Knight of the Order of Saint Michael and lord of Monterotondo, Orsini fought across continents before his unexpected death in Brescia.
Giordano Orsini of Rome. Lord of Monterotondo. Son of Valerio Orsini. Knight of the Order of Saint Michael.
Born: 1525
Death: 1564, September
| Year, Month | State, Comp. ventura | Opponent | Command | Area of Activity | Actions Undertaken and Other Salient Facts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1546 | Empire | France | Germany France | Takes part in the siege and conquest of Dura (Duren). The operations conclude positively: 600 are killed among the Italian and Spanish infantry. In autumn he falls ill at the siege of Landrecy (Landrecies). Command of his company is entrusted to Saporoso Matteucci. | |
| 1547 | |||||
| ………….. | Florence | Tuscany | Serves under Duke Cosimo de’ Medici of Florence. He is entrusted with the governorship of Pisa and command of the Medicean fleet. | ||
| Summer | Tuscany | Has the task of gathering 1000 infantry to intervene in Naples, which has rebelled against the imperials due to the introduction of the Inquisition tribunal in the city. Must provide aid to Viceroy Don Pietro di Toledo. | |||
| 1548 | |||||
| ………….. | Church | Fights in the papal fleet under orders of Gentile Virginio Orsini. | |||
| 1550 | |||||
| Apr. | Florence | Barbary corsairs | Has command of a galley from Duke Cosimo de’ Medici of Florence. At Livorno he joins with the imperial fleet of Andrea Doria to face the Barbary corsairs on the African coasts. | ||
| May | Florence | Ottoman Empire | Lazio Campania and Tunisia | Sails from Civitavecchia with 3 galleys to link up with the forces of the Viceroy of Sicily Don Giovanni di Vega: objective is to counter the Barbary corsair Dragut. Touches Naples; soon quarrels with Don Garcia di Toledo who has command of the landing infantry and is brother-in-law of the Duke of Florence. Arrives on the Maghreb coast with Don Garcia di Toledo and assaults Monastir; with Alvaro di Vega provides for bringing the artillery ashore to assault the local fortress. | |
| July | Tunisia | With Astorre Baglioni attacks the castle of Afrodisio (Mehedia) whose defense is held by Hisar Rais, nephew of Dragut. Has several occasions to complain about the arrogant behavior of the Spanish: during operations he leaves the camp with Baglioni and some Florentine and Roman gentlemen to follow the woodcutters’ caravan. He finds himself isolated while hunting when he is attacked by some Berbers. Wounded in the left arm by a lance blow, he is thrown to the ground by his mount: the prompt intervention of Astorre Baglioni saves him from capture. | |||
| Aug. | Campania and Tunisia | Returns to Naples to gather 1000 Spanish infantry and 20 cannons to take to Africa: Don Garcia di Toledo gives him a cold reception. | |||
| Sept. | Tunisia | Takes part in the capture and sacking of Monastir: among the attackers there are 50 dead, among the Turks and Moors 800. The 10,000 prisoners, including women and children, are all taken to Sicily and Naples where they are sold as slaves. | |||
| Oct. | On the return journey he prefers not to land at Naples because he has learned that Francesco d’Este has given the order to capture him for the murder of one of his relatives (Orazio Brancadoro of Fermo). Warned by an ambassador of the Duke of Florence, he flees on a small merchant ship. At month’s end he disarms at Livorno the 3 galleys under his command. | ||||
| Dec. | Lazio and France | From Rome he transfers to France. | |||
| 1551 | France | Empire | Emilia | Dismissed by Cosimo de’ Medici, he passes to French service. Fights in the war of Parma. Takes part in the defense of Mirandola. | |
| 1552 | |||||
| ………….. | France | Empire Florence | Tuscany | Supports Cardinal Ippolito d’Este and Marshal de Termes in the defense of Siena; reaches the city with 4500 infantry. When the imperials arrive in Val di Chiana he transfers with 500 infantry to guard Pienza; soon abandons this location due to insufficient fortifications. Moves to Montalcino with 1000/1500 infantry in place of Giovanni di Torino; has the task of continuing to provide for the initiated reinforcement of defensive works and the strict order to prevent the center from falling into enemy hands. At his side are other captains like Mario Sforza, Camillo da Martinengo, Battistino Moretto, Giustiniano da Faenza and Faustino da Perugia. Also defending the city are 1000 inhabitants with commissioner Giulio Vieri. | |
