Paolo Savelli's role in conflicts against Florentines Venetians and Paduans

Paolo Savelli condottiero of the Italian wars in service of Gian Galeazzo Visconti

Paolo Savelli of Rome, Lord of Rignano Flaminio. Son of Luca Savelli.

Born: 1350 ca.
Death: 1495, October

Year, Month	State, Mercenary Company	Opponent	Command	Area of Activity	Actions Undertaken and Other Salient Facts
1366	Savelli	Rome		Lazio	He follows his father in his raids in the Roman countryside.
1379
Apr.	Church	Antipope		Lazio	He serves in the Company of St. George under Alberico da Barbiano. He distinguishes himself in the Battle of Marino against the Breton Company.
1381
Aug.	Durazzo	Naples		Campania	He takes part in the Battle of Sant’Eramo in which Otto (Tarent) is defeated.
1382	Naples	Anjou		Romagna
1383
Aug.	Rieti	Orsini	Captain of War	Lazio	Simonetto Orsini seizes the fortress of Alatri. Paolo Savelli is tasked by the commune to recover this fortress. He begins the siege, which will end only in February of the following year with the defenders surrendering on agreed terms. The defenders receive 650 florins from Savelli and, in exchange, return the loot taken during a raid against the monastery of San Pastore.
1384
Apr.				Apulia	At Barletta with Alberico da Barbiano.
1386
Jan.				Lazio	The inhabitants of Rieti elect him Defender of the city for three years. He is granted an annual provision of 300 florins.
Nov.	Milan		120 lances	Emilia	In the pay of the lord of Milan, Gian Galeazzo Visconti. He commands the garrison of Piacenza.
1389
May				Lombardy	He attends the baptism of an illegitimate son of Gian Galeazzo Visconti.
June	Milan	Florence	200 lances	Tuscany	He moves with 600 horsemen to defend Siena, threatened by the Florentines. He joins the Sienese cavalry, devastates the countryside of Montepulciano; opposes the Breton Company and John Hawkwood who, from Val di Chiana, is in turn plundering Sienese territory. He confronts the adversaries at Asinalunga (Sinalunga) and puts them to flight after a seven-hour battle, making many prisoners. He pursues the opponents when they move to Val d’Arbia.
July				Tuscany	He is joined by the noble from Perugia, Golino di Niccolò, who brings him 250 infantry to reciprocate the aid offered to Perugia by Gian Galeazzo Visconti. He sends 400 horsemen to Perugia when the city is troubled by disorders arising between the noble faction and the popular faction of the “raspanti.”
Aug.	Siena	Florence	Captain General	Umbria	He goes to Perugia. He tries to seize Cortona at the expense of Uguccione Casali. In the same month, the Sienese appoint him their Captain General.
1390
Apr.				Umbria and Tuscany	He is reported again in the Perugia area to oppose the exiles of the “raspanti” faction. He besieges Michelotto dei Michelotti in Agello with 400 horsemen and 1,000 infantry, both Perugians (one man per household) and foreigners. Positioned on nearby hills, he tries to intercept a Florentine supply convoy destined for the defenders (100 mules loaded with wheat), which departed from Cortona with an escort of 800 Hungarian and German horsemen and 500 infantry. Paolo Savelli attacks the column but is forced to retreat after being encircled. He returns to Siena.
May				Tuscany	Gian Galeazzo Visconti officially declares war on the Florentines. Paolo Savelli moves from Siena against Florence along with Giovanni degli Ubaldini. He captures Lucignano, which is sacked despite the Sienese desire to annex it. He confronts Cecco di Diana, forcing him to retreat to Montepulciano; he recovers Chiusi and lifts the siege on its fortress. With the death of the Ubaldini, he remains to defend Siena with Giovanni Tedesco da Pietramala, opposing the Florentines with mixed success.
