The Ambiguous Reputation of Napoleone Orsini in Italy and France
Napoleone Orsini. Abbot of Farfa (with an income of 16,000 scudi per year) and of San Salvatore di Scandriglia. Lord of Bracciano and Vicovaro. Son of Gian Giordano Orsini, nephew of Virginio Orsini, brother of Girolamo Orsini, brother-in-law of Renzo di Ceri, and son-in-law of Giulio Colonna.
Born: 1503 ca.
Death: 1534, February
| Year, Month | State, Comp. ventura | Opponent | Command | Area of Activity | Actions Undertaken and Other Salient Facts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| … | Lazio | Born from the first marriage of Gian Giordano Orsini with Maria Cecilia d’Aragona. | |||
| 1503 | Tuscany | At the age of eight or nine appointed apostolic protonotary. In 1503 protected by the Orsini of Pitigliano. His relatives refuse to give him as a hostage to the French when Gian Giordano Orsini has to cede Bracciano to Pope Alexander VI. | |||
| 1512/1523 | Lazio | In 1512 granted by Pope Julius II the abbeys of Farfa and San Salvatore di Scandriglia. Upon the death of his father (1517) not assigned any land in inheritance. Constant disputes with his stepmother Felice della Rovere, who imposes a division of the estate more favorable to his brother Girolamo (son of the second marriage). In 1521 further disputes with his stepmother as she attempts to have Antonio da San Severino elected cardinal in his place. In 1523 announces to relatives his intention to study in Padua to continue an ecclesiastical career. | |||
| 1526 | |||||
| Nov.–Dec. | Church | Colonna | Lazio | In early November receives in Farfa 2,000 infantry from Spoleto serving the papal side. Moves to the vicinity of Arsoli, recently taken by Lelio della Valle for the opponents. Together with Amico d’Arsoli advances on Collalto and Anticoli; the two captains threaten to plunder the Cane Morto valley. Joins at Orvinio with Giovanni Antonio Orsini. At the end of November still in Vicovaro with Amico d’Arsoli and Stefano Colonna. In December repels near Tivoli, at Vallebona, Ascanio Colonna, forcing him to withdraw to Paliano. | |
| 1527 | |||||
| Jan.–Feb. | Empire | Church | Lazio | Enters imperial pay, probably after the Colonna promise of marriage (although already married) to Isabella Colonna, daughter of Vespasiano, in exchange for delivering Vicovaro to Ascanio Colonna and the Viceroy of Naples Charles de Lannoy. The plot is uncovered by Count of Anguillara Virginio Orsini. In February captured at Bracciano, where he has gone under the pretext of meeting Louis of Lorraine (Vaudemont), and imprisoned in Castel Sant’Angelo. | |
| Mar. | Lazio | Attempts to escape from prison; freed in the same month under pressure from Renzo di Ceri and Cardinal Franciotto Orsini, with the commitment to pay 100,000 ducats, go into exile in Pisa, Florence, or Venice, and reach agreement with his stepmother on dividing the family estate. | |||
| Summer | Orsini | Colonna | Lazio | Called to Tivoli by Orsini supporters; enters the city and devastates Colonna property. The castellan is thrown into the Aniene waterfalls. | |
| Oct. | Orsini | Empire | Lazio | Defends Bracciano with Giampaolo di Ceri. Plunders a company of light cavalry commanded by Miranda. | |
| 1528 | |||||
| Feb. | Lazio and Abruzzi | With Amico d’Arsoli scatters and massacres near Rome the last groups of Landsknechts and Spaniards involved months earlier in the Sack of Rome. Attacks isolated soldiers, killing all found, healthy or wounded; then bursts into Rome, plunders Jewish homes, and seizes at Ripa port two Spanish ships loaded with goods, killing or drowning armed crew in the Tiber. In the same month clashes at Magliano Romano with Scipione Colonna, Bishop of Rieti; enters the contado of Tagliacozzo with partisans, killing Colonna and Spaniards. | |||
| Mar. | France | Empire | Lazio | Assists Lautrec in his campaign to conquer the Kingdom of Naples. | |
| Apr. | Church | Colonna | Lazio | After the death of Vespasiano Colonna in the previous month, the pope sends him to occupy the latter’s territories on behalf of heir Isabella Colonna, promised in marriage to Ippolito de’ Medici. The Colonna claim to be true heirs, especially Ascanio. Reported at Subiaco and near Paliano, where opposed by Sciarra Colonna. Plunders Tivoli. | |
