The strategies behind Rinaldo Orsini’s territorial expansions
Rinaldo Orsini, Count of Tagliacozzo and Albe. Lord of Vicovaro, Tagliacozzo, Albe, L’Aquila, Pescara, Cittaducale, Antrodoco, Spoleto, Tarquinia, Orvieto, and Narni. Brother of Giovanni Orsini, son-in-law of Rodolfo da Varano, and father-in-law of Giacomo di Vico.
Born: 1347
Death: 1390 (April)
| Year, Month | State / Mercenary Company | Opponent | Conduct | Area of Activity | Actions Taken and Other Significant Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1356 | Lazio | He allies with the Ghibellines of Umbria and Lazio, particularly with the Prefect of Rome Giovanni di Vico. | |||
| 1359 | |||||
| Aug. | Lazio | In mid-month, he is reported at Vicovaro with his father Orso and other family members. | |||
| 1362 | |||||
| May | Lazio | He comes into conflict with the Papal forces along with Giordano Orsini. Together, they contact Giovanni di Vico at Vetralla. Cardinal Albornoz promptly intervenes to reconcile them. | |||
| 1366 | He begins to directly administer his paternal estates, concentrated in Marsica and the Aniene Valley. | ||||
| 1367 | Perugia | Church | Umbria | He fights the troops of the Papal Legate Cardinal Egidio Albornoz. | |
| … | France | He spends some time in Avignon with his brother Cardinal Giacomo, at the court of Pope Gregory XI. Eventually, he receives a safe-conduct and returns to Italy with an escort of 40 horsemen. | |||
| 1372/1373 | Orsini | Savelli | Lazio | At war against his uncle Luca Savelli. | |
| 1376 | Church | He is reported in Spoleto. At the end of the year, he is appointed rector of the city. | |||
| 1378 | |||||
| May-Jun. | Church | Umbria | Appointed Rector of the Patrimony and Governor of Orvieto by Pope Urban VI. His lieutenant is Tommaso d’Alviano. The Muffati (or Beffati) swear obedience to him. Initially, he seeks an agreement with Ugolino da Montemarte; he also establishes close relations with the Breton captains Bernardon de la Salle (Bernardo della Sala) and Guglielmetto della Sala. He purchases the local fortress from the castellan for 2,400 florins. Supported increasingly by the Muffati faction (including Bonconte and Petruccio di Pepo dei Monaldeschi), he soon becomes hostile towards Montemarte, whom he begins to treat as an adversary. In Orvieto, he deals with many issues aimed at regulating citizens’ lives, such as those concerning grammar teachers, prostitutes, gambling, and officials’ salaries. As Rector of the Patrimony, he controls the castles of Todi, Orvieto, Rieti, Narni, Terni, the County of Sabina, and other fortresses like Otricoli, Carbonana, Stroncone, Miranda, and the Land of the Arnolfi. As Governor of Spoleto, he issues sentences against the Commune of Narni, which are later nullified by the Pope. | ||
| July | Abruzzi | He imprisons Antonio di Celano, who had rebelled against his father, in San Petino. | |||
| Aug. | Abruzzi | In mid-month, his brother the Cardinal dies in Tagliacozzo. There is now no reason for him to continue adhering to Pope Urban VI‘s party. | |||
| Sept. | Antipope | Church | Lazio and Umbria | He enters the service of Antipope Clement VII and is elected Rector of the Patrimony. In the city, he quickly implements significant reforms, inspiring the idea of carving out a dominion with Orvieto at its center. He meets Ugolino da Montemarte at Corbara, who opposes his plans; he storms into Orvieto with the help of the Beffati or Muffati like Pietro Orsino Monaldeschi, Bonconte, and Petruccio di Pepo. His opponents are the Mercorini faction (supporters of the Pope), including Montemarte. | |
| Oct. | He pays 2,400 florins to the castellan of Orvieto and obtains the fortress; he allies with Bernardo della Sala and Guglielmetto della Sala, who control Bolsena. | ||||
| … | Lazio | With his brother Giovanni, Giordano Orsini, Onorato Gaetani, and Francesco di Vico, he besieges Rome from multiple sides, cutting off access and reducing it to starvation. Giordano Orsini separates from the allies, shifting the war to the countryside. | |||
| 1379 | |||||
