The Fatal Defiance of Donato del Conte in Milanese Politics

Donato del Conte and the Shifting Power After Sforza’s Death

Donato del Conte (Donato Borri, Donato da Milano) Nicknamed “del Conte” in reference to the enduring affection shown to him by Francesco Sforza. He belonged to a very ancient Milanese family and was originally from Milan. Lord of Vespolate, Corbetta, and Castelleone.

Born: 1425 ca.
Death: 1477, May

Year, Month	State, Comp. ventura	Opponent	Command	Area of Activity	Actions Undertaken and Other Salient Facts
1446	Sforza				Serves under Francesco Sforza; becomes so dear to this condottiero that, little by little, he will be called Donato del Conte because he is always at the side of this commander.
1447
Nov.	Milan	Venice		Emilia	At the siege and capture of Piacenza.
1448
Sept.				Lombardy	Takes part in the battle of Caravaggio.
1449
June	Sforza	Milan		Lombardy	At the siege of Vigevano. Has command of a squadron of light cavalry (galuppi). Has a trench dug that cuts the moat and aims at a bastion; at night takes possession of the rampart.
1452
Sept.	Milan	Venice		Lombardy	Carries out a raid in the Cremasco. Against him come Count Broccardo Persico, Grande Albanese, Maffello and Rossetto, reinforced by Antonello da Corneto. Enters Castelleone which is besieged by Pollone.
Oct.				Lombardy	With Bartolomeo Colleoni and Sasso confronts Jacopo Piccinino and Tiberto Brandolini who have left Porzano: wounds Brandolini with a lance blow and is in turn unhorsed by Ettore Brandolini. His arquebusiers halt the advance of Venetian cavalry and infantry.
Nov.				Lombardy	Flanks Sforza, now Duke of Milan, at Montichiari. With Sasso assaults Pietro Paolo dell’Aquila near Manerbio; in the continuation of the action contributes to repelling an attack carried by Piccinino at Calvisano.
1453
July				Lombardy	Is captured by the archers of Giovannantonio di Gattamelata near Montirone: surrenders into the hands of a man-at-arms of Jacopo Piccinino. The latter frees him despite the protests of Gattamelata’s son who demands ransom as his prisoner: there is a jury of honor, favorable to Donato del Conte, by Guido Rangoni and Cesare da Martinengo, so he is released without delay.
Aug.				Lombardy	Confronts Piccinino who has fortified himself in a swamp near Ghedi. Castelleone is besieged by the Venetians; is sent to this location by Sforza to bring aid to the defenders. Manages to break through the blockade and enter Castelleone pretending to lead a company of the Serenissima. The city surrenders to the adversaries. Del Conte then takes refuge in the fortress and from here signals what happened to the Sforza forces stationed at Pizzighettone. Sacramoro da Parma and Corrado da Fogliano come to his aid; the two Sforza condottieri assault the Venetians. Del Conte bursts out against the adversaries from the castle and defeats Matteo da Capua and Orso Orsini who are forced to retreat to Crema.
1454				Lombardy	Always faces Jacopo Piccinino. Is reported at the defense of Volta Mantovana.
1455
July	Milan	Comp. ventura		Tuscany	The conflict ends. Goes to Tuscany to fight Piccinino’s company which has begun to raid in the Sienese territory. Gives his effective contribution to the victory of Manciano/Castro: opposes the adversary with his infantry when the Sforza camp is attacked suddenly. With his resistance allows the victorious intervention of da Fogliano and Roberto da San Severino.
1457				Piedmont	Takes possession of Vespolate.
1460
Sept. Oct.	Milan	Anjou		Emilia Abruzzo	Is at Parma; is ready to transfer to the Kingdom of Naples with 2 squadrons of men-at-arms of the Duke of Milan to support the cause of King Ferrante d’Aragona against the supporters of Giovanni d’Angiò. At the beginning of October arrives in Abruzzo where he is greeted with great celebrations. At the head of 207 horses connects near Rieti with the militias of Alessandro Sforza, Federico da Montefeltro, Antonio Piccolomini and those of Marcantonio Torelli.
Nov.				Lazio	Falls into an ambush and is taken prisoner by Piccinino. Released, returns to Sabina. Sacks the castle of Poggio Nativo, defended by Roberto da Montevecchio and Battista del Balzo.
1461