| 1553 | |||||
| Mar. | Tuscany | Is besieged in Montalcino by Alessandro Vitelli and Don Garcia di Toledo, who succeeded to command of the imperial troops upon the death of his father Don Pietro. With the arrival of the adversaries he has his men occupy a hill near the city to prevent the enemies from camping there. The French lose the position and on it the enemies place their encampments: 12,000 infantry among Germans, Italians and Spanish and 2,000 cavalry, who have many pieces of artillery at their disposal. Orsini further reinforces the city’s defenses; he positions himself with his infantry to guard the stretch of walls from Porta Cerbaia to the fortress; places his quarters in the tower of San Martino. During the siege Montalcino is gradually surrounded in a ring of nine forts (in April Castiglione and Rocca d’Orcia will be captured). Despite this, the imperials will never manage to completely isolate the city from nearby Murlo. The road connecting the two locations will always remain open because it means for the French and Sienese the possibility of receiving supplies and munitions without too many problems. During the siege operations, for example, a peasant whose nickname is Tirainfallo, manages to go and return from Siena 22 times bringing people and pack animals to safety. Also in the month begins the enemy bombardment carried out by 28 pieces in front of the bastion of Santa Margherita; another 12 pieces, pulled by oxen and buffalo are planted at the Albergo house between the mountain and the fortress. | |||
| Apr. | Tuscany | There is tremendous artillery fire at the curtain wall of the Montalcino fortress; in 24 hours 500 cannon shots are fired on the city. On Easter day Giordano Orsini is wounded in the arm during a war council by fragments caused by an artillery shot. Don Garcia di Toledo chivalrously sends him a drummer to offer the help of a surgeon and medicines: he thanks him and has him reply that the city does not lack capable doctors. Battistino Moretto informs him of being contacted by the imperials to deliver them a gate in exchange for his return to his native Calabria and an annual income of 3000 scudi. Orsini orders the captain to play along, indicating Porta Cerbaia for the delivery. The enemies do not show up. In the same days he has a squad leader of Giovanni Vitelli and a soldier of Moretto’s company who have made agreements with the imperials hanged naked at the fortress curtain wall; he also captures in Montalcino the Spaniard Francesco Oliveira in contact with some Neapolitan exiles to be able to seize Porta di Collegattari. | |||
| May | Tuscany | The Spanish approach Porta di Collegattari according to the signals agreed upon with the pretended deserters: a rope is lowered and the secretary of Don Garcia di Toledo climbs up and is taken prisoner: a sentinel, who knows nothing of the prepared ambush, gives the alarm and the imperials withdraw. Mid-month Giordano Orsini has a Spanish spy hanged by one foot outside the bastion of San Martino, who, with a double treaty, has caused the failure of one of his sorties of 300 men aimed at gaining possession of some pieces of artillery placed in the house of Niccolò dall’Oca outside the walls. Orsini allows a Spanish deserter to enter Montalcino who brings news of an imminent departure from the camp of the army for the kingdom of Naples following the appearance of the French fleet in Tuscan waters. This man falls into some contradictions, Orsini has him tortured and learns of his true mission, that of setting fire to the powder magazine. The soldier is hanged alive by one foot at the bastion of San Martino before the eyes of his comrades. | |||
| June | Siege operations at Montalcino continue, especially in front of the bastion of San Martino (mine explosions and sapper work interrupted by continuous clashes). In a skirmish, forewarned in advance, he is on the point of capturing Alessandro Vitelli who has gone to a casemate to adjust the artillery fire. The imperials destroy part of the city walls with cannons; in Montalcino there is a continuous coming and going of men and supplies from the imperial camp. Mid-month after eighty days the siege is lifted. Giordano Orsini leaves Montalcino with Mario Sforza to take some prisoners. | ||||
