and 300 infantry to Andria to lift the siege laid by Louis d’Ars. Arriving quickly, he attacks the enemy camp and penetrates it despite artillery fire. French cavalry intervenes, repelling him with heavy losses among his troops. Many infantry and cavalry are killed or captured.
1509	Venice	France, Empire, Ferrara		Apulia and Veneto	Sails from Apulia to Venice; enters the service of the Serenissima to fight against the forces of the League of Cambrai. Lends 4000 ducats to the Venetians to help cover war expenses, keeping 1000 for his own needs.
May			Governor of light cavalry, 100 light cavalry	Lombardy	Reaches the camp at Garliano, welcomed by Bartolomeo d’Alviano, who appreciates his fighting spirit. Receives an annual provision of 400 ducats, commands 150 mounted crossbowmen (100 in reality), and is appointed governor of the light cavalry. Transferred to guard Brescia. After the defeat at Agnadello, patrols the banks of the Oglio with the provveditore Niccolò Marcello to monitor French movements.
June				Veneto	Follows Niccolò Orsini in his retreat eastward, crosses the Brenta at Sambruson, and encamps at Mestre. Moves to Castelfranco Veneto, where he faces the pro-imperial forces; finally goes to Venice to the Collegio dei Pregadi.
July				Veneto	Leaves Mestre and goes to Treviso with the provveditore generale Andrea Gritti; returns towards Castelfranco Veneto with 1500 cavalry and 1000 infantry, rides on Cittadella where the enemy army is gathering; proceeds to Conegliano and takes over Lucio Malvezzi’s position in Padua. Along with Pietro Corso and Giovanni Brandolini, conquers the fortress of Serravalle (Vittorio Veneto) after defeating Rodolfo di Anhalt‘s Germans (800 enemy dead); enters Belluno and vigorously pursues the fleeing enemies. Moves to defend Padua when the city is retaken.
Aug.			86 light cavalry	Veneto	Conducts numerous sorties from Padua towards Montagnana.
Sept.				Veneto	Welcomes Alvise and Bernardo Loredan, sons of the Doge, who arrive to defend Padua along with many other Venetian nobles.
Nov.				Veneto	After the siege of Padua, he goes to Venice; in the Collegio, he opposes an offensive against Vicenza because, as correctly foreseen, once conquered, the Venetians would not be able to effectively defend the city. Moves to Soave with provveditore Andrea Gritti to attack Verona.
Dec.				Veneto	Strengthens the Verona passes to better defend Soave.
1510
Jan.				Veneto	Reaches Lonigo; leaves the area upon hearing that many troops have left Verona; surprises 200 Spanish infantrymen who had advanced as far as Colognola ai Colli. He catches them in disarray, killing or capturing all the enemies. Sends 30 stradiotti across the Adige to attack the imperial forces from behind; clashes with them at a bridge in San Martino Buon Albergo, inflicting numerous casualties. During the fight, in which he sustains two head wounds, Carlo Baglioni, the German Cletense, and Sagramoro Visconti, with 50 men-at-arms and 200 light cavalry, are captured; 60 mounted crossbowmen perish. Alongside Niccolò Orsini, Malvezzi, and Giano Fregoso, he engages in another skirmish near Soave against 1500–2000 Gascon and Spanish infantry; Leonardo Prato prevails, capturing many soldiers, including 50–60 light cavalry. By the end of the month, he is tasked with thwarting a new raid by enemy troops from Verona; his stradiotti refuse to follow him; unperturbed, Leonardo Prato proceeds with his lances and infantry to Villanova, where he encounters a large contingent of lances, light cavalry, and 1000 infantry with four falconets commanded by Giovanni Gonzaga and Federico Gonzaga of Bozzolo. He attacks the adversaries on the hills with his mounted crossbowmen: over 150 men, including Spaniards, Burgundians, and Italians, are killed, and 100 horses are captured, including 40 Burgundian armigers. For all these achievements, the Consiglio dei Savi increases his annual provision by 200 ducats, and a monthly provision of 10 ducats is granted to his nephews Mariano da Lecce and Giovanni Bernardino da Lecce.
Feb.			61 light cavalry	Veneto
Apr.				Veneto	His name is brought up in the Consiglio dei Savi as a possible candidate for the post of general governor.
May				Veneto	At San Bonifacio for a war council with the provveditori: it is predicted that the French will attack in the Polesine. The Venetians retreat; Prato protects their withdrawal to Caldiero, Longare (lodging with the Trissino family alongside Lucio Malvezzi and Giano Fregoso), and Montebello Vicentino. He moves by night with 400 mounted crossbowmen to Vo to assess the logistical possibilities for relocating the camp from Vicenza to Padua. When Monselice is assaulted by the French, he defends it with 300 cavalry, 500 infantry, and 500 stradiotti; he returns to the town days later with 200 cavalry to inspect the fortifications. Together with Antonio Pio, he urges the Venetians to carry out a diversionary action against the Este.
