How Pirro Colonna’s irascible nature shaped his military career
Pirro Colonna (also known as Pirro Baglioni di Castel di Piero, Pirro da Castel di Piero, Pirro da Stipicciano, Pirro Spiriti, Pirro Baglioni, or Pietro Colonna). Originating from San Michele in Teverina (Castel di Piero) or Sipicciano. He held the title of Marquis of Mortara and was lord of San Michele in Teverina (a hamlet of Civitella d’Agliano), Graffignano, Attigliano, half of Sipicciano, Roccalvecce, as well as Pennadomo, Fallascoso, and Sant’Apollinare in the Abruzzi. A staunch Ghibelline, he was also the father-in-law of Adriano Baglioni.
Born:
Death:
| Year, Month | State, Comp. ventura | Opponent | Command | Area of Activity | Actions Undertaken and Other Salient Facts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1514 | The name of the father is Fierabraccio or Fortebraccio Baglioni. He lives in Sipicciano until the death of his father (August 1514), which occurs while fighting in the Imperial army at the Battle of Ombriano. Orphaned, his mother Lavinia Savelli entrusts him to the Colonna family. Pirro assumes that surname in memory of his protector Ascanio Colonna, who raised him and educated him at his court. | ||||
| 1523 | The Apostolic Chamber confiscates the castle of Sipicciano; in June follows the seizure, again by the pontifical authorities, of his fief of Castel di Piero (San Michele in Teverina). The second location is granted to Beatrice Farnese, already lady of Sipicciano, for having married his uncle Antonio Baglioni. The Colonna rebels against this situation. Pope Adrian VI (Adriano VI) orders vigorous action against him; the destruction of that castle is threatened. | ||||
| 1525 | |||||
| Oct. | Colonna | Church | Lazio | He does not give up on the plan to regain his possessions. Despite the ban issued by the pontifical authorities of Viterbo, he begins a series of attacks on San Michele in Teverina. He promises a truce to the governor of the Patrimony, agreeing to honor the commitments until May of the following year. | |
| Nov.-Dec. | Lazio | He enters San Michele in Teverina at night at the expense of Beatrice Farnese, widow of his uncle Antonio Baglioni: the pontifical forces intervene. The Colonna does not find the help he hoped for, neither from Cardinal Pompeo Colonna nor from Giulio Colonna. He is attacked by Galeazzo Farnese (1500 men), soon joined by many supporters of the maganzesi of Viterbo, including Giovan Corrado Orsini, Ludovico Orsini, the Count of Anguillara, Berardo Monaldeschi della Cervara, Dolce da Corbara, and many other soldiers from Spoleto, Narni, and Orvieto. Besieged in the castle, he holds out there for forty-eight days, repelling numerous assaults that end with the death of 400 Corsican infantrymen. Vitello Vitelli appears, and the Colonna surrenders on terms into his hands. He is taken prisoner to Civita Castellana; his soldiers are set free. Many of his supporters are hanged, while many others are sent to the galleys as rowers; the castle is demolished. | |||
| 1526 | Empire | Church | |||
| 1527 | |||||
| Spring | Lazio | With Ottaviano Spiriti and Marzio Colonna, both supporters in Viterbo of the gattesca faction, he prevents the Landsknechts of the Constable of Bourbon, marching toward Rome, from crossing the Tuscia and the territory of Viterbo. | |||
| June | Lazio | He enters Rome a month after the sack and assists citizens harassed by the Imperial troops; he shelters at least five hundred nuns in his palace; he pressures the occupiers to refrain from torturing inhabitants and to reduce their demands in ransom payments. He also orders the vineyard below Monte Mario opposite the Ponte Milvio, belonging to Pope Clement VII (Clemente VII), to be burned. He meets with the Pope, who has locked himself in Castel Sant’Angelo, reconciles with him, and vouches for an agreement between the Imperials and the pontifical authorities. He is given Cardinal Franciotto Orsini as a hostage. At the end of the month, he arrives at Civitella d’Agliano with 1000 infantrymen and occupies the town together with Marzio Colonna. | |||
| Aug. | Fuoriusciti | Viterbo | Lazio | With Camillo and Marzio Colonna and Ottaviano Spiriti, he breaks into Viterbo and cuts down the supporters of the Guelf party of the maganzesi, enemy of the gattesca side. The captains remain masters of the city until March of the following year. He then enters Castel di Piero (San Michele in Teverina) at night and expels the widow of Antonio Baglioni. | |