| ………… | France | Empire Genoa | France | With the help of the Turkish fleet conquers San Fiorenzo in Corsica which becomes his operational base against the Genoese. Effectively defends San Bonifacio from the siege placed by sea by Andrea Doria’s fleet. At year’s end he is guarding San Fiorenzo with 2500 soldiers mostly French. The Genoese land on the beach under orders of Ludovico Vistarini: Giordano Orsini seeks to hinder the attackers’ action. His men occupy a monastery, placed on a hill, from where they disturb the adversaries’ encampment operations with artillery. Vistarini seizes the position with a bloody clash. Orsini is besieged in San Fiorenzo by land and sea by Andrea Doria and Agostino Spinola; Termes operates in his support; he camps at Murato near the enemies. The defenders’ sorties are continuous. | |
| 1554 | |||||
| Feb. | France | After three months of siege he is forced to surrender San Fiorenzo due to lack of supplies and the shipwreck of some galleys sent to his aid. The Corsicans must surrender at discretion; the French can return to Provence and the Italians to Tuscany with the obligation not to fight the Genoese for a certain period of time. Orsini remains hostage of Andrea Doria with a French captain until the end of the evacuation: thus ends the siege of San Fiorenzo in which 10,000 people have lost their lives from diseases alone. He returns to Italy and commits not to oppose for eight months both the imperial and Medicean militias. | |||
| 1555 | |||||
| ………….. | France | Leaves Provence and returns to Corsica to take the place of Termes. Lands at Ajaccio with more than 1000 infantry; under his orders serve 3000 Italian and French infantry, as well as another 3000 Corsicans. Recovers San Fiorenzo and attacks Calvi; sends 500 French infantry and many Corsicans toward Balagna to hinder the city’s land supply; from the sea Calvi is besieged by the French fleet. Orsini bombards the city with ten pieces; the artillery fire is followed by a general assault. Relief arrives for the defenders led by Giovanni Andrea Doria. Orsini is now forced to retreat to Balagna. Termes abandons Corsica; another 1000 infantry arrive from France and from Tuscany arrives the Turkish fleet of Piali Pasha with 4000 men. Giordano Orsini wants to resume the siege of Calvi; he heads toward the location. During the transfer march he foils an ambush set for him by Leonardo Giustiniani. | |||
| Aug. | France | 4000 Turks and four companies of soldiers from Provence land near Calvi; Orsini also joins them at the head of 12 companies of Corsican infantry from Ajaccio and Balagna. 35 siege cannons are also brought ashore (of which 7 French and 14 Turkish). Artillery fire begins, followed by some attacks that fail in their objective. The Turks suffer the loss of 1000 men not counting the wounded. The allies withdraw; it is now decided to repeat the offensive action against Bastia. Giordano Orsini lands nearby and continues his action despite the Ottomans Dragut and Piali Pasha leaving the field to raid Sardinia. Soon the commander of the French fleet Paulin de la Garde follows their example. Giordano Orsini continues the siege alone; repels a sortie by the defenders who have positioned themselves in ambush to prevent his quartering work. After repelling an attack by Niccolò Pallavicini he resumes battering the city walls with artillery. | |||
| Sept. | France | Withdraws to Ajaccio. Harasses Calvi and Bastia with his raids. | |||
| ………….. | France | Is joined by Sampiero Corso: with the defeat of this captain Giordano Orsini approaches Balagna with some galleys to block Calvi from the sea. | |||
| 1556 | |||||
| Feb. Apr. | In Corsica. Captures the remains of the crews of 11 Genoese galleys belonging to Andrea Doria, on which Giovanni Andrea Doria is also aboard, which have run aground on the rocks of Porto Vecchio off the port of San Cipriano. Antonio Doria and Plinio Tomacelli are sent to Ajaccio to Orsini to negotiate the return of the artillery pieces, naval equipment and crews. | ||||
| ………….. | Church | Lazio | Is recalled to Rome by Pope Paul IV. Has the task of guarding Porta Tiburtina and San Lorenzo with 6 companies of Italian infantry. | ||
| ………….. | France | Empire Genoa | France | Returns to Corsica; goes on the offensive: forces the Genoese to shut themselves in Bastia, Erbalunga and Calvi. Following the stipulation of a truce between the parties he is recalled to France; at court he quarrels with Sampiero Corso; for his part he hinders this captain’s return to Corsica. | |
| 1557 | |||||