Winter				Abruzzo	Complains about the animosity shown towards him by the ducal ambassador to Pope Pius II, Ottone del Carretto, who pushes him to make repeated attacks on the fortress of Pozzo Donadio (Pozzo Nuovo, near Bucchianico). His complaints find support in Alessandro Sforza.
				Lazio	With Alessandro and Bosio Sforza captures 4 castles belonging to the lord of Palombara Jacopo Savelli; still in Sabina opposes the militias of Silvestro da Lucino.
July				Lazio	Is captured by the Angevins. Jacopo Piccinino sends him prisoner to L’Aquila. Is soon freed.
Nov.				Lazio	Tries to take possession by treaty of the fortress of Orvinio belonging to the Duke of Sora Pietro Giampaolo Cantelmi. The conspiracy is discovered; a priest is imprisoned and 4 other accomplices are hanged.
1462
Feb. Apr.				Lombardy and Emilia	At the end of the month arrives at Castelleone. Is ordered to leave the location to intervene at Piacenza following the uprising of inhabitants consequent both to the (false) news of Sforza’s death and to the high fiscal pressure on rural classes. Attacks the rebels led by Count Onofrio Anguissola. Sets up camp at Mezzanino, besieges the castle of Grazzano Visconti with Ludovico Gonzaga: many peasants are killed in a battle; prisoners are led to Piacenza bound. His intervention proves very harsh, marked by arrests and hangings.
May Oct.				Emilia	Onofrio Anguissola is defeated and is obliged to flee, first to his castles and then to Genoa. The leaders of the revolt are hanged; Giovan Galeazzo Anguissola is imprisoned and taken to Milan with Tiberto Brandolini, accused of helping the rebels. Only in October will the gallows be removed.
				Campania and Puglia	Returns to the Kingdom of Naples against the Angevins: again flanks Alessandro Sforza in Terra di Lavoro and in Puglia.
1463
				Abruzzo and Puglia	Is captured a third time by Piccinino’s men near Sulmona. Released on the Ofanto, returns to the Duchy of Milan.
July				Lombardy	At Milan.
1464
Jan. Feb.	Milan	Genoa	Captain general provisioned	Liguria	The King of France renounces his rights on Savona and Genoa in favor of the Duke of Milan. Del Conte goes to Liguria with da Fogliano; occupies Savona at the head of 400 infantry. Leaves 100 as garrison in the city and moves toward Genoa to drive out Archbishop Paolo Fregoso.
Mar.				Liguria	Approaches Genoa with Obietto Fieschi.
Apr.				Liguria	Overcomes the defense of Giangaleazzo Fregoso and enters Genoa through the Porta delle Vacche and bursts into the city followed by Gaspare da Vimercate who leaves Cornigliano. Besieges the Castelletto and San Francesco, last refuges of the Fregoso.
May			Captain of artillery	Liguria	Are sent to him as reinforcement an expert artilleryman Ambrogio Bascapé and 300 arquebusiers under the orders of Giovanni Pietro Cagnola and other troops led by Giampietro Bergamino. Mid-month arrive at Genoa, from Pavia and Milan, 3 large bombards, the “Corona”, the “Liona” and the “Bissona”: these are planted at Lucoli, at San Nicoloso and at Fontana Marosa. Del Conte also directs the fire of two small cannons which, from the bell tower of San Sisto, harass the defenders who come out in search of supplies. Obtains the fortress in three days from the castellan Bartolomea Fregoso in exchange for 14,000 florins.
June				Lombardy	With the victory returns to Lombardy.
Dec.					The Duke of Milan gives him permission to separate from Varese the land of Vespolate. On the same occasion he is granted in fief many lands taken by Sforza from the Bishop of Novara, as well as several properties, both allodial and feudal, at Corbetta and Albairate.
1465	Milan	Burgundy	Captain general	France	Takes part in the war of the League for the Public Good. With Gaspare da Vimercate commands the Sforza expeditionary corps sent to aid King Louis XI composed of 2,000 horses and 1,000 infantry. Acts in the Rhône valley where he besieges and takes possession of several minor castles including Aubepin in Forez.
1466