June				Tuscany	He captures Filippo Guazzalotti near Marciano. Gian Galeazzo Visconti orders the captain to be poisoned in retaliation for the poisoning of the Ubaldini by the Florentines. Paolo Savelli invites the captain to dinner and has him served poisoned wine.
July				Tuscany	With the recall of Visconti’s troops to Lombardy, he faces the adversaries with few forces. The Sienese are obliged to grant him 4,000 florins and promise another 3,000 to raise new troops. He moves to Casole d’Elsa but achieves little.
Aug.				Tuscany	The Florentines withdraw to the Aretine territory; Paolo Savelli pursues them and surprises them at Sambuco. He crosses into the Aretine area and defeats the Florentines again at Rigomagno, capturing Cecco di Diana and 125 men who are taken to Siena; 35 enemies are killed. Mid-month, he fights for seven hours with John Hawkwood and Carlo Visconti; both sides claim victory.
Sept.				Tuscany	The Florentines receive new reinforcements; Savelli is forced to retreat to Siena, pursued by the adversaries up to Porta Camollia. The populace exits Siena and repels the adversaries.
Oct.				Tuscany	With Giovanni Tedesco da Pietramala, he suppresses a revolt in Siena led by Donadeo Malavolti, who is killed; some of his supporters are captured and executed. Savelli is appointed ducal vicar in the city. In this role, he has a Sienese captain hanged who, after being captured by the Florentines, was released only to deliver a letter to the city authorities.
1391
Mar.				Tuscany	In Siena with Andreasio Cavalcabò when the commune cedes its sovereignty to the Count of Virtue (Gian Galeazzo Visconti). During the same days, a raid by the Florentines in the territory of Grosseto, led by Milano d’Asti and Giovanni Colonna, results in the seizure of 25,000 heads of livestock. Paolo Savelli confronts them but is defeated in his attempt to recover the loot.
July				Piedmont, Lombardy	He follows Jacopo dal Verme to Castellazzo against Jean III of Armagnac and John Hawkwood in Lombardy. He takes part in the defense of Soncino but is forced to retreat to Paderno, where he is defeated by Hawkwood despite support from Facino Cane.
1392
Jan.				Tuscany	In Siena, he learns of a conspiracy by exiles with Florentine complicity. He summons the populace at night and publicly reads a list of 500 suspected individuals who must leave the city immediately. The order is executed.
1394
July	Colonna	Church		Lazio	Supporting Giovanni Colonna in his entry into Rome. He reaches the Capitoline Hill but clashes with the inhabitants and is forced to retreat.
1395
Sept.				Lombardy	In May, Gian Galeazzo Visconti obtained the title of Duke of Milan from Emperor Wenceslaus of Bohemia for 100,000 florins. In September, with Ugolotto Biancardo and leading 500 lances, Savelli is tasked with ensuring nothing disrupts the ceremony where the Milanese swear allegiance to Visconti at the churchyard of Sant’Ambrogio.
1396
June	Milan	Florence	500 horsemen	Tuscany	Opposing the Florentines under the command of Alberico da Barbiano. From Siena, he invades Florentine territory and reaches the gates of the city; continues depredations in Val di Chiana, Montepulciano, and the Aretine area.
Aug.				Tuscany	Jacopo d’Appiano wishes to send him with 200 lances to Perugia to support the lord of the city, Biordo dei Michelotti; Savelli deems it appropriate not to move.
Nov.–Dec.			200 lances	Tuscany	He moves with 200 lances to defend Pisa, threatened by the Gambacorta. The Lucchese, at the request of the Florentines, attempt to block his advance at Pietrasanta with palisades and battlements; the Pisans, under Luca di Canale, leave Pisa, destroy the defenses, and allow him to reach the city, where he is lodged in the palace of Jacopo d’Appiano.
1397
Feb.				Tuscany	A surprise attack he leads on San Miniato is repelled.
Mar.				Tuscany	He raids Florentine territory.
Apr.				Tuscany	He takes the sea route and makes an incursion towards Massa del Marchese (Massa Marittima); the loot and number of prisoners are relatively small.