| ………….. | Lieutenant General | France | Returns once again to Corsica of which he is named lieutenant general and viceroy. Lands a first time at Ajaccio; sends 1500 French infantry toward Calvi to prevent the Genoese from raiding the surrounding territory; lands in the gulf of San Fiorenzo; has the fortress rebuilt there despite the contrary opinion of Sampiero Corso; also has the defenses of Biguglia reinforced, always finding obstacles in the Corsican captain. Confronted by Girolamo di Lodrone, he moves to aid Furiani; forces the adversaries to retreat; returns to San Fiorenzo. Does not fail to harass the adversaries with continuous skirmishes. Some royal ambassadors arrive from France; they reconcile him with his rival and Sampiero Corso transfers to France. Some reinforcements arrive; Giordano Orsini can assault Farinole; the city is abandoned by the Genoese. Obtains Furiani from some Corsican deserters; pursues the fleeing adversaries. Enters Nonza. | ||
| Sept. | France | At Vescovado announces to the Corsicans that Corsica will be incorporated into the kingdom of France. | |||
| 1558 | France | Sends 1000 infantry to Nonza and another 1000 to Balagna. | |||
| 1559 | France | Leaves Corsica at the conclusion of the peace of Cateau-Cambrésis: the island is delivered to the Genoese commissioners Giambattista Grimaldi and Cristoforo Sauli. Lands in Provence with many French and Corsicans and is conferred the collar of the order of Saint Michael. | |||
| 1560 | |||||
| Mar. | France | At Paris, at court. Receives numerous attestations of liberality from the French sovereign. | |||
| ………….. | Soon also leaves France, disgusted by the treatment suffered by Italians at court. Returns to Italy and passes to Venetian service. | ||||
| 1562 | |||||
| May | Venice | The Council of Ten deliberates the hiring of Giordano Orsini: he is proposed a contract for three years of service and two of respect; he is granted an annual provision of 4000 ducats and payment for ten broken lances, in practice captains without contract who serve under his direct orders. | |||
| Aug. | Accepts the conditions proposed to him. | ||||
| Dec. | Captain General Infantry | Lombardy | His 10 squad leaders are given an annual salary of 48 ducats; he is recognized some fiscal advantages. In case of conflict he must provide for the recruitment of 1000 infantry and 100 cavalry. Establishes his headquarters at Brescia. | ||
| 1563 | |||||
| Oct. | Delivers to the Serenissima a kind of military regulation, a report on how to keep troops in order in peacetime. | ||||
| 1564 | |||||
| Feb. | Veneto and Lombardy | Goes to Venice; protests in the College of Pregadi for some changes made to his contract by a Senate decree of the previous December. Is elected governor of Brescia. | |||
| Sept. | Lombardy | Dies at Brescia from an accident that sees him thrown from his carriage after the coachman lost control of the horses. In the Ambrosiana Library of Milan is found his manuscript titled “Modo di ben formare uno Squadrone“; he is also author of a “Relatione alla republica di Venetia intorno al modo di stabilire una buona militia in tempo di pace“. Gabriele Simeone dedicates to him the “Discorso sopra la castromentatione et disciplina militare de’ Romani“. Portrait by Titian. Marries Emilia di Cesi and Lucrezia di Ceri. |
Sources
-“Giovane, nel cui cuore bolliva il desiderio della gloria e dell’onore, di cui sempre fé professione la sua nobilissima casa.” MURATORI
-“Giovane di gran virtù.” SEGNI
-“Certo ha nome di poter stare al pari, nella professione sua, di qualsivoglia altro signore italiano.” ALBERI
-“S’era sommamente in più imprese arricchito della nobile scienza della militia, nella quale servendosi d’una giuditiosa eloquenza necessaria alla professione della guerra, si faceva con temperata altezza fra il piacevole e il grave, stimar per valoroso e per accorto guerriero.” SANSOVINO
-“Gran maestro di guerra..; quale oltra l’haver prima nella sua più verde età in Fiandra, in Africa e in altri luoghi dato gran segni del suo sommo valore; in questo luogo (Montalcino) fece veder chiaro al mondo, che ‘l saper unito con l’animosità e col valor militare, può facilmente salvar le città e gli stati. Come anche fece in San Fiorenzo di Corsica. Donde oltre a grandi honori che per tali prove egli meritò appresso al re Christianissimo; fu per parere di molti prencipi e signori stimato degno di statue e di sopranome contrario a quello del re Demetrio detto Espugnatore delle Città, essendo questo gran signore conservatore di quelle.” MAGGI
-“Giovane anch’egli molto coraggioso.” ROSEO
Featured image: wikimedia
