Giovanni Caracciolo: Biography, Power and Assassination- Condottieri di ventura

Giovanni Caracciolo the resolute Marshal who redefined French discipline

Prince of Melfi, Duke of Ascoli Satriano, Marquis of Atella, Count of Forenza, Baron of Frigento, Duke of Venosa, Count of Avellino. Lord of Molfetta, Giovinazzo, Leonessa, Rapolla, Cisterna, San Fele, Lagopesole (a hamlet of Avigliano), Montorio nei Frentani, Candela, Torella del Sannio, Villamaina, Romorantin, Châteauneuf-sur-Loire, Vitry-aux-Loges, Berre, Nogent, Brie-Comte-Robert, and the island of Martigues. Grand Seneschal of the Kingdom of Naples. Marshal of France.

Born: 1487
Death: 1550, August

Year, Month	State, Comp. ventura	Opponent	Command	Area of Activity	Actions Undertaken and Other Salient Facts
1512
Apr.	France	Spain		Romagna	Takes part in the battle of Ravenna.
1520					Obtains the title of Neapolitan Patrician.
1523					Succeeds his father Traiano in his fiefs and in the office of great seneschal. The territory of Melfi alone yields an annual income of about 2500 ducats, and all his possessions together bring in around 8000.
1528
Jan.	Empire	Venice		Abruzzi	Is placed in charge of defending L’Aquila with 400 cavalry and 700 infantry. Receives the post of governor. Reinforces the city’s defenses by building additional bastions, especially at Porta Lavareta.
Feb.				Abruzzi	Abandons L’Aquila with Sciarra Colonna at the approach of Pedro Navarro (Pietro Navarro).
Mar.	France	Empire		Puglia	Giovanni Caracciolo is in Molfetta to defend it with his company of men-at-arms, two battalions of Spanish infantry, and four of Italian infantry. He intercepts supplies intended for Lautrec’s camp. He is besieged in Molfetta by Pietro Navarro and the Venetian infantry under Camillo Orsini (7000 men with five cannons). He repels two assaults preceded by heavy artillery fire. Lautrec brings five more artillery pieces, together with the Black Bands under Orazio Baglioni; the inhabitants begin to rebel, so the remaining defenders (1000 men) withdraw into the castle. The French and Venetians enter Molfetta and sack it. During the siege, 3000 imperial infantry—mostly Italians—are killed, some in the city, some in the fortress. Giovanni Caracciolo is captured on the walls while fighting with drawn sword; he surrenders unconditionally (along with his wife and children) to Vieilleville, who hands him over to Lautrec. Ugo di Moncada refuses to pay his ransom; angered, he goes over to French service. He is entrusted with the command of a company of lances and receives the collar of the Order of Saint Michael. The imperials confiscate his property. His squad leaders include Ettore d’Assia, Carlo Seripassa, il Quaranta, Federico Morone, Camillo di Monte, Luigi Bonaventura, and Agosto da Gaeta.
May				Lazio	Together with Federico Gaetani, he occupies Fondi. Federico di Monforte advances from San Germano (Cassino) with numerous infantry; the place is soon retaken by the enemy without difficulty.
June				Lazio	Takes part in the siege of Gaeta. Lautrec sends him six Venetian galleys; another two remain at the mouth of the Garigliano.
Aug.				Lazio – Campania – Abruzzi	Is forced to leave the siege of Gaeta because of the arrival of a fleet led by Andrea Doria with twelve galleys. Departs the territory of Fondi with his company of men-at-arms; joins Renzo di Ceri and Napoleone Orsini to enter Capua. In those same days, the Marquis of Saluzzo surrenders at Aversa. Giovanni Caracciolo, with Ceri and Orsini, moves into Abruzzi.
Sept.				Abruzzi	From L’Aquila, incites all Neapolitan nobles to rise; advances on Montereale and Tagliacozzo with 5000 infantry and 500 cavalry.
Oct.				Umbria – Marche – Puglia	Attempts, with Renzo di Ceri (1000 infantry), an operation between Nocera Umbra and Gualdo Tadino; many soldiers leave his ranks, as the pope has since reconciled with the imperials. Reaches the Marche; in mid-month sails from Senigallia with Ceri and Federico Gaetani. Disembarks in Barletta; continues the war in Puglia from there.
Nov.–Dec.				Puglia	Takes part in the defense of Barletta. In December, his squad leaders include Hecstorre d’Assia, Carlo Seripana, il Quaranta, Federico Morone, Camillo di Mons, Luigi Bonaventura, and Aosto da Gaeta.
1529
Jan.				Puglia	Together with Giovan Corrado Orsini, captures the captain Girolamo da Cremona, suspected of planning to hand over a gate of Barletta to Alfonso d’Avalos. An emissary of the Marquis of Vasto proposes a marriage linking the Caracciolo and d’Avalos families, the grace of Charles V (Carlo V), and the restoration of his seized property. Giovanni Caracciolo informs Renzo di Ceri; the latter has the envoy tortured to discover the imperials’ real intentions. Together with him in Barletta’s defense are Ceri, Federico Carafa, Simone Tebaldi, Giovan Corrado Orsini, and Prince Antonio Carafa of Stigliano.
