Giovanni Tedesco da Pietramala From Battlefields to Siena’s Cathedral
Giovanni Tedesco da Pietramala (Giovan Marco di Pietramala Tarlati) of Arezzo. Known as Tedesco for having killed a German soldier in hand-to-hand combat. Lord of Narni and Castiglione del Lago. Son of Tarlatino Tarlati and nephew of Pier Saccone Tarlati.
| Year, Month | State, Comp. ventura | Opponent | Command | Area of Activity | Actions Undertaken and Other Salient Facts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1381 | City of Castello | Perugia | Umbria | With Bartolomeo da Pietramala, Federico di Vallelonga, Pietro di Cambio (di Fabriano) and Giovanni di Besso (di Firenze) opposes the Perugians and the troops of Antonio da Montefeltro (Count of Urbino). Serves under Guido and Giovanni del Monte at Santa Maria. | |
| 1382 | |||||
| ………… | Pietramala | Naples | Tuscany | In conflict with the Guelphs of Arezzo, Chiassa is taken from him. Forced to surrender under terms, he returns to the Castle of Pietramala. | |
| ………… | Church | Serves in the company of Richard Ramsey. | |||
| 1383 | |||||
| Apr. | Tuscany | He storms into Arezzo. His action is condemned by the Florentines. | |||
| Nov. | Comp. ventura | Città di Castello | Umbria | With Richard Ramsey, he pillages for about twenty days the territory of Città di Castello at the head of 600 horse and 3000 foot. His base of operations is Selci and Lama. | |
| 1385 | Pietramala | Florence | Tuscany | He fights the Florentines with Bartolomeo da Pietramala. At the end of the conflict, the bans against him are removed and his previously confiscated assets are returned. | |
| 1386 | |||||
| Sept. | Urbino | Florence | 1000 horse | Romagna and Marche | He assists Giovanni degli Ubaldini and Giovanni Acuto in opposing the Florentines in support of Antonio da Montefeltro. |
| Dec. | Padua | Verona | 1000 horse | Romagna | He meets Giovanni degli Ubaldini at Faenza. He then enters the service of the Carraresi against the Scaligeri. |
| 1387 | |||||
| Jan. | Veneto | At Montagnana and Padua. He is welcomed into the city by Francesco da Carrara. | |||
| Feb. | Veneto | He takes part with other captains such as Giovanni Acuto, Giovanni degli Ubaldini, and Ceccolo Broglia in a war council at Cerea. He faces the troops of Antonio della Scala, lord of Verona. | |||
| Mar. | Veneto | He participates in a new war council at Castelbaldo. In that battle, under Acuto, he commands the second squadron of 1000 horse with Ubaldini, Filippo da Pisa, and Borso Gambara. | |||
| 1388 | |||||
| Apr. | Fermo | Church | Captain of war | Marche | He repeatedly clashes successfully with Boldrino da Panicale. |
| Sept. Oct. | Marche | Through his efforts, Boldrino da Panicale and the municipality of Fermo reconcile. In October, he is reported moving in the region with Milano d’Asti. | |||
| 1389 | |||||
| Mar. | Fermo | Ascoli Piceno | Marche | He reaches Monteprandone with Ceccolo Broglia and Brandolino Brandolini; together they wage a fierce war against Ascoli Piceno. | |
| May | Fermo | Church | Marche | He confronts papal forces with Fuzzolino Tedesco, Guidazzo Retti, and Meo d’Arezzo (a total of over 500 horse). In many small clashes, the opponents always fare worse. By the end, it is estimated that more than 100 combatants have fallen. | |
| July Sept. | Fermo Siena | Church | Marche | Again engaged, with Broglia and Brandolini, to face Boldrino da Panicale and Corrado Lando. A new conflict begins but soon ends with a two-month truce through the cardinal legate’s intervention. He camps at Porchia and Mortule until the contract expires. Then he enters the service of the Sienese. | |
