The Struggles of Giovanni Di Clermont (Giovanni di Chiaromonte) in 14th-Century Sicily.
Giovanni di Clermont (Giovanni di Chiaromonte). Count of Modica, Giovanni was the lord of both Modica and Ragusa.
Death: 1342
| Year, Month | State, Company | Opponent | Conduct | Activity Area | Actions Taken and Other Salient Facts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1298 | Sicily | Naples | |||
| ………… | Sicily | Fights for King Frederick of Aragon of Trinacria (Sicily) against James of Aragon, ally of the King of Naples. | |||
| Oct. | Sicily | Besieged in Syracuse; suppresses a plot organized by some priests to hand over the city to the apostolic legate present in the enemy camp. | |||
| 1325 | Sicily | Naples | Sicily | Defends Palermo with 600 cavalry, alongside Grand Chancellor Pietro d’Antiochia, Blasco d’Alagona, and Simone Valguarnera. Declares enmity towards his brother-in-law Francesco, Count of Ventimiglia, after he repudiates his wife Costanza, Giovanni’s sister, and is forced to leave Sicily. | |
| 1326 | |||||
| July | Naples | Lucca | Tuscany | Supports Duke Charles of Calabria against the lord of Lucca, Castruccio Castracani. Returns to Sicily and recaptures Trapani for the Angevins. | |
| ………… | Sicily | Naples | Part of an embassy sent to Emperor Louis IV of Bavaria to propose an alliance between the King of Trinacria and the imperial forces against the Angevins. | ||
| Oct. | Empire | Naples | Tuscany | Reported in Pisa. | |
| Nov. | Tuscany | In Lucca, on the occasion of Castruccio Castracani’s appointment as Duke. | |||
| 1328 | |||||
| Jan. | Lazio and Tuscany | In Rome, attends the ceremony where Louis IV of Bavaria is crowned Emperor by the people’s captain Sciarra Colonna; also attends the event where the lord of Lucca, Castruccio Castracani, is appointed Count Palatine at the Lateran Palace. Giovanni is awarded the counties of Marsico and Tricarico in place of the deceased Thomas of San Severino, considered a rebel. | |||
| Feb. | Tuscany | Leaves Rome with 800 cavalry. Moves to Pisa to support Castracani in seizing the city. In Grosseto. | |||
| ………… | Marche | Emperor Louis IV of Bavaria appoints him his vicar in Romagna. The antipope Nicholas V appoints him Marquis of the Marca. | |||
| May | Empire | Rimini | Romagna | With Parcitadino Parcitadi and Guido Malatesta, he attacks Rimini; loots the village of San Genesio, plundering the surrounding countryside and damaging the district up to Meldola. | |
| Sept. | Empire | Church, Guelphs | Romagna | Leaves Forlì at night with Cecco Ordelaffi and Ostasio da Polenta; with 800 cavalry and 8000 infantry, he occupies Cesenatico (defended by only 10 men) and the tower protecting the port. After a week of work, sappers demolish the fortress after mining it. | |
| Oct.-Nov. | Romagna and Marche | The emperor informs Fermo and Mercenario da Monteverde of his intention to send Giovanni di Clermont to the Marca as imperial vicar and vicar of the antipope Nicholas V for Marche and Romagna. He convenes a general parliament in Osimo, attended by all the communes rebelling against the Papal State: Fermo, Sant’Elpidio a Mare, Jesi, Serra San Quirico, Serra de’ Conti, Montegranaro, Urbino, Montalboddo (Ostra), Fabriano, Matelica, Barbara, Rocca Contrada (Arcevia), and Osimo. | |||
| 1329 | |||||
| Jan.-Feb. | Marche | Invades the March of Ancona to fight cities loyal to Pope John XXII. In February, he attempts to capture Montolmo (Corridonia) and threatens Macerata. Marches north from Fermo, capturing strategic points like Castelfidardo and Sant’Elpidio a Mare. | |||
| Mar.-May | Marche | Takes Jesi by surprise, captures Tano da Jesi, and has him executed. Threatens other territories, including Corinaldo. Establishes himself between Osimo and Fabriano, from where he conducts numerous raids, even into Umbria. Takes up residence in Fabriano. | |||