Feb.				Puglia	Sends 200 infantry to Giovinazzo to capture the place by arrangement; this is discovered, and his men are forced to retreat.
Apr.				Puglia	Is sent by Renzo di Ceri with 600 infantry (140 from his own company) to assist Monopoli, besieged by Alfonso d’Avalos with 4000 Spanish infantry and 2000 Italians supported by 12 artillery pieces. He enters the city, brings in ample wheat, and unites with Camillo Orsini and the Venetian proveditor general Giovanni Vitturi. An intense artillery bombardment (366 shots) precedes the imperials’ general assault: the defenders use mattresses to shore up the damaged sections. The attackers are pushed back, leaving 300 Spanish infantry and many others of various nationalities on the field. The Venetians, in turn, storm two trenches and kill another 100 infantry. Upon learning that Fernando Alarcon has arrived at Quarrata, near Barletta, with many Spanish infantry, Giovanni Caracciolo joins Simone Tebaldi and Federico Carafa to attack that location. The fight lasts three hours; after that, the three captains decide to desist.
May				Puglia	Returns to Monopoli’s defense. The imperials start constructing a new trench near the old gate; the defenders, supported by 400 sappers, dig another trench to stop the attackers from reaching the moat. Eventually, the enemy breaks camp and withdraws toward Conversano. At the end of the siege, some soldiers—short of food and with chronically delayed wages (especially the French)—sack two shops: Giovanni Caracciolo intervenes and hangs two infantrymen. Along with Camillo Orsini, he gathers all the captains, and they resolve to send malcontents to Barletta and to allow anyone who wishes to leave the camp.
June				Puglia	Must again enforce discipline when Paolo Antonio da Ferrara and Cherubino da Spoleto mutiny over unpaid wages. Ordered to attack Molfetta (held by two infantry companies) and Giovinazzo, formerly his fiefs, he initially refuses so as not to be involved in sacking the place. With Giovan Corrado Orsini, he soothes some Corsican infantry companies threatening to mutiny.
July				Puglia	Attacks Molfetta from the sea with the help of the Venetian fleet commanded by Piero Lando and by proveditor Giovanni Moro, while Carafa and Tebaldi act by land. Trenches are dug around the city to block any exit or entry. When his demands for surrender go unanswered, he readies himself for the assault on the walls. Carafa leads the first attack; Giovanni Caracciolo and Simone Tebaldi support him from behind with arquebusiers. Meanwhile, the Venetian fleet batters the city from the sea. Caracciolo’s artillery bombards the walls from trench emplacements. French forces burst into Molfetta; Carafa is killed by a falling stone after removing his helmet to cope with the heat. Because of this death, the city is put to the sword, and 400 defenders are slain. Soldiers seize booty valued at roughly 200000 ducats.
Aug.				Puglia	Giovinazzo surrenders. The French name Giovanni Caracciolo governor of that city and of Molfetta. He is then attacked by enemy troops at Molfetta.
Nov.				Puglia – Veneto	At the war’s end, Charles V (Carlo V) deprives him of his assets. Giovanni Caracciolo leaves Puglia with his family and goes to Venice with Orsini. In the lagoon city, he lodges in San Simeone and is received by the Collegio dei Pregadi, which gives him a gift worth 250 ducats.
Dec.
1530
… … … … … …	Florence	Church – Empire		Tuscany – France	After the collapse of the Florentine Republic, he withdraws to France.
July				France	Stays in Angouleme.
Oct.				Belgium	Appears in Antwerp.
1531
Mar.				France	Lives in Paris with two sons; attends the coronation of Queen Eleonora at the church of Saint-Denis. Francis I (Francesco I) grants him an annual pension of 10000 livres tournois, later raised to 15000 by Henry II (Enrico II), to compensate for the loss of goods in the Kingdom of Naples. He is assigned as fiefs Romorantin, Chateauneuf-sur-Loire, Vitry-aux-Loges, the marquisate of Berre, Nogent, Brie-Comte-Robert, and Martigues. Of his confiscated assets, the principality of Melfi is granted to Andrea Doria, while the duchy of Ascoli Satriano goes to Antonio di Leyva.
1536
Mar.	France	Empire	50 lances	Piedmont	Challenges Antonio di Leyva, a friend of his, to leave Piedmont and attack the French in Provence.
June				France	Heads toward Avignon; with Stefano Colonna, the Poton-Rossin, and the Buonavalle, holds back imperial forces that aim for Provence. Is made governor of Arles.