Dec.				Lombardy	At Castelleone; in the last days of the year delivers the fortress of the location to a factor of Bianca Maria Visconti on whose behalf del Conte has guarded it, crosses the Adda and leaves wife and son in the duchy; takes refuge in Venetian territory at Crema. In the previous war of the Public Good, in fact, Galeazzo Maria Sforza, son of Francesco, has badly tolerated the independence shown by the condottiero. In autumn, moreover, the contracts and command positions of the ducal army are rediscussed: on this occasion del Conte claims a prominent position for himself. The new duke, instead, assisted by trusted Cicco Simonetta and Orfeo da Ricavo, does not recognize the desired authority. Secondly Galeazzo Maria Sforza does not hide an acute annoyance for the protection that del Conte receives from his mother Bianca Maria, widow of Francesco. The duke feels offended; has del Conte painted on some placards with a harp in his right hand and a shoe in his left. These are attached to the columns of the cathedral and at the court of the Arengo, near the Broletto. A bounty of 3,000 ducats is placed on his head if captured alive, 1,500 if delivered dead. Finally, hanging is threatened for anyone who dares to move the placards from where they have been hung.
1467
Jan. Feb.				Lombardy	The duke has the fief of Vespolate sequestered, near Novara, which was donated to him by Sforza, and grants it to his half-brother Polidoro. The command of the provisioned of his company is given to Francesco da Varese; his son Danilo, eight years old, is imprisoned in the jail of Porta Vercellina. In February del Conte returns to the duchy and Vespolate is restored to him: he complains because he no longer finds in the castle 100 bushels of wheat acquired by Polidoro Sforza. Obtains from the duke in order to procure for a nephew the provostship of San Vittore di Corbetta in the diocese of Milan.
				Lombardy	A tournament or battle is organized to be held in front of the castle of Porta Giovia and open to all except exiles.
Apr.				Lombardy	Takes part in a solemn edition of the feast of San Giorgio. At the head of the procession of banners are old Sforza captains such as del Conte himself, Fiasco da Giraso and emerging captains like the commander of the ducal light cavalry, Donbello. Del Conte is at the head of a small squadron of the ducal family.
May	Milan	Venice			Recruits arquebusiers. Gives each 20 imperial lire for two months of service.
July	Milan	Venice		Emilia	Fights Bartolomeo Colleoni. Participates in the battle of Molinella where he has command of the third squadron; with Roberto da San Severino, the light cavalry and 300 infantry assaults the adversaries’ baggage train and surrounds their camp.
Sept.	Milan	Duke of Savoy		Piedmont	Participates in the campaign against Philip of Savoy (Philip of Bresse). At the end of the month abandons the camp. Is suspected of desertion. Pursued, is intercepted at Vespolate by the ducal chamberlain Gian Francesco Attendolo: del Conte is on horseback and armed. States that he is going to Milan to meet with duchess Bianca Maria Visconti.
Oct.				Piedmont	At the end of the month returns to the camp in the Novara area where he joins with marquis Bonifacio di Monferrato. Probably remains wounded in a clash at Ghemme.
Nov.				Lombardy	With Pietro Francesco Visconti and Bergamino flanks the duke in Milan at his entrance into the castle of Porta Giovia where Galeazzo Maria Sforza barricades himself only with men of his own trust. This solution is not without consequences as the duke permanently transfers his residence there and relegates the court of the Arengo to seat of central offices and ducal chancellery.
Dec.				Lombardy	Is reported riding in the garden behind the castle of Porta Giovia in Milan.
1468
Jan. Sept.				Lombardy	At the end of the month flees again to Crema in Venetian territory. Between January and February the duke sends him many signals alternating flattery with threats. In March Galeazzo Maria Sforza, irritated because his mother continues to give him trust and affection, reveals to her a false treaty of Donato del Conte for the delivery of the fortress of Castelleone to a Venetian constable. The land and castle of Vespolate are confiscated to be granted to a ducal favorite, chamberlain Giovan Francesco Attendolo, son of Foschino. Del Conte returns to the duchy: at the end of April attends the blessing of banners that takes place on the day of San Giorgio. During the ceremony his behavior is harshly criticized by the duke as is that of Troilo da Rossano. Follows a new removal and a new seizure of goods. In mid-June del Conte returns to Cremona in the service of Bianca Maria Visconti. The duke has the fief of Corbetta and all his movable and immovable goods restored to him; Vespolate is also soon returned to him. From this moment del Conte will attend reviews and provide for payment of mounted crossbowmen, while collateral Alessandro da Foligno will oversee payment of salaries of provisioned guards.