| 1528 | |||||
| Jan. | Lazio | In January, Pirro and Marzio Colonna, with Spiriti, pillage the countryside of Castiglione di Teverina and Civitella d’Agliano. During the same period, they attack Montecalvello at night, putting to flight the Monaldeschi supporters of the maganzesi (15 enemies are killed). | |||
| Mar. | Lazio | He hands Viterbo over to the pontifical authorities. By a papal brief, he is absolved by Pope Clement VII (Clemente VII) of his previous actions. | |||
| Apr. | Lazio, Tuscany | He leaves Viterbo with Ottaviano Spiriti; he heads toward the Sienese territory, pretending he intends to take service with that republic. He tries to plunder Acquapendente, defended successfully by Camillo Monaldeschi della Cervara; he instead captures the castle of Trevinano without opposition and forces the Monaldeschi to pay him a ransom of 400 ducats. At the end of the month, he leaves the Patrimony; he passes through San Casciano dei Bagni. | |||
| May | Fuoriusciti Church | Siena Siena | Lazio, Tuscany | He moves toward Sienese territory with 400 arquebusiers, while Spiriti, who has entered the pay of the Papal State, is sent to conquer Rocca Giulia in the Roman Campagna. The Colonna is reported at Trevinano, at San Pietro, where grain belonging to the Florentine Andrea degli Albizzi is stolen from the storehouses. He is also hired by the pontifical authorities. Spurred by these, he enters Chiusi at night with 800 infantrymen and some exiles. During the sack of the town, many inhabitants are killed; he occupies the fortress. Fabio Petrucci and Giovanni Martinozzi join him. The Florentines become suspicious of these movements. He roams through the Maremma with Giovan Francesco Orsini and the bands of Petrucci and Malatesta Baglioni. The French forces take action; the Sienese pay him 4000 ducats, and the Colonna departs the city. Lastly, he leaves the Sienese territory; he moves into the Orvieto area, where he attacks the Torre del ponte, which had been occupied the previous night by the Sienese captain Panfilo Tandera. | |
| June | Church | Rimini | Tuscany, Romagna, and Emilia | He has a bridge built over the Paglia; he enters the Val di Chiana, passes through Chianciano, and leaves Chiusi. He is now recalled by the papal authorities to fight in Romagna. He heads near Rimini with 200 light cavalry and 2000 infantrymen (part Corsicans and part Perugians) and enters the city. He threatens the Venetians who occupy Cervia and Ravenna. He moves on to Cesena and from there sets out for Bologna. | |
| Sept. | Umbria, Lazio | In Umbria. He camps at Città di Castello, then returns to the Viterbo area. | |||
| Oct. | Empire | France | Umbria, Lazio | He raises troops in Terni and gathers supplies. He links up in Amelia with Giovambattista Savelli, Cristoforo Savelli, and Ottaviano Spiriti. Together, they ravage the Sabina, attacking Mugnano Sabino, Bassano in Teverina, and Penna in Teverina (fief of Giovan Corrado Orsini), as well as Giove (fief of Galeazzo Farnese). Both captains are currently busy in Apulia, fighting the Imperial forces in the service of the Venetians and the French. | |
| 1529 | |||||
| Feb.-Mar. | Lazio | He besieges Amatrice with Giobambattista Savelli, Marzio Colonna, and Ottaviano Spiriti. Having taken the town, he devastates its surroundings with 1000 infantrymen. | |||
| June | Empire | Perugia | Umbria | He again joins Savelli and Braccio Baglioni to raid the Perugia area to the detriment of Malatesta Baglioni. Pope Clement VII (Clemente VII) secretly supports the attackers; he reaches Pale, near Foligno, with Savelli, while Braccio Baglioni encamps in Norcia with Ghibelline exiles. In mid-month, with Braccio Baglioni, he enters Bevagna and Montefalco; he then moves into the territory of Todi. The Florentines move to assist Malatesta Baglioni. | |
| July | Umbria | He is in Terni. His men wander off like bandits and extort all travelers on the roads. | |||
| Aug. | Empire | Florence Perugia | Umbria, Tuscany | He takes part in the capture of Spello. He supports Prince of Orange Philibert of Chalon (Filiberto di Chalons) against the Florentines. | |
| Oct. | Tuscany | He is reported at Poggibonsi in command of 300 infantrymen. He moves on to lay siege to Florence and fortifies himself at Barduccio. He occupies Cortona and Arezzo. | |||