| June | Orvieto | Church | Umbria and Lazio | He reconciles with Pope Urban VI. Supporting the Beffati in Orvieto, he is accused of partiality and attacked by Papal forces. Forced to capitulate, he leaves the fortress when a Cardinal Legate is imposed. Ordered to Rome by the Pope, he refuses and goes to Viterbo, meeting Cardinal Giovanni Fieschi and Alberico da Barbiano. Asked to oppose the Breton Company (his secret allies), he contacts Piero del Verde to bring 50 horsemen to Orvieto. The condottiero raids the countryside, enters the city, and captures 57 Mercorini. Rinaldo Orsini takes over the fortress, whose castellan is his friend Petruccio di Pepo. Cardinal Fieschi enters Orvieto, tricks Orsini into surrendering the fortress, and orders him to Rome, but the meeting with the Pope doesn’t occur. Before leaving, Fieschi appoints his nephew Antonio as lieutenant. | |
| July | Antipope | Church | Umbria | He moves to Cervara and other lands. In the Todi area, he changes sides and, with the Beffati‘s support, attacks Guglielmo Maramaldo, the new Papal Vicar in Orvieto. | |
| 1380 | |||||
| Apr. | Abruzzi | In the service of Queen Giovanna of Naples. | |||
| May | Umbria and Tuscany | Riots in Orvieto due to the imprisonment of his supporters by Guglielmo Maramaldo. Assisted by Guglielmetto della Sala and the Breton Company, he retakes the city through tunnels near San Giovanni Church. After a brief siege, the defenders surrender. The Beffati wreak havoc, burning 2,000 houses. Orsini dismisses the mercenaries and assumes control. He seizes Montorio, Bolsena, and Abbadia, threatening Siena. | |||
| Jun.-Jul. | Naples Antipope | Durazzo Church | Umbria, Campania, Abruzzi | Defeated by Berardo Monaldeschi; declared a rebel and excommunicated by Urban VI, who preaches a crusade against him. Absolved by Antipope Clement VII, he retreats to Naples to serve Queen Giovanna d’Anjou, who appoints him Count of Tagliacozzo. Paolo Orsini attempts to hinder Charles of Durazzo‘s advance. | |
| Dec. | Abruzzi | He confronts the Durazzeschi at Celano with part of the Company of St. George; the opponents retreat after negotiations. Tasked with defending L’Aquila and the Abruzzi, he recruits troops from Umbria, assembling 48 bands of various nationalities. Queen Giovanna grants him Pescara as a fief. |
| 1381 | |||||
| Jan.-Feb. | Abruzzi and Lazio | Returns to L’Aquila. He captures the castle of Antrodoco; it is taken by the inhabitants of Cittaducale, but he reconquers it and hands it over to the Aquilans in exchange for 11,000 florins by mid-February. He then reaches Pescara. | |||
| May | Umbria | Unites with Bernardo della Sala to raid the territory of Corbara; attempts to reconcile members of the Monaldeschi family belonging to the two factions. | |||
| June | Abruzzi | Tagliacozzo is captured from him. The men of the Company of St. George under his command mutiny due to delayed pay and hold him prisoner. Locked in a tower, he manages to escape and returns to L’Aquila and Tagliacozzo. | |||
| Jul.-Aug. | Abruzzi | Confronts Cicco Antonio dell’Aquila of the Pretalti family, who raids his territories from the fortress of San Donato. He defeats and captures him at Turano, handing him over to the Camponeschi, political rivals, in exchange for 5,000 florins, despite earlier assurances to spare his life. Cicco Antonio dell’Aquila is beheaded in the main square of L’Aquila. | |||
| … | Umbria | Returns to Orvieto and stays throughout the winter. Allows his friend Petruccio di Pepo dei Monaldeschi del Cane, despite belonging to the rival Mercorini faction, to return to the city, providing him with an escort of 30 English lances and 50 horsemen from his company. | |||
| 1382 | |||||
| Feb. | Lazio | Concludes an agreement with the communes of Rome and Tivoli, granting him freedom to act in the Aniene Valley and, in some respects, even in Rome. | |||
| … | Naples | Anjou | Abruzzi | Changes sides again. The new King of Naples, Charles of Durazzo, appoints him governor of the Abruzzi. Now confronts the Camponeschi in L’Aquila, who support Louis of Anjou, brother of the King of France and claimant to the throne formerly held by Queen Giovanna d’Anjou. Returns to Orvieto intending to reconcile the opposing factions; only some Mercorini accept his proposals. | |