Oct.	Milan	Duke of Savoy		Piedmont and Emilia	Takes part in the new expedition against Philip of Bresse. With peace returns with his infantry to the Piacenza area.
Nov.	Milan	Correggio	Captain general infantry	Emilia	At the head of ducal infantry intervenes at the siege of Brescello. Having returned to ducal obedience only a few days ago has command responsibilities second only to those of captain general of the league Federico da Montefeltro. Soon the ducal troops abandon themselves to systematic plunder of the territory. In fifteen days the enterprise is finished.
1469
May			Captain general infantry	Lombardy	Is solemnly delivered by the duke the patent of appointment as captain general of ducal infantry. The condottiero continues to participate in all Sforza military campaigns receiving honors and recognition.
Dec.				Lombardy	Exercises heavy pressure on the authorities of the commune of Vailate so that they release a provisioned of his company imprisoned for multiple thefts. The following month the duke will side with the representatives of the citizenry.
1470
Feb.			500 provisioned
1471
June	Milan	France		Piedmont	Following the rapprochement between the King of France and Philip of Bresse, duchess Yolanda of Savoy asks for help from the Duke of Milan. Del Conte is again sent to Piedmont at the head of an infantry contingent of 400 crossbowmen, 100 arquebusiers and 650 provisioned.
July				Piedmont and France	At Turin and Susa. Attends a war council with Aspromont; the following day moves toward Chambéry with 3 bombards. Forced to retreat toward Montmélian, captures and sacks the locality. Besieges the castle defended by 40 men.
Aug.				France Lombardy	Returns to Lombardy as a consequence of a truce between the belligerents. Receives at Cumignano sul Naviglio the Duke of Milan Galeazzo Maria Sforza.
1472
Spring	Milan	France	Captain general infantry		Always has command of Milanese infantry, 11,800 infantry: of these, 11,000 are ducal provisioned, that is soldiers in permanent service or recruited directly by the government and not through condottieri.
May				Piedmont	Reaches Vercelli with many provisioned, lodged in the citadel and in inns near the city: the soldiers guard duchess Yolanda of Savoy for all the time that the French ambassador, Cominges, and Philip of Bresse stay in Vercelli.
1473
May				Piedmont	Yolanda of Savoy sends him to Vercelli with 200 infantry.
Dec.				Lombardy	Meets in Milan with duke Galeazzo Maria Sforza, Francesco Secco and Giovanni Pallavicini to evaluate the situation of Genoa.
1474
Jan.				Lombardy	His intervention in Piedmont is requested by the Duke of Savoy.
1475
Apr.				Lombardy	On the occasion of the feast of San Giorgio the duke has a special jacket “with crowns” made for him.
1476
Mar.				Piedmont	Is sent once more to Piedmont with 2,000 infantry, apparently to help the duchess of Savoy there from the intimidations of the Duke of Burgundy Charles the Bold.
June	Milan	Duke of Burgundy		Lombardy Piedmont	Crosses the Ticino with the pretext of a raid carried out by troops of the Bishop of Geneva Gian Luigi di Savoia who have caused damage of 40,000 ducats to some Milanese merchants. Del Conte occupies Volpiano (controlled by the marquis of Monferrato) with instructions to plunder everything. Plans the plundering operations using the teachings received from his old master, Sforza. First divides on paper the boroughs, streets and buildings to be hit; distributes them among the squadrons and, finally, gives the signal for action that unfolds in order and without overlapping. Touches Vespolate; passes through the lands of the count of Valperga with 200 men-at-arms and 3,000 men among crossbowmen and infantry; has with him also a bombard and 4 small cannons; fords the Sesia and reaches Casanova; from here moves to Cigliano after a tiring march of 14 miles completed in nine hours. Takes possession of the port of Mazzè and crosses the