| Nov. | Tuscany | He ambushes Giovanni Covoni and Tinto da Battifolle at Barbialla; during the clash, he captures Francesco della Brocca and seizes two standards. Attacked by Amico d’Arsoli, he is forced to withdraw. Among the Imperial forces, 20–25 infantrymen are killed and six horses are captured; the Florentines suffer no deaths but many wounded. Pirro Colonna has another skirmish with Taddeo del Monte at Santa Maria, Tommaso Corso, and Amico da Venafro. | |||
| Dec. | Tuscany | He clashes with Stefano Colonna at Santa Margherita a Montici. He goes to Peccioli with 1500 men, both cavalry and infantry, forcing Ercole Rangoni to fall back to Pontedera. The Florentines counterattack: Rangoni defeats him at San Romano and at Marti while he is attempting to relieve the town from the siege imposed there by Rangoni and Commissioner Ceccotto Tosinghi. He receives reinforcements, seizes much livestock, and takes refuge at Montopoli in Val d’Arno. The castle is retaken by the enemy: his men are dispersed in the area looting and so it is easy for Rangoni to defeat him a third time at the end of the month. Two hundred of his men are killed; meanwhile, Commissioner Francesco Ferrucci takes seven of his banners. Of his company’s eight captains, six are captured (including Pallotta da Perugia) and two are killed. A few days later, the Colonna attacks the Florentines at Forcoli. Attacked in turn by Michele da Montopoli, he is forced to retreat with his cavalry into a muddy ditch: he escapes the predicament by throwing himself from a ledge. Most of his men are killed by peasants. He returns to camp, recruits new men, ransoms the surviving prisoners, and rebuilds his company. | |||
| 1530 | |||||
| Jan. | Tuscany | He aims for the fortress of San Miniato; he reaches the Cecina River, where he seizes large quantities of livestock. Amico d’Arsoli comes against him to recover the plunder. The Florentines fall into an ambush set by some arquebusiers of Stefano Colonna. The opponents, fearing worse consequences, withdraw. | |||
| Mar.-Apr. | Tuscany | He camps between Peccioli, Montopoli on the Arno, and Palaia; he kills in combat Ercole da Brisighella, on his way from Volterra to Empoli. In mid-April, his men mutiny because of late payment. | |||
| June | Lazio | He goes to Rome with Ottaviano Spiriti to deliver a man accused of having received money from the Florentines to poison the Pope. | |||
| July | Tuscany | He is contacted by Cencio Guercio, an envoy of Malatesta Baglioni, the Florentines’ captain general; with the Prince of Orange’s permission, he meets secretly with Baglioni to discuss the terms of capitulation proposed by the latter. | |||
| Aug. | Tuscany | He participates in the Battle of Gavinana. In mid-month, he is present with other captains at Santa Margherita a Montici for the signing of the capitulation acts of the republic, negotiated on one side by Malatesta Baglioni and on the other by the new Imperial captain general Ferrante Gonzaga and the Pope’s commissioner general Baccio Valori. At the end of the month, some of his soldiers kill two Spaniards who had robbed and murdered two Italian infantrymen, throwing them into a well. The Spaniards arm themselves to avenge their companions; the Italian troops, counting on the Germans not taking action, attack the Spaniards the following day. The latter are initially beaten. Gonzaga convinces the German captain Tamisio to intervene on behalf of the Spaniards. A real confrontation ensues in which the Italians are defeated; 600 are killed and 300 wounded; the Colonna’s men are defeated and lose their lodgings along with the spoils stored there. According to some versions, the uprising was instigated by Colonna himself at the urging of the pontiff (with whom, moreover, he never had good relations), worried by the large sum owed by the Papal States for the soldiers’ back pay still unsettled. | |||
| Oct. | At the end of the month, Pope Clement VII (Clemente VII) absolves him a second time for the devastating incursions he carried out in the Patrimony and in Umbria. | ||||
| 1531 | |||||
| Sept. | Umbria, Emilia, Lazio | In Umbria with Braccio Baglioni. He then moves on to Modena; he goes to Correggio to duel Sforza Baglioni, brother of Braccio, accused of killing one of his relatives: the clash does not take place due to the absence of the Marquis of Vasto Alfonso d’Avalos. He returns to the Teverina area. | |||