Aug.	Milan	Mantua, Church		Lombardy	Recalled to Lombardy, he takes part in the Battle of Governolo, commanding the first squadron of 2,000 horsemen.
Sept.				Lombardy, Tuscany	He returns to Siena while Alberico da Barbiano moves to Lombardy to face the league’s troops.
Nov.			300 lances	Liguria	At Sarzana to support Benedetto Mangiadori in negotiations aimed at the conquest of San Miniato.
Dec.				Tuscany	With the three ducal ambassadors Niccolò Pallavicini, Niccolò Diversi, and Fra Filippo, he strengthens Jacopo d’Appiano‘s position in the lordship of Pisa.
1398
Jan.				Tuscany, Liguria	With Niccolò Diversi, he plans to capture Jacopo and Gherardo d’Appiano in the former’s palace. According to the plan, after capturing the two lords, Paolo Savelli and Niccolò Diversi would ride into Pisa with 900 horsemen. The ducal ambassadors gain nighttime entry to the old lord’s palace and, on behalf of Gian Galeazzo Visconti, demand the keys to the fortresses of Pisa, Livorno, Piombino, and Cascina. Jacopo d’Appiano promises to deliver them but the next morning arms the populace to attack Savelli, who is captured and imprisoned in Sarzana. His men are robbed and sent back to Lombardy.
Feb.–Mar.				Liguria, Tuscany, Lombardy	He is released at the end of February when Antonio Porro goes to Pisa to confirm the Duke of Milan’s friendship with the d’Appiano. Before being freed, Savelli must promise not to act against the Pisans or harass them with reprisals; otherwise, he must pay a penalty of 10,000 florins. Guarantors of the agreement include Giovanni Colonna, Giovanni da Fighino, Luca di Canale, Antonio Porro, Niccolò Pallavicini, and Gian Galeazzo Visconti himself. He obtains a safe-conduct from the Lucchese to return to Lombardy with his company.
1400	Antipope	Church		Lazio	With Giovanni and Nicola Colonna, he supports the position of Antipope Benedict XIII in Rome against Pope Boniface IX.
1401
Mar.	Milan			Tuscany
May	Milan	Bologna		Emilia	He fights in the Bolognese territory against the troops of the city’s lord, Giovanni Bentivoglio.
June				Emilia	He participates in the Battle of Casalecchio di Reno, positioned in the third squadron.
Aug.				Lombardy	He is called to join the ducal council alongside Carlo and Pandolfo Malatesta, the bishops of Pavia, Novara, Pisa, and Feltre, Francesco Gonzaga, Antonio da Montefeltro, Giovanni Colonna, Alberico da Barbiano, Baldassarre Spinola, Leonardo Doria, Jacopo dal Verme, the chamberlain Francesco Barbavara, Chancellor Giovanni da Carnago, and counselors Pietro di Corte and Filippo dei Migli.
Sept.				Lombardy	In Milan for the funeral of Gian Galeazzo Visconti, held in the cathedral; he stands beside the coffin on the left side with the main captains.
Dec.				Lombardy	With Francesco Gonzaga and Jacopo dal Verme, he attends the ceremony where Milan’s representatives swear allegiance to Giovanni Maria Visconti.
1403
July	Milan	Church		Emilia	With Facino Cane, Filippino Cane, and Lancillotto Beccaria, he drives out of Bologna the Guelf League’s army, which had initially entered the city.
Aug.				Emilia	The conflict ends. The exiles return to Bologna. Paolo Savelli tries to maintain order, hindering factional struggles.
Sept.				Emilia, Lombardy	In Parma and Milan. He witnesses the signing of a truce between Lombard Guelfs and Ghibellines.
1404
Jan.	Milan	Guelfs		Lombardy	He supports Giacomo dalla Croce in Brescia in guarding the citadel with 400 horsemen. When Pietro Gambara attacks the Guelfs at Porta Pile, he exits with the Ghibellines, occupies the city, and sacks it.
Apr.				Tuscany	In Pisa for the signing of the agreement by which Gabriele Maria Visconti recognizes himself as a vassal of King Charles VII of France in the hands of Jean II Le Meingre (Boucicaut).