June	Venice	France, Ferrara	65 light cavalry	Veneto	At the camp of Brentelle. Legnago is taken by the enemy; Prato sets off for Cittadella with 400 mounted crossbowmen, 200 stradiotti, and 1000 infantry under Giovanni dal Borgo; crosses the Brenta at the bridge of Vigodarzere, proceeds through Camposampiero and Castelfranco Veneto; returns to the lower Padua region and monitors the roads towards Monselice. He stops to defend the town, inspecting its defensive works with the provveditore Andrea Gritti, Giampaolo Manfrone, Dionigi Naldi, and Giovanni dal Borgo, reaching discouraging conclusions. He supports Malvezzi‘s appointment as general governor. He is owed 2000 ducats by the Serenissima for back pay.
July			46 light cavalry	Veneto	Proposes strengthening the defenses of Padua, threatened by the French; is reported to have dined with the enemy captain Andrea da Capua. He subsequently moves on a reconnaissance mission with Manfrone to spy on enemy movements between Santa Croce Bigolina, San Pietro in Gu, Longara, Mestrino, and Montegalda. Returns to Monselice to check the morale of the defenders and has a conversation with a trumpeter from Andrea da Capua, who may be offering to fight for the Venetians. He positions himself to guard the Bassanello at Padua; after the fall of Monselice, he inspects the area several times. The French retreat: together with the provveditore Sigismondo Cavalli, he leaves Padua with 1000 light cavalry, pursuing the enemy towards Torre, Trissino, Arzignano, and Montebello Vicentino.
Aug.				Veneto	First in Bassano del Grappa and then in the Polesine, at the head of 600 light cavalry. Together with Meleagro da Forlì, he decides to build a bridge at Boara Pisani; conquers Castelbaldo, where he appropriates 500 stera of barley, which is distributed to his men; he moves on Ficarolo and demands its surrender; proceeds to Papozze, where he joins Marco Antonio Contarini, captain of the Po. He reaches Polesella and the bastion of Crespino, where he constructs a bridge of boats; crosses the Po and brings terror to the Ferrarese.
Sept.			46 light cavalry	Veneto	His men are accused of having sacked Polesella. He proves their innocence and finds that the culprits are to be found among the mercenaries of Bartolomeo dalla Barba. Together with Meleagro da Forlì, he warns the Venetians of the dangers of the offensive in the Polesine; he moves to Ficarolo with 200 cavalry. Upon learning that the Este forces are crossing the Po at Francolino, he orders the mills to be set on fire and withdraws to Ponticchio. Many of his mounted crossbowmen (307) desert; nevertheless, with 50 cavalry, he repels 40 infantrymen who have crossed the river. He constructs a new bridge of boats at Ponticchio and returns to Polesella. His role in the campaign is considered irreplaceable. Although his men have not been paid for some time, Leonardo Prato manages to galvanize them; with his 50 cavalry, and with the help of armed locals aboard small boats, he recovers Adria. During this period, he is the only condottiero who agrees to have his light cavalry personally paid by the provveditore of Rovigo, Silvestro Pisani. He is given command of the militia stationed in the Polesine; he arrives in Badia Polesine with 200 cavalry to forestall a possible attack by the Este. He faces 300 French and Italian lances, 300 light cavalry, and 200 infantry: he orders the destruction of the bridge of boats and abandons Adria. He retreats to Montagnana and soon after recaptures the Polesine with the provveditore Giovanni Diedo. He reaches Ponticchio and reconstructs the bridge of boats.
Oct.	Venice, Church	France	30 light cavalry	Veneto and Emilia	Supports the provveditore generale Paolo Capello in aiding the Papal forces. Constructs a bridge at Canda to attack Ficarolo; moves to Stellata with Chiriaco dal Borgo, commanding the vanguard. From there, he proceeds to the Modenese.
Nov.				Emilia	Attends a war council in Bologna with Antonio Pio, Fabrizio Colonna, Giampaolo Baglioni, Giovanni da Sassatello, Raffaello dei Pazzi, Francesco Maria della Rovere; returns to San Cesario sul Panaro.
Dec.				Emilia	Moves with Chiappino Vitelli towards Mirandola to cut off the road to 700 Gascon infantry heading to Ferrara.
1511
Jan.				Emilia	Takes part in the siege of Mirandola. Heads towards the Secchia with Francesco Sbrogliavacca to link up with Troilo Savelli in Concordia.
Feb.				Emilia	Supports Federico Contarini between Concordia and Mirandola.
Mar.				Emilia	Still near Mirandola, setting traps for the French. Heads towards Revere, where the enemy is encamped; reaches Bellaria on the Secchia with 40 light cavalry; enters a palace to warm up. He is surprised there by the cavalry of Gian Giacomo da Trivulzio and Boissy (300 lances and 600 light cavalry). He leaves the palace with the others but is intercepted by a French unit. He refuses to surrender, is wounded in the head by Conty, and falls dead. In September, he will be buried with full honors in Venice in the church of Santi Giovanni e Paolo. His bust is in the municipal villa of Lecce, a city where a central street is also named after him. Leonardo Prato is credited with the construction of the arch that bears his name, the Arco di Prato, in Lecce, which overlooks a square where his namesake palace stands. For his merits, the building enjoyed the right of asylum under Aragonese rule.