| May–June | Umbria and Lazio | Initially in Spoleto, where he gathers 2,000 men. Part of his troops under Amico d’Arsoli seize Paliano castle; Sciarra and Prospero Colonna are captured, later freed by Luigi Rodomonte Gonzaga. Besieges Anticoli with infantry sent from Spoleto. Besieges Sciarra Colonna; the front reverses and he is besieged in Vicovaro by Gonzaga. In early June takes Roviano and Marano Equo from Ascanio Colonna. | |||
| Aug. | France | Empire | Lazio, Abruzzi, Campania | Moves to Abruzzi with Ceri to recruit troops for the French; near Magliano de’ Marsi defeats and kills Scipione Colonna, Bishop of Rieti; 400 imperial infantry killed, 800 captured. Regains territory near Lake Fucino. Recalled by Lautrec to the siege of Naples; reaches Capua with Ceri and Giovanni Caracciolo, Prince of Melfi. After the surrender at Aversa by the Marquis of Saluzzo, Capua refuses to open gates to the French, prompting his return to Abruzzi. | |
| Sept. | Abruzzi and Lazio | Leaves Montereale. Moves towards Bracciano to respond to threats from Sciarra Colonna. | |||
| Oct. | 200 light cavalry | Romagna, Marche, and Veneto | Granted by the French command of 1,000 infantry. Moves on Cervia with 200 light cavalry; attempts to join Saint-Pol in Piedmont. Withdraws to Montemarciano, embarks nearby, sails to Venice, then joins the French. In the same month Giulio and Camillo Colonna attack his lands, destroying several castles. | ||
| Nov. | Lombardy, Piedmont | At Marcaria and Rivarolo Mantovano; moves to Piedmont. With his company at Cereseto; heads to Serralunga d’Alba and the convent of Santa Maria di Crea, looting and pillaging, seizing the convent. Resistance from locals; Anna d’Alençon, Marchioness of Montferrat, receives him at Casale Monferrato and compels the return of goods and horses. Moves to Alessandria; with Saint-Pol‘s consent terrorizes Montferrat, burning Cereseto, Tilio, and Casorzo. | |||
| Dec. | Piedmont | Captured at Crescentino with his light cavalry by 2,000 infantry under Filippo Tornielli; freed through the intercession of the Marchioness of Montferrat. | |||
| 1529 | |||||
| Jan. | Abruzzi | In Abruzzi with Camillo Pardo Orsini. | |||
| Feb. | Romagna and Abruzzi | Reaches Ravenna; moves to the Aquila area to counter the imperial forces. King Francis I of France grants him command of 2,000 infantry. | |||
| June | Lazio | Returns to Bracciano. Colonna closely monitor his movements. | |||
| July | Florence | Church, Empire | Accepts Florentine command (200 light cavalry and 1,000 infantry) to defend Montepulciano from attacks by the Viceroy of Naples, Prince of Orange. | ||
| Aug.–Oct. | Lazio | Sent 3,000 florins; messenger robbed near Bracciano by papal captain Girolamo Mattei. Clement VII hangs many of his soldiers. Orsini harasses papal troops, captures an ambassador en route to Naples, and Cardinal Francesco Quiñones near Viterbo. Imprisons the prelate in Bracciano, demanding 3,000 florins taken earlier plus 7,000 more for old debts from the pope. Releases him after a few days on Cardinal Trivulzio’s promise of 3,000 florins. The pope sends a justice captain with 200 cavalry against him; Orsini captures, ransoms for 2,000 scudi, then hangs him. Attempts to intercept the Duke of Amalfi near Grosseto; the duke takes refuge in Corneto (Tarquinia) and is aided by 400 infantry and 30 cavalry from Siena. | |||
| Nov. | 200 light cavalry | Tuscany | Enters Montepulciano with 200 light cavalry and 200 arquebusiers; reaches Sansepolcro; tasked with preventing supplies to imperial troops from the Arezzo area. Stops at Monte Santa Maria upon hearing that Spanish and Italian infantry are besieging Monterchi; opposed by Alessandro Vitelli. Reinforced by Giovanni di Torino, Marzio Orsini, and Ottaviano Signorelli. Holds a secret meeting with the enemy captain. | ||
| Dec. | Tuscany | Ambushes Vitelli at Anghiari with 150 light cavalry and 700 infantry; routed with loss of 200 men, retreats to Sansepolcro. | |||
| 1530 | |||||
| Jan. | Tuscany and Lazio | Alessandro Vitelli takes Anghiari; Orsini reconciles with the pope and returns to Bracciano citing insufficient troops; induces other captains to follow suit. | |||
| May | Orsini | Church | Lazio | Accused of conspiracy by Pope Clement VII; declared a public enemy and rebel to the Papal States; deprived of the commendam of Farfa. Camps near Tivoli; resumes fighting papal forces. With Giulio Colonna and Giovanni Battista Conti takes Carpineto Romano, Gavignano, Torricelle, and other places. | |