Dora Baltea; in Canavese obtains Montanaro, land belonging to the abbot of San Benigno, which surrenders following a brief bombardment. The castle is sacked the following day. Are sent to him as reinforcement 50 crossbowmen under the orders of Berlingieri Caldora and Marchino d’Abiate and another 50 commanded by Antonio Caracciolo together with four small cannons and two small mortars. Having left Nizzardo Crivelli in the fortress, moves to the siege of San Benigno Canavese which defends itself vigorously with crossbows, small cannons and stones. Del Conte plants the artillery, a barrel of gunpowder catches fire and causes a fire in his camp; despite everything he is able to continue operations. The castle surrenders on terms on condition of not receiving aid within a day. The town is set on fire with the exception of the church and monastery.
July	Milan	Fieschi		Piedmont	Assaults Feletto, whose inhabitants to avoid being sacked recognize a ransom of 500 ducats; similar result (ransom of 500 ducats) has the decision to assault Lombardore. Soon is recalled by Galeazzo Maria Sforza to take possession of Masserano at the expense of Innocenzo Fieschi. Meanwhile the duchess of Savoy is captured by supporters of the Duke of Burgundy: comes a counter-order indicating him to strengthen himself in Montanaro, Lombardore and Feletto. At the news that the heir of the duchy of Savoy has managed to escape capture with the help of a Piedmontese condottiero in the service of Charles the Bold (Luigi Tagliente), del Conte approaches the fortress of Masserano. Sends Balzarino da Lodi and Antonio di Pozzobonello to negotiate with Innocenzo Fieschi (suspected of connivance with Obietto Fieschi) the delivery of the fortress. Receives 2 bombards the “Bissona” and the “Buona” and prepares for siege. Some of his soldiers are surprised stealing in the lands of the Duke of Savoy: the Duke of Milan orders them hanged. Assaults on Masserano begin. Fieschi contacts Donato del Conte through Giovanni da Verona; surrenders to the Sforza forces ceding them all his fortresses and delivering his family members as hostages. The condottiero leaves Giovanni del Conte at Masserano, and goes with his company to Bolgaro according to orders received.
Oct. Nov.				Piedmont	Is reported on the Sesia with the ducal army. In the period he is invested enjoys great responsibility. His relations with the duke, however, have occasion to worsen once again. Falls ill and retires to Vespolate in the grip of a serious mental alteration. During the illness the duke associates a son with him in command of the infantry. Recovers soon and the reasons for tension seem overcome.
Dec.				Lombardy	Galeazzo Maria Sforza is assassinated in Milan, in the church of Santo Stefano.
1477
Jan.				Lombardy	Takes oath of loyalty to the widow of Galeazzo Maria Sforza, duchess Bona di Savoia.
Mar. Apr.	Milan	Fieschi		Liguria	Fights again the Fieschi who have rebelled against ducal authority. With Roberto da San Severino moves to aid, at Genoa, the garrison of the Castelletto, long besieged by men of Obietto Fieschi. Forces to surrender the exiles who have barricaded themselves in the nearby fortress of Castellaccio. Pursues on the occasion Paolo Fregoso who managed to escape capture. With the victory returns to Milan.
May				Lombardy	Is arrested by minister Cicco Simonetta as participant in the conspiracy plotted by the brothers of Gian Galeazzo Sforza (Ludovico, Ascanio, Ottaviano and Sforza Maria) and by Roberto di San Severino against the duchess of Milan Bona di Savoia. Confined in the Forni of Monza, is subjected to the torture of the rope (consisting in the twisting of the victim’s shoulders under their own weight) on order of the captain of justice Girolamo Bernieri. Confesses the plot aimed at the killing of Galeazzo Maria Sforza, Cicco Simonetta and the occupation of the Sforza Castle, while San Severino should have raised the population in the streets. Donato del Conte is beheaded in prison; according to some authors dies in an escape attempt with another prisoner. The sheet he used to lower himself from a window of the fortress breaks and he is smashed on the stones of the surrounding moat. According to a last version he is beaten to death by order of Cicco Simonetta.