Aug.				France	Remains in Arles with Stefano Colonna for its defense. Both serve as royal lieutenants. Begins constructing additional fortifications in the town; lieutenant general Annes de Montmorency arrives and sends the Buonavalle to the two Italian captains with new directives. Overlapping orders confuse the inhabitants, who eventually follow the Buonavalle’s instructions. Giovanni Caracciolo accepts this; Stefano Colonna, feeling slighted, chooses to return to Italy.
… … … … … …				France	Giovanni Caracciolo repels the first assaults on Arles launched by Alfonso d’Avalos. While he is in Avignon one day, a brawl erupts between an Italian soldier and a French one. This escalates into open fighting between infantry on both sides, leading to 60–80 fatalities. Outnumbered Italians retreat to Stefano Colonna’s nearby camp. Arquebusiers and an artillery piece threaten the camp. The French captain François d’Anglure loses control of his men; only intervention by the Buonavalle barely quells matters. D’Anglure is pardoned on condition he find the ringleaders. After failing to save them, he imprisons two men from his own troops. Five hundred Gascon infantry then free those two. The entire Gascon regiment is transferred; some pass through the Crau gate, others through the Tarascona gate along with d’Anglure, where all the men-at-arms, 2000 infantry, and 300–400 armed townspeople of Arles are stationed. The Gascon commander must surrender the two culprits and other soldiers, who are executed in front of the assembled troops; finally, at Giovanni Caracciolo’s insistence, d’Anglure too is penalized by expulsion from the army with all his men.
… … … … … …				France	Appears in Lyon, where he witnesses the trial of his friend Count Sebastiano Montecuccoli, accused of poisoning the French dauphin at the instigation of Charles V (Carlo V).
1537
… … … … … …				France	Oversees reinforcement work on the walls of Hesdin.
Apr.				Romagna – Piedmont	Joins Giampaolo di Ceri in gathering troops in Romagna to engage the enemies of the French in Piedmont.
July				Piedmont – France	Francis I (Francesco I) plans to entrust Giovanni Caracciolo with a naval expedition against Naples using about a dozen galleys. The plan ultimately fails, and he returns to France.
Aug.				France	Acts against enemy forces in northern France.
Sept.				France – Greece	Boards ship at Marseille with the Saint-Blancard; by late month he is near Patras, ready to join the Turkish fleet commanded by Barbarossa in an assault on the Kingdom of Naples.
Oct.				Greece	The season is too far advanced, so the mission is canceled.
1538
May				Piedmont	Stationed at the Frejus pass.
1539
June				France	Present in Paris for the funeral rites of the wife of Charles V (Carlo V).
1541
Aug.	France	Empire		France	In Arles with 2000 infantry and 200 lances to defend southern France from the imperials.
1542				France	Takes part in capturing Ivoix, Damvilliers, and Montmédy. On this occasion, the engineer Antonio Melloni of Cremona stands out at his side.
1543
Mar.				France	Ordered to join the Duke of Vendôme and the French-Turkish fleet to combat the enemy in the Mediterranean; the operation is postponed, so Giovanni Caracciolo is assigned to eastern France.
Aug.				France	Prevents an attack by the Count of Rieux on Landrecy by fortifying the town. By the end of the month, moves to Guise with 1000 German infantry and some legionaries and cavalry.
Sept.				Luxembourg	Slips out of Landrecy at night, once it becomes indefensible, without the imperials realizing it. Proceeds to the siege of Luxembourg.
Oct.–Dec.			Luogotenente generale	Luxembourg – France	Lack of provisions in the camp prompts a mutiny by both the landsknechts and the legionaries. The latter abandon their quarters; Giovanni Caracciolo withdraws first to Eraney, near Jamets, then goes to assist the inhabitants of Arlon. Finally, he is ordered to face the enemy near Landrecy. In December, Francis I (Francesco I) appoints him lieutenant general of the forces in Luxembourg; he advances with Brissac and 400 men-at-arms to relieve Luxembourg besieged by landsknechts under Wilhelm von Fürstenberg. Despite the freezing cold, he marches on Crency, turns toward Mont Saint-Jean, and takes the enemy from a more favorable angle. Fürstenberg is forced to retreat into Germany. Giovanni Caracciolo also pulls back to Stenay. His troops suffer from a shortage of food. He succeeds in pacifying the landsknechts, but not the soldiers from Champagne and Normandy, who desert en masse. Out of an initial 10000, only 300 remain.
1544