| Nov. | Empire | C. Swiss (Cantons) | Switzerland, Romagna, Lazio | He is sent to assist the Catholic cantons against the Lutheran ones: peace soon separates the contenders. At the end of the year, he leaves Romagna to return to Graffignano. He has in fact been recalled there to resolve an issue concerning redrawing the borders between the territory of San Michele in Teverina and that of nearby Civitella d’Agliano. | |
| 1532 | |||||
| July | Empire | Ottoman Empire | 500 infantry | He is given command of a colonelcy of 500 infantry. Along with Camillo Colonna, however, he gathers 3000 men to fight in Hungary against the Turks of Sultan Suleiman (Solimano). | |
| Sept. | Austria | He passes through the Cremona area, the Verona area, and then proceeds to Austria for the defense of Vienna. | |||
| Oct.-Dec. | Austria, Trentino, Emilia, Lazio | In Innsbruck; he is forced to return to Italy following the mutiny of Italian infantrymen caused by late pay and the scarcity of rations. He is reported passing through Rovereto and Riva del Garda. He stops in Bologna, where in mid-December he is present with other captains at the meeting between the Pope and Emperor Charles V (Carlo V). After the talks, he continues on to the Teverina region. | |||
| 1533 | |||||
| Feb.-Apr. | On his own | Siena | Lazio, Tuscany | He threatens the Sienese because of the failure to reinstate the properties of his wife Caterina, widow of Fabio Petrucci. He demands from the Petrucci heirs and the local authorities the assets that are her due. The Sienese prepare to defend their state. In mid-month, he is reported at Musignano with his men; he enters Tuscany and carries out some livestock raids between Montalto di Castro and Capalbio. He enters the countryside of Sovana, attacks the fortress, and takes 300 prisoners. At the beginning of March, he is at Musignano with cavalry and infantry. In April, Ascanio Colonna pleads his cause; at the end of the month, he is at the Carnaiola bridge, ready to move back into the Sienese territory. | |
| May | Umbria | In Rome. He challenges Giampaolo di Ceri to a duel. The fight is set to take place near the castle of Attigliano. Pope Clement VII (Clemente VII) intervenes, forbidding the match and ordering the two rivals to leave the city. | |||
| Aug. | On his own | Siena | Umbria, Lazio, Tuscany | He musters infantry and cavalry in the Orvieto region to head for Sovana. He has to abandon the plan due to heavy rain. He returns to Graffignano, while his friend Marzio Colonna stays in Amelia with 100 cavalry and an unspecified number of infantry provided by their cousin Ascanio. Two thousand men are involved in the new operation, deployed between Onano and the borders of the Maremma. The loss of his brother Giovan Carlo, who dies from a collapsing wall while on a night patrol, increases his determination. Around the same time, Giampaolo di Ceri moves to assist Beatrice Farnese and occupies his lands in the Teverina. There is also a shortage of supplies for his troops, and at the end of the month the Pope makes his position known. | |
| Sept.-Nov. | Tuscany, Umbria, Lazio | In September, he is under Sovana; at the beginning of November, he is reported near Capalbio and Gavignano, where he continues to raid livestock. He returns to the Orvieto region to gather supplies; he resumes hostilities in mid-month, still in league with Marzio Colonna. The latter crosses the Tiber near Alviano and arrives in Roccalvecce with 25 cavalry and 150 infantry. The two captains join at Graffignano; Pier Luigi Farnese, Leonora Orsini (wife of the lord of Onano, Gentile Monaldeschi), Bartolomeo Spiriti from Genazzano, and the exile from Spoleto Giacomo Bussi also send reinforcements to Pirro Colonna. He reaches the Sienese territory at night; he seizes livestock along the Paglia River in the grazing lands of Piancastagnaio, Radicofani, and San Casciano dei Bagni. Together with Marzio Colonna, he returns toward Acquapendente and attacks Canino. He then proceeds once more toward the Maremma with Braccio Baglioni. He continues to strike at the Sienese without receiving any positive response to his demands. | |||
| 1534 | |||||