| …………. | Varano | Camerino | Marche | He harasses the territory of Amandola on behalf of Gentile da Varano, who is at odds with his relatives. | |
| Sept. | Milan | Florence | 100 lances | Tuscany | He opposes the Florentines in the Sienese territory. |
| 1390 | |||||
| Jan. | Comp. ventura | Camerino | Marche | Released by Gentile da Varano following a truce, he again damages the territory of Amandola. He encamps near Jesi; Pandolfo Malatesta promptly strengthens Mondolfo and Corinaldo. | |
| Feb. | Umbria | He is reported at Perugia with Rinaldo Orsini. | |||
| Apr. | Milan | Florence | Tuscany | Together with Giovanni degli Ubaldini in the Sienese territory against the Florentines. | |
| May | Tuscany | He leaves Siena with 300 lances and 1000 foot and, with the connivance of the inhabitants, lies in wait by night near Lucignano. Many exiles enter the city and seize the tower by the gate, where Sienese banners are raised. At the signal, Giovanni Tedesco da Pietramala emerges from hiding, sets the gate on fire, and enters the castle over the rooftops without resistance. The Florentine vicar Michele dei Medici and the podestà Arrigo Mazzinghi are captured. | |||
| June | Tuscany | He halts with Giovanni degli Ubaldini under the walls of Arezzo. After the capture of the castle of San Giusto alle Monache, Ubaldini, having fallen ill, withdraws for a time to Siena, leaving Giovanni Tedesco da Pietramala in command. He enters the Val di Chiana, ambushes the Florentines at Monte San Savino, and captures several enemy captains—Giovanni Colonna, Filippo Guazzalotti, and Bartolomeo Boccanera—sending them to Siena. Still in the Aretino area, he secures Marciano by agreement, where Guazzalotti has just been released. Some traitors lock the gates behind him, throwing stones and bolts at the Florentines; Guazzalotti is captured again. Giovanni Tedesco da Pietramala immediately occupies the fortress. Once Ubaldini returns, they move beyond Monteluco and on to the Upper Valdarno in an attempt to secure San Giovanni Valdarno by treaty. The plot is discovered. Giovanni Tedesco da Pietramala remains in the Aretino, laying it to waste; he then advances into the Val d’Ambra and returns to the Sienese border. He acquires Battifolle and Civitella in Val di Chiana by agreement, prompting many Ghibelline-aligned castles to rise in revolt. | |||
| July Sept. | Tuscany | After Giovanni degli Ubaldini dies, he remains to defend Siena alongside Paolo Savelli, opposing the Florentines with mixed results. | |||
| Oct. | Tuscany | He quells a rebellion in Siena led by Donadeo Malavolti in favor of Florence: Malavolti is killed, and his followers are arrested and executed. Giovanni Tedesco da Pietramala is tasked with punishing the inhabitants of the Bruco district, many of whom are killed or otherwise penalized. | |||
| Nov. | Tuscany | He leaves the Perugia area with Ceccolo Broglia to ravage the lands of Orlando Malavolti, allied with the Florentines. | |||
| Dec. | Church | Lazio | He travels to Rome. | ||
| 1391 | |||||
| Jan. | Tuscany | He supports the Salimbeni in their attempt to establish in Siena the rule of the Visconti against the Guelph faction of the Malavolti and Tolomei. | |||
| 1392 | |||||
| Spring | Antipope | Church | Lazio | He joins the Breton Company and Anderlino Trotti. Crops in the Corbara area are destroyed to the detriment of Francesco da Montemarte. | |
| June | Comp. ventura | Montemarte | Tuscany and Umbria | He joins the Company of Saint George formed by Ceccolo Broglia, Brandolino Brandolini, Biordo dei Michelotti, Azzo da Castello, and Giovanni da Barbiano, totaling 4000 horse. He assaults Cetona, Fabro, Camposervoli, and then storms and sacks Benano. | |