June				France	Placed in command of Troyes with 5000 men. Makes full use of his experience to set up strong defenses. The imperials advance on Champagne and threaten Paris.
Dec.			100 lances	France	In mid-month, Francis I (Francesco I) names him Marshal of France. His company can thus expand from 50 to 100 lances.
1545
Winter				France	With 5000 men from Dauphiné and Provence, restores order in Périgueux, where unrest caused by resistance to the gabelle has broken out. Acts with authority and leniency according to his disposition. Also enforces discipline among the troops through strict rules providing for the hanging of soldiers caught stealing, looting in occupied territories, or not paying merchants for needed goods or forage.
June				France	Moves to Le Havre. Has the mission of reorganizing the infantry.
Sept.	France	England		France	Together with Admiral Annebault, Maugeron, and Langey, battles the English near Boulogne. Inspects the city’s defenses.
Oct.				France	Francis I (Francesco I) appoints him governor and lieutenant in Piedmont. Departure to Turin is delayed by illness, apparently caused by the suspicion some of the king’s advisers harbor toward his loyalty.
1546
… … … … … …				France	Examines enemy fortifications at Neuf-Chastel; establishes the French camp at Mont Lambert. Engages in several skirmishes. On behalf of the king, presses Gian Luigi Fieschi not to act against Genoa to Andrea Doria’s detriment. Fieschi ignores the plea and is killed in his attempt in January of the following year.
1547
Jan.				Piedmont	Arrives in Rivoli with 100 men-at-arms, nearly all nobles from the Kingdom of Naples; then transfers to Mondovì with these forces to support Gian Luigi Fieschi’s plans in Genoa against Doria. The plan fails due to Fieschi’s untimely death: Giovanni Caracciolo is accused by Ferrante Gonzaga of taking part in the conspiracy.
Mar.				France – Piedmont	In Savoy, instructs Giovanni Pietro da Torno to devise plans for new fortifications, such as the Castle of Saint-Jacques in the Tarentaise, and for reinforcing the fortresses of Montmélian, Exilles, and Briançon with updated bastions. Meanwhile, in Piedmont, focuses on the Castle of Carmagnola and on fortifying Villanova d’Asti, Moncalieri, Savigliano, Chieri, and Cherasco, collaborating with engineer Mauro da Novate.
Oct.			Luogotenente generale	Piedmont	Confirmed in his position by Henry II (Enrico II); in Italy, commands all forces opposing the enemy. Imposes strict discipline, preventing his troops from plundering the territories where they operate.
1548
Feb.				Piedmont	Has 12 to 15 governors of cities under his authority, 20 to 30 captains of men-at-arms, an equal number of light-cavalry captains, and more than 200 captains of French, Italian, German, and Swiss infantry. At the end of the month, along with Piero Strozzi and the Termes, is tasked with arresting the Marquis Francesco di Saluzzo, considered too close to the imperial side. Attacks him suddenly at Revello, takes him prisoner, and occupies the entire marquisate. Opponents at court report he asked the marquis’s pardon for being compelled to act, thus renewing suspicions in Paris regarding his loyalty. The inquiry, assigned to Antonio Caracciolo, clears him of all allegations.
Aug.				Piedmont	Welcomes the King of France in Veglio, in the Vercelli area. That same year, around March, together with Piero Strozzi, arrests Bishop Gabriele di Saluzzo of Aire (brother of the Marquis Giovanni Ludovico) and imprisons him in the Castle of Pinerolo, since the marquis has abandoned the French cause for the imperial.
1549
Oct.				Piedmont	Receives Anna of Austria when she travels to France to join her husband Francesco di Lorena. Cardinals of Guise and du Bellay request that Giovanni Caracciolo replace Piero Strozzi in any future expedition against Genoa.
1550
Mar.–July				Piedmont	Becomes seriously ill. Anna di Poitiers, the king’s favorite, advises him to move back to France. In July, Antonio Caracciolo informs the king that Giovanni wishes to be replaced and plans to retire with his family to Romorantin. Giovanni Caracciolo departs for France. Through Anna di Poitiers’s intervention, his post is assigned to the Lord of Brissac, grand master of artillery.
Aug.				Piedmont	Stops in Susa to meet his successor; dies in that town immediately after seeing Brissac. He is buried in Turin at the church of San Domenico, in the Chapel of the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary. Giovanni Caracciolo belonged to the Accademia Pontaniana. The Duke of Atri, Andrea Matteo Acquaviva, dedicates to him his translation of Plutarch’s “De virtute morali.”