| June | Marche | Presides over a meeting of Ghibellines from the March of Ancona in Osimo. The occasion serves mainly to urge allies to meet the emperor’s continuous demands for money to support his cause in Italy. | |||
| July | Marche | Retreats to Matelica, where he is defeated by the Guelph forces. However, the Papal forces fail to penetrate the city. | |||
| Sept. | Marche | Elected governor of Fermo. Later that month, a peace treaty is signed between the parties. | |||
| 1330 | |||||
| Jan. | Excommunicated and stripped of his privileges in Sicily. Summoned to appear before the Avignonese court to atone for his errors, he disregards repeated papal summons. | ||||
| 1331 | |||||
| Feb. | Veneto | Finds refuge in Venice, despite popular pressure for his expulsion. | |||
| ………… | At the imperial court. | ||||
| ………… | Sicily | Returns to Sicily at the head of a strong contingent of German mercenaries, planning to take revenge on his brother-in-law Francesco Ventimiglia. King Peter of Aragon tries to reconcile the two nobles, fearing civil war, and entrusts the task to Giovanni’s uncle, also named Giovanni Chiaromonte. Giovanni di Clermont cannot hide his hatred; he directly attacks his brother-in-law’s palace, disperses the bodyguards, and wounds his relative on the head with a blow. The king strips him of his possessions. He fortifies himself with his supporters in his castles, ignoring summons to the royal court. He is declared a rebel and condemned to death; prepares for war. At the intervention of Queen Eleonora, he agrees to voluntary exile, handing over his possessions at the king’s discretion. | |||
| ………… | Spain and Germany | Reaches Catalonia, lands in Tuscany. From Venice, he reaches Emperor Louis IV of Bavaria to seek his protection. | |||
| ………… | Sent to Sicily by Louis IV of Bavaria to negotiate a marriage between his brother Stephen and Elizabeth of Aragon, daughter of King Frederick of Sicily. The Ventimiglia family vehemently opposes his arrival, preventing him from disembarking on the island. | ||||
| 1334 | Verona | Veneto | In the service of the lord of Verona, Mastino della Scala. | ||
| 1335 | |||||
| ………… | Empire | Lombardy | Louis IV of Bavaria sends him to Mantua on a secret mission to the Gonzaga family. | ||
| ………… | Naples | Sicily | Gen. Captain | Campania | King Robert of Naples appoints him captain general and his vicar for all of Sicily. |
| June-Aug. | Campania and Sicily | Sails from Naples with the Count of Corigliano on a fleet of 60 galleys, plus many transport ships carrying 1000 cavalry. Disembarks, seizes the fortress of Brucato, plunders the countryside around Termini Imerese, devastates the territory of Mazara del Vallo, staying close to the coast to receive necessary supplies from the fleet. Repulsed from Gela, he turns to Agrigento, Mazara del Vallo, and Trapani, damaging crops, vineyards, and stealing livestock. Reaches near Palermo. His island supporters fail to incite a rebellion as expected. Furthermore, the Aragonese and Sicilian fleets, led by Raimondo Peralta, intervene. Despite their numerical superiority, the Angevins prefer to retreat and sail back to Naples. Giovanni di Clermont leaves the Neapolitan court, goes to Germany to Louis IV of Bavaria, and returns to the service of Mastino della Scala, the lord of Verona. | |||
| 1336 | |||||
| ………… | Verona | Venice | Veneto | Commands the Scaligeri mercenaries. | |
| July | Veneto | With Palmerio da Sesso, tasked with recapturing Oderzo, taken by surprise by Gerardo and Rizzardo da Camino. Leaves Treviso, crosses the Piave, and approaches the castle. Soon joined by Alberto della Scala, Marsilio and Ubertino da Carrara, Guecellone Tempesta (1600 cavalry and 6000 infantry). A general assault ends with heavy losses among the Scaligeri. Noting a strong wind blowing towards the area, he orders the mills and houses near the walls to be set on fire, hoping the smoke and fire will force the defenders to surrender. Gerardo da Camino leaves Oderzo with many cavalry to try to extinguish the fires. Overwhelmed by the number of opponents, the enemy captain tries to re-enter Oderzo; Giovanni di Clermont takes advantage and storms the city, capturing the enemy captain. | |||