| July | Comp. ventura | Perugia Florence Siena Pisa Lucca | Umbria and Tuscany | He devastates the countryside of Perugia and demands 100000 florins from Florence. The Florentines, supported by 600 horse and 4000 foot plus 400 horse from Bologna and Ferrara, opt to pay him 40000 florins. Further sums are imposed on Siena (7000 florins), Pisa (12000 florins), and Lucca (8000 florins). He then halts in the Perugia area. | |
| Aug. | Lazio | He is in Bolsena. He frees Peccia da Montalfina from prison, where he was held against the terms of an agreement. | |||
| Sept. | Perugia | Comp. ventura | Umbria | He rejoins the Company of Saint George and that of Corrado Lando, but internal discord causes them to separate. He is hired by Perugia. With Pietruccio da Montesperelli and Fabrizio da Perugia, he faces the company of Azzo da Castello near Nocera Umbra. | |
| Oct. | Church | Lazio and Umbria | He is tasked, with Anderlino Trotti (800 horse), to escort Pope Boniface IX from Rome to Perugia. | ||
| Dec. | Umbria | He buys the fortress of Castiglione del Lago from a man of Cardinal Pileo da Prata of Ravenna. Entering by night, he drives out all the inhabitants. | |||
| 1393 | |||||
| Feb. | Comp. ventura | Orvieto | Umbria | A move against Allerona with Ranuccio da Montemarte fails. | |
| June | Comp. ventura | Church | Umbria | He moves around Castiglione di Chiugi (Castiglione del Lago), facing papal forces led by Corrado Prospero, who likewise seek to seize the site. | |
| Aug. | Comp. ventura Montemarte | Perugia Orvieto | Umbria | He obtains Castiglione del Lago by treaty, while Azzo da Castello captures Sigillo from Perugia. Biordo dei Michelotti, through the mediation of Ugolino Casali of Cortona, convinces Giovanni Tedesco da Pietramala to withdraw for 14000 florins. While still near there, Pietramala is engaged by Ranuccio da Montemarte with 200 horse and 220 foot. He attempts to seize Allerona, controlled by those outwitted at Orvieto. | |
| Nov. | Montemarte | Orvieto | Umbria | He again aids the Montemarte against Orvieto and the da Parrano. Repelled once more from Allerona (which he attacks with 400 horse and 200 foot alongside Francesco and Rodolfo da Titignano and Ranuccio da Montemarte), he captures Fichino and Castel di Fiori (belonging to the counts of Marsciano), burning the latter. Other small villages are also occupied by surprise. | |
| Dec. | Umbria | He intervenes with Ranuccio da Marciano in support of Malatesta Malatesta, lord of Pesaro and Todi, against Biordo dei Michelotti, who is acting for the widow of Catalano degli Atti. | |||
| 1394 | |||||
| Jan. | Church Antipope | Perugia Church | Umbria | He is hired by Giannello Tomacelli, Duke of Spoleto and brother of Pope Boniface IX. Entering the territory of Perugia with Ceccolo Broglia and Brandolino Brandolini (1500 horse), he seizes Migliano, storms Montebiano after four hours, and takes Montelagello. Biordo dei Michelotti faces them with 500 horse and 200 foot, reinforcing the border castles without direct combat. Ultimately, because of their old friendship, Michelotti persuades them to leave Perugian lands with a payment of 5600 florins. Giovanni Tedesco da Pietramala remains in Umbria to support Malatesta Malatesta, who faces rebellions in Monte Castello di Vibio and Fratta del Vescovo (Fratta Todina). | |
| Mar. | Umbria | He enters Narni with help from local Ghibellines, besieging the fortress defended by papal captains Giovanni Colonna and Corrado Prospero. The opposition occupies part of the city and attacks his men; the papal forces sack the quarter they hold, so Narni’s inhabitants suffer depredations by both factions. | |||