| Aug. | Umbria | In Orvieto with Bernardo della Sala. Ambassadors from Siena reach him, and they come to an agreement. As a supporter of Antipope Clement VII, he supports the cause of the Anjou claimant to the throne of Naples. Decides to meet the Anjou army along with various members of the Monaldeschi family, such as Petruccio di Pepo, Petrosino, and Corrado. Niccolò Farnese and Bernardo di Lacu remain to guard Orvieto. | |||
| Sept. | Tuscany and Campania | Passes through Siena with few troops and goes to Florence to pay homage to Louis of Anjou. Accompanies him to the Kingdom of Naples with Bernardo della Sala and Guglielmo Ferrebach; arrives in Nola with della Sala. | |||
| Oct. | Campania | Leading the Beffati, he joins Louis of Anjou at Maddaloni. | |||
| 1383 | |||||
| Jan. | Abruzzi | Tries to re-enter L’Aquila with his brother Giovanni but is defeated by his cousin Giovanni, Count of Manoppello, who leads troops bearing the Durazzo banner. | |||
| Feb. | Umbria | Complains to the Florentines about the assistance they provided to his enemies. | |||
| Mar.-Apr. | France | On behalf of Louis I of Anjou, goes to Avignon to ask Antipope Clement VII for funding to support the campaign in the Kingdom of Naples. During the journey, passes through Florence accompanied by Pierre de Crèon. Obtains nothing; proceeds to Pisa and Milan, where Bernabò Visconti promises him 40,000 florins to support the Anjou cause and another 50,000 as the dowry for Lucia Visconti‘s marriage to the Dauphin of France. After two months in Avignon, embarks at Marseille with 50,000 florins to return to Italy, landing at Pisa. | |||
| May-Jun. | Antipope | Siena | Umbria and Tuscany | By mid-May, at Poggibonsi; obtains a safe-conduct from the Sienese to reach Orvieto. Rinaldo Orsini uses the 50,000 florins intended for Louis of Anjou to regain his positions in the Patrimony and Umbria. Leaves Orvieto and joins Francesco di Vico; they camp near Montefiascone and, over eight days, transport large quantities of grain, barley, and legumes to Viterbo. Then traverses the Maremma region, touching Radicondoli, Manciano, Volterra, and some Florentine territories; re-enters the Sienese area at Castelnuovo Berardenga, stops at Rapolano Terme for four days; passes through Lucignano, rides through Chianciano and Monticchiello, and returns to Orvieto. At the end of the month, reaches L’Aquila, where Lalle dei Camponeschi, Count of Montorio, has died. | |
| July | Antipope Anjou | Naples Church | Abruzzi | At Tagliacozzo. Learns of the advance of Durazzian troops. Sets an ambush and, commanding 150 horsemen and the garrison of L’Aquila, attacks Bartolomeo Smeducci at night in Coppito, capturing the rival captain. | |
| Aug. | Lazio | Allies with Francesco di Vico. They camp near Montefiascone. In eight days, they devastate the territory, transporting grain, barley, and legumes to Viterbo. | |||
| Sept. | Umbria | Enters Spoleto with the help of Angelo and Nicola Manenti, leaders of the noble party, who leave a gate open for him. Joins Cardinal Pileo da Prata of Ravenna and besieges Guglielmino di Assisi in Assisi, who governs the city with support from the Raspanti of Perugia. Rinaldo Orsini returns to Spoleto and besieges the fortress. The siege lasts through winter, causing significant hardship to his men due to cold and rain. The inhabitants of Spoleto grant him lordship over the city. | |||
| 1384 | |||||
| Jan. | Umbria | At the end of the month, the castellan of Spoleto surrenders after four months due to lack of supplies. Rinaldo Orsini leaves Petruccio di Pepo and Pietro Orsino Monaldeschi to guard the fortress. Brings back exiles and imposes peaceful coexistence on the population by force. | |||
| Apr. | Umbria | Repels an attack on Spoleto by Papal forces led by John Hawkwood and Giovanni degli Ubaldini. | |||