| 1338 | |||||
| ………… | Veneto | With Bernardo Scannacci, sent by Mastino della Scala to the emperor to seek his protection against the anti-Scaliger League. | |||
| July | Sicily | Recalled to Sicily by King Peter of Aragon following the rebellion of Francesco Ventimiglia and Federico d’Antiochia, who have turned to the Angevins. | |||
| ………… | Sicily | Restored to the counties of Modica and Ragusa. | |||
| 1339 | |||||
| …………. | Sicily | Naples | Sicily | With Orlando d’Aragona, takes Collosano and Gratteri from opponents; attacks 7 Neapolitan galleys unloading supplies for the army in Brucato. Takes the villages, besieges the center, and obtains its surrender on terms: the defenders return to Naples aboard two Genoese galleys chartered by the King of Trinacria. Giovanni embarks on the Sicilian fleet with Orlando d’Aragona. | |
| June | Sicily | Naples | Sicily | He commands the Sicilian fleet, which is strong with 8 galleys, 7 ships, and 40 other vessels. He seizes Collosano and Gratteri from his adversaries. He attacks at Brucato, where 7 Neapolitan galleys are landing supplies for the army. He captures the boroughs and besieges the center, ultimately securing its surrender under terms: the defenders return to Naples aboard 2 Genoese galleys chartered by the King of Trinacria. Giovanni di Clermont embarks on the Sicilian fleet with Orlando d’Aragona, the natural brother of King Peter. | |
| Nov. | Sicily | In the middle of the month, with the support of the inhabitants of Messina and the fleet, he sets sail for Lipari, which has been taken by Neapolitan troops besieging the local castle. The enemy admiral, Goffredo di Marzano, Count of Squillace, maneuvers to trap the Sicilians. He withdraws his troops from the castle walls and moves his fleet (18 galleys, 7 ships, and a cog) into a cove hidden from the other side of the island. He waits as the Sicilians resupply the castle with troops and provisions. The following morning, the Sicilian ships set out to sea, only to be attacked by Goffredo di Marzano’s fleet. Giovanni di Clermont unsuccessfully tries to dissuade Orlando d’Aragona from engaging in battle. The surprise and numerical superiority lead to a victory for the adversaries. Among the Sicilians, many are killed or wounded, and numerous prisoners are taken, including Giovanni di Clermont and Orlando d’Aragona. The leader is initially transferred to the flagship and then to Naples. Triumphant, Marzano sets sail for Naples. Near the island of Ischia, he is caught by a storm that drives his ships as far as Corsica. Four galleys are shipwrecked. Many prisoners manage to reach the shore and escape. | |||
| ………… | He manages to secure his freedom by paying the ransom that was imposed on him. To meet this obligation, he is forced to sell and pledge the County of Modica, as well as Ragusa, Scicli, and Chiaromonte Gulfi (Chiesa di Gulfi), to his cousin Enrico for 10,000 florins. | ||||
| 1341 | |||||
| June | Campania | In Naples. Attends the signing of a league formed by some Italian states against Louis IV of Bavaria. The act is signed in the royal chapel of Castelnuovo. | |||
| 1342 | Dies. |
Sources
-“Primariae in ea insula (Sicilia) nobilitatis hominem.” CHIAROMONTI
-“Vir strenuus.” SPECIALE
-“Uomo abituato a tutte le fatiche della guerra.” WALTER
-“Il conte Chiaramonte capitano/ De’ Ghibellin, per trattato condotto,/ Prese la città d’Iegi, dove Tano/ Era signore, ed ebbolo a pregione,/ E tagliargli la testa a mano, a mano.” PUCCI
Featured image: wikimedia