| Jan.-Feb. | Lazio | As a reward for his services, Emperor Charles V (Carlo V) grants him an annual pension of 1000 scudi and bestows upon him in fief various assets and revenues confiscated from the rebels Francesco del Balzo, Antonio Annichino, and Giovanni Bernardino Riccio (Pennadomo, the castle of Fallascoso, the estate “Villa Pollenara,” and the farmstead of Sant’Apollinare, all located in the territory of Chieti). In February, he is summoned to Rome by Pope Clement VII (Clemente VII). | |||
| Mar.-Apr. | On his own | Siena | Lazio, Tuscany | In March, he is reported at San Casciano dei Bagni; in that locality, he quarrels with one of his most loyal squad leaders, Ludovico da Castel di Piero. In April, he returns to Rome. At the end of the month, he is in Talamone, once again threatening the Sienese. His behavior is now officially condemned by the Imperial authorities; he is called upon to cease all forms of harassment and to compensate his opponents for the damage caused. | |
| May | Farnese | Pitigliano | Lazio | At Capodimonte and Valentano. He sends 50 men (cavalry and infantry) under Piero Latino to assist Pier Luigi Farnese, who is engaged in a conflict with the Count of Pitigliano Giovan Francesco Orsini. The Sienese captain Bartolomeo Peretti also arrives in Valentano with about forty soldiers. A brawl breaks out between these troops and the Sienese, who have likewise come to support the Farnese. Three of his soldiers are killed. The Farnese intervenes in turn and attacks the men under Peretti. | |
| June-July | Lazio, Umbria | He withdraws to his castle of Graffignano. He contemplates returning to harass the Sienese. En route, he falls into an ambush laid by Giampaolo di Ceri. Escaping the danger with some losses, he heads to Cetona with 4000 men; he passes through Castiglione in Teverina, where Bartolomeo Spiriti awaits him with many cavalry and infantry. He advances toward Allerona, where Cecco da Viterbo and Marinangelo da Terni join him. | |||
| Oct.-Nov. | Church | Baglioni | Umbria | He teams up with Braccio Baglioni and the Ermanni to oppose Rodolfo Baglioni, who has taken Perugia, at Deruta. He ravages the territory; envoys from the new Pope Paul III (Paolo III), Bosio Sforza and Giovan Francesco Orsini, arrive in Perugia to negotiate an agreement among the parties. He is forced to abandon Deruta, where more than a hundred houses are burned, and to discharge his troops. | |
| 1535 | |||||
| Feb. | He remains in the service of Pope Paul III (Paolo III). He is reported at Civita Lavinia (Lavinio) on the occasion of the baptism of Ascanio Colonna’s son, Marcantonio. | ||||
| 1536 | |||||
| May | Empire | France | Emilia | In Modena with Girolamo Orsini. Their men (300 cavalry and 1000 infantry) are quartered in the village of Cittanova. | |
| Aug. | Piedmont | He besieges Baldassarre della Massa in Chieri. The latter is forced to surrender. | |||
| 1537 | |||||
| Jan. | Tuscany | Following the assassination of Duke Alessandro de’ Medici, he is dispatched by Alfonso d’Avalos to Florence with Marzio Colonna in support of Cosimo de’ Medici. | |||
| Apr. | Florence | Fuoriusciti | Tuscany | He enters the service of Cosimo de’ Medici. With Alessandro Vitelli and Rodolfo Baglioni, he relocates to defend Borgo San Sepolcro (Sansepolcro) and Anghiari, threatened by potential raids by Piero Strozzi. | |
| July-Aug. | Tuscany | He leaves Florence with Alessandro Vitelli at the head of 3000 German infantry and numerous cavalry; after letting the troops rest in Prato, he arrives by stealth at Montemurlo, defended by Sandrino da Filicaia. Strozzi has in fact gone toward Pistoia to attack members of the Panciatichi faction. Filicaia is soon forced to flee, and the Colonna takes part in the capture of Montemurlo: as compensation, Alessandro Vitelli grants him part of an 18,000-scudi ransom offered by Cosimo de’ Medici. | |||
| …………….. | Tuscany | A mutiny of the Spanish soldiers breaks out due to late payment: they carry out numerous raids in Florentine territory. The Colonna arrives; he manages to persuade them to leave the State by paying them one installment of wages. | |||
| 1538 | |||||
| Summer | Tuscany | He is sent to the Pisa area and Pietrasanta to guard that territory and to prevent the passage of Lucca’s troops on the road from Camaiore to the fortress of Montignoso, the outermost Lucchese stronghold in the war that this republic is conducting against Massa. At the end of July, he arrives in Versilia, still tasked with surveillance. | |||