Sources

-“Omo egregio in disciplina militare.” COLLENUCCIO

-“Vir sane in arte bellica plurimum celebratus.” GALLO

-“Qui erat ex primis armorum ductoribus.” DIARIUM PARMENSE

-“Huomo egregio in disciplina militare..Giovane eccellente, e essercitato nelle armi” CORIO

-“Rei militaris propter diurnum belli usum non ignarum.” SIMONETTA

-“Generale valente ed altrettanto ambizioso.” ARICI

-“Giovane di grand’ardire e nemico della paura.” MORIGI

-“Miles bona fide,” PORCELLIO

-“Ufficialmente , la versione della morte del del Conte fu.. diversa (deceduto mentre cerca di fuggire mediante lenzuola annodate). Già dalla fine di marzo del 1478 Cristoforo da Bolleta comunicava l’insoddisfazione degli oratori di Luigi XI per le notizie fornite sulla morte del del Conte e, nel dicembre, il re non prestando fede alle notizie dell’avvenuta morte del condottiero, manifestava il desiderio di averlo in Francia. All’oratore milanese, perché lo comunicasse al re, Bona illustrava allora come la morte del del Conte fosse avvenuta “in lo Forno de Monza, dove per la obscuritate et humiditate la stancia è cattivissima”, in seguito all’aggravamento del suo “male de le gotte et fianchi”, in modo naturale. La reggente nella sua lettera continuava sostenendo che il del Conte ” era uno valente et gagliardo uomo d’arme sulla sella et era de li alevi de lo ill.mo duca Francesco, ma dall’altro canto non aveva cervello et era tanto bestiale che il governo de ogni impresa in luy saria stato pericoloso”. A questa epigrafe non si contrappone che il dispiacere per la sua morte da Ludovico Sforza, secondo la testimonianza della “Cronaca gestarum in partibus Lombardie.” PETRUCCI

-Con Roberto da San Severino “Uomini d’altissimo valore” I. CANTU’

-Con il Sasso “Egregi Capitani sforzeschi.” DRAGONETTI

-“Condottiero di gran nome.” VARESE

-“Giovane gagliardo ed essercitato nell’armi.. Egregio capitano.” NUBILONIO

-“Il Borri era un gran soldato, conosceva meglio di chiunque altro i segreti dell’organizzazione militare del ducato ed era un uomo-simbolo per tutti gli sforzeschi: ma aveva una personalità irrequieta, indocile e incline ai colpi di testa.” COVINI

-“Il compagno di imprese e di parte di Roberto di Sanseverino.” FUBINI

-“Il tipo del soldato leale, avendo servito gli Sforza come comandante della fanteria tutta la vita.” MALLETT

-“Il processo di Donato del Conte fu letto ai vari ambasciatori accreditati presso la corte e venne spedito agli oratori che eran presso la Repubblica di Venezia, il duca di Savoia e il re di Francia. Donato non sub¡ la condanna a morte, perche’Bona (di Savoia, vedova di Gian Galeazzo Sforza) non voleva incrudelire su chi non poteva piu’ nuocere, essendo trattenuto nel carcere di Monza. Ma qui egli, secondo alcuni, si ammalo’ e mori’: secondo altri, avendo tentato di fuggire calandosi nel fossato del castello, si fracasso’ il capo sui ciottoli del fossato e di li’ a qualche giorno soccombette.” SANTORO

-Versione di sua morte “Tenuto prigoniero a Monza, ricavata una fune da un lenzuolo con l’aiuto di qualche compagno di prigione, si stava calando in un fosso lì appresso quando, ben presto, caduto dalla fune, precipitò in modo assai infausto sul terreno e venne trovato che a stento serbava il respiro; e, applicatogli senz’esito un rimedio, spirò in modo assai infelice poco dopo, da uomo senza dubbio non mediocre per altri aspetti se considerossi le molti doti fisiche e spirituali.”MADRIGNANO