Sources

-“Uomo di chiaro valore.” VARCHI

-“Essendo stato huomo di alto governo, e giuditio, giusto e severo anchora per pace e guerra.” BUGATI

-“Cavaliere di presta risoluzione e molto ardente nelle faccende.” SANTORO

-“Huomo di gran giustitia et governo, ma austero et rigoroso.” CAMBIANO

-“Ce fut(la sua morte) un gran dommage pour la France à cause de sa singulière prudence, bonté et experience qui étaient en lui, ayant accompagné tous ses faits et toutes ses actions, tant civiles que militaires, d’autres recomandable dévotion et fidélité avec cette Couronne, oeuvres légérement recompensées toutefois sur la perte de ses biens et état, selon l’ordinaire de la France, qui ne fait mise ne recepte des personnages de valeur” Dalle memorie di B. Du Villars riportate da M. D’AYALA

-“Le prince de Melphes près Guyse/ Accompaigné du seigneur de Brissac,/ Bien quatre cens hommes de mise/ Ils ont occis et mis a sac.” Recueil de Poèsies françoises. MONTAIGNON

-Con Stefano Colonna “Tous deux chevaliers de l’ordre.” DU BELLAY

-“Cavaliero di molto valore.” OROLOGI

-“Huomo valoroso e saggio.” ROSEO

-“Il Caracciolo si era fatto stimare alla corte di Francia da coloro che erano più sensibili alle qualità intellettuali e morali, conquistando così l’amicizia della regina Margherita di Navarra..I suoi tratti ci sono stati tramandati da A. Minnucci (1549), egli era un “uomo di grata e venerabile presenza, di buona statura, di pelo tutto bianco”, e così ci appare in due disegni della scuola di Clouet che ci sono rimasti, mentre sembra sia andato perduto il ritratto che Brantome vide presso un discendente del principe.” SCHEURER

-“Un des grands capitaines..(Riorganizza e dà una disciplina alla fanteria)..Il y mit donc si bon ordre et una discipline si rigoureuse, que, puis amprès, la milice de par delà ressembloit mieux un’escolle bien refformée de sages escolliers que de soldats.” BRANTOME

-“Capitano vecchio di molto valore.” LAZARI

-“Andrea Minucci, envoyé de Venise auprès du roi de France, voit notamment en Giovanni Caracciolo tous les atours d’un vénérable chef de guerre par son age, si bonne stature, mais surtout ses occupations faites aux yeux de tous. Il inspecte les travaux de fortifications. Il passe ses hommes en revue.” GUINAND

-Iscrizione funebre nella chiesa di San Domenico a Torino “Joanni Caracciolo Melpharum principi et duci Asculi/ Hic super coetera pacis et militiae decora quae tum charitate./ Natal: D. Francisci et Henrici Christianiss. Fran. regum/ Perpetua gratia virtutem merito eidem ampliss. obneverant/ Dux equitum eques et marescallus Franciae….dedicaverunt.”