| Apr. | Siena | Comp. ventura | Umbria and Tuscany | At Narni, he is joined by the Sienese, who promise him 2000 florins to confront the Breton Company besieging Musignano in the Chianti. He unites with the Sienese, attacks the opponents by surprise, and easily puts them to flight. More than 1000 men (mostly infantry) are captured among the mercenaries. | |
| May | Church | Perugia | Umbria | Again hired by the Duke of Spoleto Giannello Tomacelli to drive Biordo dei Michelotti out of Perugia, he ravages the area, reaching Ponte San Giovanni, Ponte Felcino, and the outskirts of Perugia; he takes Migliano, obtains Monte Vibiano Vecchio by agreement, and seizes Agello’s fortress after four hours of fighting. Biordo and Ceccolino dei Michelotti and Corrado Prospero, with 500 horse at Deruta, pursue him as far as Cerqueto. He halts at Migliano and accepts 4500 (or 10000, by some accounts) florins to withdraw with Broglia and Brandolini. | |
| 1395 | |||||
| Jan. | Antipope | Siena Church | Lazio | He moves to relieve the Breton Company besieged in Musignano by Sienese and papal troops. He strikes the enemy camp with 600 horse; the Sarto flees, and Fiasco da Roma is captured. The adversaries retreat to Canino. Giovanni Tedesco da Pietramala makes many prisoners, including 30 residents of Viterbo. He then returns to Montefiascone. | |
| Feb. | Umbria | He dies in Orvieto and is buried in Siena the same month. The clergy of the cathedral, carrying 100 lit tapers, along with a crowd of citizens, meets the coffin—covered in red cloth. His horse proceeds before the bier, ridden by a soldier in his armor and bearing his command baton. Around 300 friars and priests with lit candles attend; the rector of Santa Maria della Scala appears with 25 friars, followed by Sienese gentlemen and knights. The crowd accompanies the coffin to burial under the altar of San Sebastiano in the cathedral, where his banners, crest, sword, and spurs are placed on the tomb. There are festivities in Florence at the news of his death. The sepulcher also bears a wooden statue by Jacopo della Quercia depicting Giovanni Tedesco da Pietramala in armor on his mount. In 1404, this tomb is removed from the cathedral along with that of Giovanni degli Ubaldini. The wooden statue, placed above the main altar, is taken away in 1506 by Pandolfo Petrucci, lord of Siena. |
Sources
-Con Anderlino Trotti “Capitani all’hora di non picciola fama.” PELLINI
-“Divi belli egregius, magnique animi, et partium studio Florentinis hostis acerrimus.” BRACCIOLINI
-“Fu soldato di cuore, e andato al soldo della repubblica di Siena, dopo la perduta libertà della patria, fece vedere le solite maraviglie che solevano fare tutti i cavalieri di questo glorioso sangue di Pietramala.” GAMURRINI
-Con Giovanni degli Ubaldini “Ambo armis exercitati, et viri bello praestantes.” BUONINCONTRI
-“Acquistò un nome non inglorioso nei fasti della milizia italiana del secolo XV.” FRANCESCHINI
-In lotta con Arezzo e le truppe di Carlo di Durazzo “Fu combattuto senza alcuna posa/ da quella gente più che mezogiorno,/ poi per non perder sé e la sua Rosa (una sua concubina),/ s’arrendé salvo a caporai d’intorno/ co’ suoi compagni e lassò la tenuta;/ a Pietramala fece alhor ritorno.” B. DI GORELLO
-“A rising star in the mercenary profession.” CAFERRO
-Con Giovanni degli Ubaldini “Duces vero equitatus..Erant vero ambo praestantes belli viri amboque florentini populi inimici.” BRUNI
-“(Le sue) esequie..risultano tanto più significative in quanto destinate alla salma di un soldato che, in vita sua, non solo aveva mai combattuto per Siena, anzi, aveva comandato contingenti che avevano combattuto contro di essa.” BALESTRACCI
Featured image: Narni Turismo