July	Venice	Padua	600 lances	Veneto	In the pay of the Venetians. The Captain General is Malatesta Malatesta, who positions himself in Treviso. Paolo Savelli presses the adversaries from the east and southeast. He reaches the bastion of Gambarare, purchased by the Serenissima for 6,000 ducats from the fortress’s captain. The adversaries respond by constructing a trench in two days, manned by 30,000 Padovans led by Francesco Novello da Carrara and his sons.
Aug.				Veneto	He is defeated in the Battle of Gambarare.
Sept.				Veneto	Tensions arise between Paolo Savelli and Captain General Malatesta Malatesta; their dispute delays decisive action against the Carraresi. For this reason, he camps beyond the Brenta opposite the castle of Limena. He is attacked by Francesco Novello da Carrara, Niccolò d’Este, Alberico da Barbiano, and Lo Sparapane, who defeat him severely. In the clash, he fights with the lord of Padua and is wounded in the face by a sword blow that splits his visor. He escapes capture, denying he ever surrendered.
Oct.			Captain General	Veneto	Malatesta Malatesta requests leave due to ill health; Paolo Savelli is elected Captain General with the same salary and powers. He immediately implements a clever stratagem. Due to heavy snowfall, he feigns a retreat to winter quarters in Treviso.
Dec.				Veneto	Informed that the Carraresi, deceived by his movements, have dismissed many troops, he attacks Padovan territory. He promises his men double pay and a month’s wages if they overcome all obstacles, and a reward of 4,000 ducats to anyone who delivers a passage through the defensive lines. He advances from Stra with peasants and numerous sappers who build wooden bridges without being detected. He enters Piove di Sacco’s territory, causing immense damage, and sends 6,000 men to aid Francesco Gonzaga in Verona. He repels an attack in Camponogara by 16,000 men led by Francesco Novello da Carrara and Manfredo da Barbiano.
1405
Mar.–Apr.				Veneto	He resumes the offensive with greater force, preparing to attack Castelcarro defended by Francesco Buzzaccarini. He concentrates his troops with bombards, mangonels, bridges, and other war machines. He crosses the Brenta on a bridge and seizes the territory of Conselve.
May				Veneto	He attacks Castelcarro with Rosso Marin‘s fleet and captures the fortress in two days of continuous fighting; he unsuccessfully attempts to seize Piove di Sacco.
June				Veneto	He captures Bovolenta by paying 8,000 ducats; repelled from Monselice, defended by Luca Lion, he approaches Padua. He encamps at Terranegra and Vo’ di Zocco, beginning to besiege the city, which is ravaged by famine and plague.
July				Veneto	With the fall of Verona, he is joined by Jacopo dal Verme; he takes over the trenches protecting the Porta di Santa Croce south of Padua, positions artillery in front of the gate, and bombards the eponymous borough.
Aug.–Sept.				Veneto	The camp at Bassanello is suddenly attacked by Francesco Novello da Carrara with 4,700 men while Savelli, unarmed, is in his pavilion playing backgammon. Wounded by a sword blow to his left thigh, he flees; two banners (one his and one of St. Mark) fall into enemy hands. Only the return of Galeazzo da Mantova with 400 lances saves Savelli from capture. A ten-day truce is agreed upon to bury the dead. With Galeazzo da Mantova, Carlo Zeno, and Roberto Morosini, Savelli meets with the lord of Padua and Michele di Rabatta to explore peace possibilities.
Oct.				Veneto	He dies of plague at the camp of Bassanello. He is buried with solemn rites in Venice, in the presence of the Doge, at the church of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari. His tomb features a monument depicting him on horseback, in gilded and polychrome wood, crafted by Jacopo della Quercia. He married Costanza Savelli, daughter of Antonello.