Sources

-“Uomo molto valoroso in guerra.” GIOVIO

-“Homo di gran fama..Cavalier rodiano, homo valoroso..Fidelissimo e valentissimo nostro condutier.” SANUDO

-“Huomo non di minor prudenza che valore.” MOCENIGO

-“Uomo di gran fede, di grande animo, e di molta virtù, e sopra tutto del nome Veneziano amantissimo..Uomo e per nobiltà di famiglia, e per scienza dell’arte militare illustre.” BEMBO

-“Cavaliero Gerosolomitano, baglivo di venosa, uno de’ migliori capitani de’ suoi tempi.” BELTRANO

-“(Veneziani e pontifici) ils n’avoient plus grande homme de guerre que luy.” DE LA MARCK

-“Huomo fortissimo..La cui morte dolse molto alla Signoria, percioche eran privi d’un Capitano, non meno affetionato alle cose loro, che valoroso.” MARCELLO

-“(I veneziani) mandatolo a Padova senza condizione o titolo alcuno di soldato, poco de poi per se stessi il costituirono sopra tutti i loro cavalli leggieri italiani.” DA PORTO

-“Huomo accorto, e sollecito.” P. GIUSTINIAN

-“Molto chiaro et famoso per le cose già fatte da lui in guerra.” GIRALDI

-“Ch’era assai intelligente di cose di guerra.” SANTELENA

-“E Rhodia militia vir bellica virtute insignis.” GIOVINE

-“Huomo di molta esperienza bellica.” GUERIN-DALLE MESE

-“Egli era valente cavaliere di Rodi: fu padrone di due galere: fece più assalti coi Turchi; combatè a campo chiuso con un capitano turco e l’ammazzò. Fu quasi re nel reame di napoli. Era crudele ed ammazzò quattro conti guasconi che gli si erano dati prigionieri perché odiava i Francesi. Fu chiamato dai Veneziani in Lombardia, poi fu morto per la qual causa i Veneziani li eressero una statua.” Da una cronaca di B. Brucio riportata dalla RIVISTA STORICA SALENTINA

-“Stimato molto nell’armi, di sangue illustre e di gran fortuna.” VERDIZZOTTI

-Con Fabrizio Colonna “Personas que terrian mucha noticia de las cosas de la guerra.” ZURITA