| 1539 | |||||
| June | Tuscany | He quells some uprisings that erupt in Pistoia. | |||
| 1541 | |||||
| Feb. | Pope Paul III (Paolo III) confirms him in the fiefs of Graffignano and San Michele in Teverina. | ||||
| …………….. | Tuscany | He is part of a commission appointed to review the walls of Florence. | |||
| 1542 | |||||
| July | Empire | France | He is tasked with raising 2000 infantry along with Camillo Colonna and Fabrizio Maramaldo. | ||
| Dec. | Lazio | He returns to his lands with his son-in-law Ulisse Orsini. He leaves the command of a colonelcy; he is not granted the rank of maestro generale di campo, which had nevertheless been promised to him. | |||
| 1543 | |||||
| …………….. | Tuscany, Lombardy | A series of negative episodes—one after another—lead Cosimo de’ Medici to rid himself of his presence: a quarrel with the Duke’s brother-in-law Lorenzo de’ Medici; an assault with clubs on Ceccotto Tosinghi; harsh words directed at a court dwarf favored by Duchess Eleonora di Toledo, caused by gambling losses that same afternoon (which the Colonna attributes to that jester). He mocks and beats the man in front of everyone. Cosimo de’ Medici banishes him from Florence; he is then formally dismissed. He is offered a pension of 1000 ducats, which he angrily refuses. He immediately leaves for Milan, heading to the court of the Marquis of Vasto Alfonso d’Avalos and the Imperial court to complain about what happened to him. Months later, he apologizes to the Duke for his behavior; on that occasion, he also asks for a warhorse, which he obtains along with pardon. | |||
| …………….. | Empire | France | Piedmont | He seizes the boroughs of Mondovì, defended by Giulio da Landriano; the city is taken by the Marquis of Vasto, Alfonso d’Avalos. By mid-July, at the head of 1500 Spanish infantry and as many Italian soldiers, he is tasked with capturing Andezeno, a location near Chieri. In one of the clashes, Ascanio della Cornia is gravely wounded in the right eye on the opposing side. The city is sacked. From there, he proceeds toward Savigliano, where he is appointed governor by the Marquis of Vasto. | |
| 1544 | |||||
| Jan. | Piedmont | He is ordered to cross the Po three miles above Carignano with 3000 infantry; meanwhile, the Marquis of Vasto crosses the river on a pontoon bridge opposite the town. The Colonna enters it after overcoming the resistance of Blaise de Monluc; he is placed in charge of defending it with Count Felice d’Arco and Michele Spagnolo (2000 German infantry and 2000 Spaniards). They are besieged by 8000 French infantry led by the Duke of Enghien François de Bourbon (Francesco di Borbone), by Bouttières, by Pierre d’Aussun, and by Francesco Bernardino da Vilmercate. The French encamp at Villastellone. Blaise de Monluc secretly opens a dike of the Po by night to flood the area and block any relief from reaching the Colonna from Chieri or Asti. | |||
| Apr. | Piedmont | Alfonso d’Avalos is defeated at Ceresole Alba; panic sets in among his troops. The siege of Carignano tightens further; Pirro Colonna requisitions all the food stocks possessed by the inhabitants. The French camp at Villastellone and do everything they can to disrupt the provisioning of the town. | |||
| June | Piedmont, France | In mid-June, the defenders reject honorable terms of surrender offered by Pierre d’Aussun and Francesco Bernardino da Vilmercate. Reinforcements of 2000 Italian infantry under Marzio Colonna, coming from Chieri, are reported approaching, along with another 3000 Italian infantry currently halted at Vulpiano under Cesare da Napoli and Giuliano Cesarini. Meanwhile, Rodolfo Baglioni with 200 light cavalry and Giorgio Costa, Monsignor della Trinità, with 2000 infantry, stay at Fossano. The Marquis of Vasto, finally, is organizing 1500 German infantry under Sigismondo d’Arco, brother of Felice, and another 2000 Germans plus 10000 Spaniards led by the Count of Terlago. Nonetheless, the defenders are forced to surrender on terms to the Duke of Enghien: the town is left with only two loaves of bread. The Colonna departs with his men (who have had to swear not to fight the French for five months) with raised flags but without drumbeats. He is escorted to the Po by d’Aussun and Vilmercate. He proceeds to Chieri, where Ludovico Vistarini is located, and quarrels with that captain; he then meets with Monluc at Avigliana and, per their agreement, is accompanied into France by Renouard to present himself to King Francis I (Francesco I) and remain in that country for a year. He is soon released by the monarch. Instead, he is accused by Alfonso d’Avalos of causing the defeat at Ceresole Alba, for having given him incorrect data on the available food supplies in the town, thereby prompting an ill-advised move to relieve him. | |||