Sources

-“Buon Romano, grande huomo di guerra.” MARCELLO

-“In molte fattioni rendé assai illustre la fama sua..Era di persona alta, di volto bianco, d’occhio e di capelli neri.” ROSCIO

-“Di sangue Romano, per molte onorate fazioni famoso.” SABELLICO

-“Passava per uno de’ più rinomati Capitani del suo secolo.” LAUGIER

-Con Paolo Orsini, Ceccolo Broglia, Brandolino Brandolini, Luca di Canale e Ceccolino dei Michelotti “Cohortium praefecti insignes.” PLATINA

-Con Ottobono Terzi, Galeazzo Pepoli, Facino Cane, Bertolino da Cremona “Tutti valorosi capitani.” MUZZI

-“Di sommo pregio militare adornato.” VIANOLI

-“Romani sanguinis viri, et gratissimi in illum Veneti Senatus iuditii obliviscerer.” EGNAZIO

-“Unus ex principibus Romae.” REDUSIO

-“Vir per omnia suae eaetatis egregius, summus nobilitate Romana.” BILLIA

-Con Pandolfo Malatesta, Jacopo dal Verme e Giovanni Colonna “Capitani i più rinomati di quel tempo.” AMIANI

-“Principe Romano.” PEZZANA

-All’assedio di Padova “Ma Savelli che avea sperientemente/ Misurato oggimai quanto ardua impresa/ Fosse il sortire ad esso prevalente/ Per assalto leal, leale offesa,/ Prefissa aveva già solo apparente/ La ritratta, onde storre la difesa;/ Incurrevol di gloria, o di vergogna,/ Qual suole chi a mercé soltanto agogna.” GABARDI BROCCHI

-“Di fama non mediocre tra i Capitani..Era alto e di volto bianco: gli occhi, e i capelli hebbe neri.” CAPRIOLO

-“La sua tomba, nella gotica chiesa di Santa Maria dei Frari, con la sontuosa cerimonia che ne accompagna l’ultimo viaggio, provano il prestigio dell’uomo, la riconoscenza della repubblica.” MORO

-“La statua equestre di Paolo Savelli che si trova a Venezia in Frari fu eretta probabilmente a spese dello stato (ma è in legno) e il doge (Michele Steno) assistette alle esequie solenni di questo apprezzatissimo generale delle forze veneziane.” MALLETT

-Sulla sua tomba è inscritto il seguente epitaffio “Hic jacet armi potens Paulus de stirpe Sabella,/ Incolumi quo Roma parens gaudebat alumno./ Hic sibi ad extremum statuebat semina priscae/ Reddita virtutis. Non hic Scipionibus impar,/ Nec Fabriis virtute fuit belloque domique./ Magnus erat vir, Marte ferox, prudensque togatis/ Consiliis. Hic Appuliae victricia campis/ Agmina direxit, Caroli sub nomine regis./ Et cum dux Ligurum Galeazo, justissimus heros/ Crescit in Italia, multa cum laude sub illo/ Hic tulit arma, acies stravit, terrasque subegit./ Postea cum Veneti virtus animosa Senatus/ Carrigeram delere domum cupit, obsidet urbem/ Euganeam, belli ductor, castrisque locatis/ Ad Bassanellum, cum jam prope victor haberet/ In manibus Patavum, melioris ad alta triumphi/ Gaudia, peste suum corpus rapiente, vocatus:/ Phoebus adorato Christi dum volvit ab ortu/ Lustra ducenta unum et centum quater aurens annos/ tertiaque octobris lux infaustissima fulget.”

Featured image: https://www.chorusvenezia.org/opere/monumento-equestre-a-paolo-savelli/357