| June | Lazio | Loses two castles, including Vicovaro. Retreats to Montefortino (Artena); Ascanio Colonna and Lorenzo Cybo attack Bracciano. Orsini leaves Lazio. | |||
| July | Veneto | Goes to Venice, lodging in the palace of the English ambassador. | |||
| 1531 | |||||
| Nov. | Orsini | Church | Lazio | By treaty obtains Vicovaro; pope sends 600 infantry against him. Forced to yield and hand over the fortress to Cardinal Ippolito de’ Medici. Reconciles with relatives; granted safe-conduct to stay in the Papal States. | |
| 1532 | Orsini | Church | Umbria and Lazio | Gathers many supporters between Narni and Spoleto; expels relatives from possessions, plunders surrounding territory, captures brother Girolamo, imprisons him in Vicovaro. Stepmother Felice della Rovere again seeks papal aid against him. | |
| Oct. | Lazio and Veneto | Besieged in Vicovaro by Luigi Rodomonte Gonzaga, who will be killed in battle in December. | |||
| 1533 | |||||
| Jan. | Lazio and Veneto | Confronted by Duke of Atri Giulio Acquaviva; agreement reached between brothers. Orsini withdraws to Venice. | |||
| May | Veneto and France | At Crema; soon forced to take refuge in France under the protection of King Francis I. | |||
| June | France | Meets Renzo di Ceri in Lyon. | |||
| 1534 | |||||
| Feb. | Lazio | Returns to Italy after King Francis I secures papal pardon for 25,000 scudi. Mid-month, his sister Giulia travels to Naples to marry Pietro Antonio da San Severino, Prince of Bisignano, against her will. Pursues and abducts her en route with accomplices. Brother Girolamo confronts him with horsemen on the road from Castel Gandolfo to Albano and kills him with sword blows before continuing to Naples. Mario Podiani writes verses in his honor. Marries Claudia Colonna, daughter of Giulio. |
Sources
-“Di nome tremendo nell’opere sue.” SANSOVINO
-“Cadde l’Orsino, e nel cader s’estinse/ Ogni gloria di Marte, e Roma pianse/ Poi che invitto visse, morte vinse.” Da un sonetto di autore incerto, riportato dal SANSOVINO
-“Persona inquietam altiera e molto dedita alla vendetta contro i nemici.” SANTORO
-“Giovane irrequieto e fiero…Fu una delle più vigorose tempre italiane di quell’età.” GREGOROVIUS
-“Uomo facinoroso, condottier d’armati, e famoso per le sue iniquità.” MURATORI
-“Uomo maravigliosamente leggiero e di poca fede.” VARCHI
-“Gran prove ho fatte sul regno toscano/ contra d’un imperier, d’un papa santo,/ e mai adosso me poser la mano./ Lasciamo star che me potria dar vinto/ che di mei antecessori il stato preso/ el raquistai sotto il francese manto./…/ Per gratia, viator, fermate il passo;/ mirate il corpo mio sepolto in terra,/ qual morte e crudeltà m’à posto al basso./ Son quel Napoleon, maestro di guerra,/ del sangue di Aragona el grand’Ursino,/ e fatto un nuovo Abel su questa terra/ per l’empia man del mio carnal cugino,/ onde si pensa, presto che m’à al fondo,/ riaver el stato qual già sta in declino.” Da un lamento per la sua morte riportato da MEDIN-FRATI
-“Mostrò sempre l’animo molto più all’arme che al sacerdozio.” GAMURRINI
-“Hombre poderoso y enemigo del papa.” SANDOVAL
-“Giovane provveduto più di temerità, che di prudenza.” FRANGIPANI
-“Era costui uno dei più formidabili tra quei gentiluomini che traevano la vita tra la guerra ed i ladroneggi.” INGHIRAMI
-“Capitano di masnadieri.” ADAR
-“Napoleone was the latest in a series of Orsini abbots, a series which had lasted for at least fifty years before being broken at the death of Cardinal Giambattista (degli Orsini di Monterotondo) in 1503; and it was a matter of great concern to the family, above Bracciano branch.” SHAW
-“Seguita il Capitan Napulione/ con la suo gente, in arme assai famosa/ porta nel campo verde, un ner dragone.” ROSEO
-“Alla corte di Francesco I Napoleone era molto amato come già lo era stato suo padre. Se in Italia era considerato un rozzo e violento bandito, in Francia era considerato tra i più raffinati gentiluomini. Angoli di visuale diversi da ambiti fiorentini, imperiali, francesi o romani, cattolici o protestanti, come lenti deformanti, trasmettevano immagini opposte dei personaggi di queste famiglie.” MORI
Featured image: wikipedia