-“Poi l’animoso, & franco fra Lunardo/ a nostri tempi un folgor di battaglia,/ fido suggietto al marchesco stendardo./ Armato tutto quanto a piastra, e maglia,/ costui per certo fu tanto gagliardo/ ch’ sempre mai fu il primo a ogni travaglio/ e ben mostrò la sua bontà infinita/ se per troppo servir lassò la vita./…/ L’ardito frate con cavai leggeri/ corse più volte fin sotto ferrara,/ ardendo il tutto sopra quei sentieri/ con battaglia acerbissima, e amara./ Da franco condutier, e bon guerrieri,/ con la sua compagnia forte, e preclara/ tal che nemici temean più di questo/ che non facean di tutto quanto il resto./…/ E fra Lunardo ala belica tresca/ come feroce cavallier s’adopra/ facendo molti cader su l’herba fresca/…/ Fra Lunardo tornato era a l’impresa/ di Ferrara con molti in compagnia/ non per haverla assediata, o presa/ che con pochi con lui si mosse in via./ Ma per mostrar ch’anchor la rotta gli pesa/ e far conoscer la sua gagliardia./ Lì faceva ogni giorno qualche insulto/ e alfin fu morto da un agnato occulto./ Così il bon fra Lunardo con gran pianto/ da li suoi prestamente fu mandato/ avvolto in un lugubre, & scuro manto/ dentro a vinetia dove il suo senato/ si pose con il popol tutto quanto/ et in san Iani & Paulo fu portato/ et fattol un sepulcro adorno, & vago/ e per memoria una marmorea imago.” DEGLI AGOSTINI

-“Il spagnol capitano Fra Lunardo/ De cavalli lezieri senza il pare (senza pari)/ Hector romano in arme sì gagliardo/ Che per l’honor italico salvare/ Con dodeci in Reame non fu tardo/ Con tanti Galli anchor voler pugnare.” CORDO

-Con Dionigi Naldi “Prodi guerrieri.” DOGLIONI

-“E questo fu quel Fra Leonardo, che fe cambiare (1502) li colori nel volto a quell’Heroe Consalvo di Cordova detto per il suo valore, il Gran Capitano, stante vedendo ingannato, e tradito il Giovinetto Principe Ferdinando, lasciato sotto la sua Fede in Taranto dal Re Federico (d’Aragona) Padre del medemo. Animato Fra Leonardo dal suo innato coraggio, e dal zelo de Fede verso il suo Signore, disse al Gran Capitano che partisse dal castello, e se fra un’ora non era fuori della Città, lo tratterebbe da’ inimico.” RECCHO

-“L’Arco di Prato, situato nell’omonima piazzetta di Lecce, prende il nome da Fra Leonardo Prato..Il monumento deve la sua notorietà ad un aneddoto della storia locale: nel 1797 il Re Ferdinando IV di Borbone era in visita a Lecce in occasione delle nozze del principe ereditario Francesco con Maria Clementina d’Asburgo. Il sindaco di Lecce Oronzo Giosuè Mansi, in giro per la città con il Borbone, indicò al Sovrano l’Arco quale esempio di bellezza architettonica, ma il Re rispose in malo modo, manifestando il proprio disinteresse. Da quel momento a Lecce, per manifestare disinteresse nei confronti di qualcosa o qualcuno, si usa eufemisticamente l’espressione: “Arcu te Pratu.” La mia-puglia.com>arco-di-prato-bene-s..

-Sulla sua tomba è posto il seguente epitaffio “Leonardum pratum militem fortissimum et ex provocatione semper/ victorem prefectam Ferdinandi iunioris, et Federici regum Neapolitan./ ob virtutem terrestribus navalibus. A preliis feliciss. magnis/ clarissimisq; rebus pro Veneta republica gestis pugnantem ab/ hoste fesum Leonardus Lauretanus princeps, et amplius ordo sena/ torius prudentie et fortitudinis ergo statua huc equestri donan/ dum censuit.”

Featured image: https://savevenice.org/publications/the-equestrian-statue-of-fra-leonardo-da-prato-and-its-predecessors-in-renaissance-venice/