| May-Jun. | Umbria, Lombardy, Abruzzi | Attempts to make the pro-Antipope faction prevail in Perugia; then goes to Milan to convince the Visconti to intervene in favor of the Angevins. Breaks into the Abruzzi to aid Louis I of Anjou, besieged by Durazzian forces in L’Aquila. Enters the city at night with 150 horsemen and is appointed governor. His actions earn him the investiture of the County of Manoppello at the expense of his cousin Giovanni, though he never actually possesses this fief. | |||
| … | Umbria | Retreats to Spoleto. | |||
| Sept.-Oct. | Apulia | At the end of the month, shortly before dying, Louis I of Anjou entrusts the government of the kingdom to 13 barons, including Rinaldo Orsini, until his son Louis comes of age. From this moment, Orsini loses interest in the Angevin cause. In October, returns to L’Aquila with his brother Giovanni, summoned by Giovanpaolo dei Camponeschi. Soon after, Camponeschi decides to leave the city to expel Orsini. | |||
| Nov. | Mercenary Company | Siena | Tuscany | With John Hawkwood, Giovanni degli Ubaldini, and Konrad von Landau, moves towards Anghiari and Sansepolcro. Extorts funds from the Sienese. | |
| 1385 | |||||
| Jan. | Umbria | Arrives in Orvieto with many men-at-arms and 150 crossbowmen, attempting to end the ongoing disputes between the Beffati and the Mercorini. Lengthy negotiations ensue, concluding only in April of the following year. The Bretons promise not to attack the Mercorini, while Ugolino and Francesco da Montemarte voluntarily remain exiled from Orvieto. | |||
| … | Antipope | Church | Lazio | Wages war with Bernardo della Sala near Viterbo; defeats the Papal captain John Beltoft. | |
| Aug.-Oct. | Abruzzi and Umbria | Stations at Tagliacozzo. In October, returns to Orvieto with many cavalry and 150 crossbowmen. | |||
| 1386 | |||||
| Jan. | Umbria | Contacts Ugolino da Montemarte to reconcile with Pope Urban VI. | |||
| … | Florence | Urbino | Marche | Confronts Antonio da Montefeltro of Urbino. | |
| … | Antipope | Church | Lazio and Umbria | Occupies Corneto (Tarquinia) and captures the Bishop of Manoppello, Tommaso Orsini. Acquires Narni by treaty at the expense of Buccio and Poncello Orsini, and also obtains Amelia. | |
| 1387 | |||||
| May | Lazio and Umbria | Giovanni di Vico is killed in Viterbo by revolting inhabitants. In retaliation, Rinaldo Orsini devastates the territory. Leading troops from Orvieto—including members of both the Beffati and Mercorini factions—he attacks Narni, entering through a treaty. Captures his cousins Giovanni and Napoleone Orsini; Napoleone escapes prison, but Giovanni dies in Montenero’s jail. | |||
| June | Umbria | Attacked in Orvieto by Papal forces led by John Beltoft, he counterattacks, routs them, and forces a retreat to Viterbo. Among the opponents, 30 captains are killed, and many others are captured. | |||
| Aug. | Allies with the Florentines and Antonio da Montefeltro, Count of Urbino, against the Papacy. | ||||
| Sept. | Mercenary Company | Urbino, Città di Castello, Perugia | Umbria | With Everardo della Campana, Bernardo della Sala, and Guido d’Asciano, plunders the territories of Gubbio and Città di Castello without opposition. With support from Perugian exiles, seizes the castle of Cannara, conducting numerous raids into Tuscany and extracting hefty ransoms by promising not to return for 14 months. | |
| Oct. | Umbria | Operating around Spoleto, he is excommunicated by Pope Urban VI. The Florentines intervene on his behalf, but the Pope dismisses their envoys. Orsini seizes Bagno from Petruccio di Pepo. Shortly after, Francesco da Montemarte captures the location, taking Pietro d’Alba prisoner. |
| 1388 | |||||
| May-Jun. | Mercenary Company | Siena, Pisa, Lucca | Tuscany | Returns to Tuscany with John Beltoft. Imposes a new ransom totaling 34,000 florins on the communes of Siena, Pisa, and Lucca. | |
| Aug. | Antipope | Church | Umbria | Orvieto is besieged by Papal forces commanded by John Beltoft. His attempt to bring relief to the defenders is repelled. | |
| 1389 | |||||
| Mar. | Tuscany | The Florentines exert strong pressure on him to reconcile with the Perugians. | |||
| Apr. | Mercenary Company | Siena | Tuscany | Invades Siena again, this time with Konrad von Altinberg. | |
| … | Antipope | Church | Umbria | The Papal forces seize Narni from him. He is defeated beneath the walls of Orvieto. | |
| Aug. | Umbria | Joined in Orvieto by Cardinal Pileo da Prata of Ravenna; with support sent by Antipope Clement VII, he continues the war. Leading 400 cavalry and the Breton company, he and Bartolomeo Boccanera raid and devastate the territory of Todi. This action is encouraged by the Florentines because the Count of Campagna and the Priors of Todi refused to release their ambassador, Serotino Brancacci, who was arrested by the Pope in Orvieto and imprisoned in Todi. | |||
| Sept. | Umbria | Defends Spoleto. | |||
| 1390 | |||||
| Jan.-Feb. | Florence | Milan | Lazio and Umbria | Pope Boniface IX is elected. Upon his election, he leaves Umbria and goes to Rome with other members of the Beffati faction (Niccolò Farnese, Corrado, and Luca Monaldeschi) to complain about the Mercorini. In Jan., he is contacted by the Florentines to fight against Gian Galeazzo Visconti, Lord of Milan. By Feb., he is reported in Perugia with Giovanni Tedesco da Pietramala. | |
| Apr. | Abruzzi | The Camponeschi return to L’Aquila upon hearing of the assassination of Charles of Durazzo in Hungary. A conspiracy is organized to eliminate Rinaldo Orsini. By mid-month, before moving to Tuscany, he is recalled to L’Aquila by the Todini and Pretalti families to confront the Camponeschi. He is assassinated mid-month in the Church of San Francesco, where Berlinghieri Cantelmo had come to visit him the previous day with his retinue. Forty citizens, joined by many followers of the Camponeschi, kill Rinaldo Orsini and imprison his brother Giovanni in the castle of Montorio. In the following Aug., the fury of the population leads to Giovanni‘s execution as well. Rinaldo Orsini married Guglielma da Varano, daughter of Rodolfo and Giovanna da Celano. |
Sources
-“Oltre la scienza militare, per la possessione di molte città e castella, che aveva così nello Stato della Chiesa come nel regno di Napoli, era potentissimo signore.” AMMIRATO
-“Condottiere d’armi di molto credito pel suo valore e per la sua perizia.” LITTA
-“Fe risplender molto il suo nome.” SANSOVINO
-“Egregiae potentiae hominum magnoque bello ducem.” SANT’ANTONINO
-“Belli duce.” BRACCIOLINI
-Sua cattura da parte dei pontifici “Allora Ranallo Orsino illi se pilliaro,/ E fu nella torre illi si lu impressonaro./ E delli misi quattro loco si lo guardeno,/ Poi, alla fede, de fore lu cazzaro.” A. DI BUCCIO
-“Manteneva le numerose sue soldatesche mediante le taglie e le ruberie.” RICOTTI
-“A partire da questo momento (il 1380), Rinaldo dedicherà la maggior parte del suo tempo al mestiere delle armi, a capo di truppe costituite in parte da Bretoni, in parte da vassalli delle sue signorie abruzzesi.” VIGUEUR
-“Il suo profilo non è..dissimile da quello dei principi-condottieri.., se non fosse che la sua dominazione avita è interamente rurale; è grazie alla sua intraprendenza di capitano di ventura che Rinaldo diviene signore di città, prima fra tutte nel 1383 Spoleto, e lo fa senza troppo preoccuparsi di legittimazioni dall’alto, approfittando per primo del disordine in cui lo scisma ha fatto precipitare l’amministrazione del Patrimonio.” BARBERO
-“Egregiae potentiae hominem magnusque bello ducem.” BRUNI
-“Si distinse in molte imprese guerresche.” PANSA
-“Era stato il lungo tirocinio, individuale e familiare, a capo di territori diversi per forma di governo o situazione giuridica a permettergli di compiere..il salto di qualità da una gestione del potere fondata sul puro sfruttamento economico e signorile verso una visione più politica e di più vaste prospettive… La fragilità (del suo stato) era senz’altro scaturita dall’essere frutto di un’iniziativa soprattutto personale e di aver avuto vita troppo breve per restare in piedi al volgere della situazione contingente. Era stata comunque la prima volta che, nel cuore dei dominii della Chiesa, veniva portata a compimento un esperimento capace di stringere saldamente dall’Umbria Roma e l’unico in cui interprete ne fu un esponente di una famiglia della nobiltà baronale.” ALLEGREZZA