| Nov. | At the end of the month, following the death of Matteo Beccaria, Emperor Charles V (Carlo V) grants him the fief of Mortara, with the title of Marquis. | ||||
| 1546 | |||||
| …………….. | Empire | Protestants | Germany | He is not given any specific assignment, only the title of counselor. He fights in the Schmalkaldic War against the Duke of Saxony Johann Frederick (Gian Federico) and Landgrave Philip of Hesse (Filippo di Assia), supporters of the Lutheran league. | |
| July | Germany | He is forced by the enemy to withdraw from the Chiusa pass in Bavaria under the offensive of Sebastiano Schartlin. He goes to defend Regensburg (Ratisbona) with Orazio Brancadoro. The garrison consists of 200 Spaniards and 4000 German infantry under Aliprando Madruzzi. | |||
| Sept. | Germany | He is at Ingolstadt with Gian Giacomo dei Medici and Cesare da Napoli, facing Christopher of Oldenburg (Cristoforo di Oldenburg). With Giambattista Castaldo, he takes Neuburg an der Donau; he is then sent ahead toward Ulm with Castaldo, Alessandro Vitelli, Giulio Orsini, Cesare da Napoli, and Paolo Vitelli (600 Italian and Spanish arquebusiers, plus 60 light cavalry). He moves to assist Alessandro Vitelli, who is defending a bridge; captured by the opponents, he is soon freed in the same clash by Tommaso Coccapani. | |||
| Oct. | Germany | He encamps with other captains near Nördlingen. Again sent ahead to harass the Lutheran army’s movements. He attacks Donauwörth (Donauworth). | |||
| 1547 | |||||
| Feb. | Germany | He continues to oppose the forces of the Duke of Saxony. He is sent to support Ferdinand of Austria; he then fights Count Mansfeld (Mansfelt); he attacks Bremen and Magdeburg with Duke August of Nassau (Augusto di Nassau). | |||
| …………….. | Tuscany | The Imperial authorities transfer him to the territory of Siena. | |||
| 1549 | Lazio | With the death of Pope Paul III (Paolo III), he is placed on alert. In Rome. | |||
| 1550 | Lombardy | He is summoned to Milan by Ferrante Gonzaga as a consultant for military fortifications. In particular, he is tasked with sharing his expertise on strengthening the walls of the Castello Sforzesco. At the end of February, he is in Mantua for the funeral of Francesco III Gonzaga. His presence in Lombardy is not welcomed by the governor’s circle, especially Senator Giovambattista Schizo. Serious friction ensues, which Gonzaga tries to control by compelling Schizo to offer him an apology. | |||
| 1552 | |||||
| …………….. | Tuscany | He is still noted as a military engineer in Siena with Gian Giacomo dei Medici. He clashes with Governor Diego de Mendoza; he opposes the plan to build a fortress in the city. Finally, he leaves Siena and returns to his estates. | |||
| Nov. | Lazio | He dies in Graffignano. According to a prevailing rumor, he is poisoned at the instigation of Diego de Mendoza himself: the reason likely lies in his criticisms of the policies of Emperor Charles V (Carlo V) and his ministers. Niccolò Martelli dedicates a sonnet to him; he is also praised by Paolo Giovio, by Antonfrancesco Grazzini called Il Lasca, and by Francesco Beccuti called Il Ciappetta. His portrait by Giorgio Vasari is found in the Sala di Cosimo in Palazzo Vecchio in Florence. He marries Caterina de’ Medici, widow of Fabio Petrucci. |
Sources
-“Nobile e grand’huomo in arme.” UGHI
-“Fa professione di religione sopra gli altri e di fede, ed è in grazia di tutti i soldati. Nelli suoi consigli è udito e stimato assai. Quello che ho udito opporgli è che egli è troppo collerico. Ha avuto il carico dei cavalleggeri.” ALBERI
-“Fu riputato prudentissimo, e patientissimo Capitano, sì da’ nimici, come da gli amici.” BUGATI
-“C’estoit un homme qui avoit beaucoup d’entendement et de valleur.” MONLUC
-“Huomo prontissimo d’animo e di corpo a sostener tuti i disagi ..Per la lunga esperienza della militia, egli s’haveva acquistato tanta riputatione, ch’egli sperava di conseguir tosto uno honor degno della militia, per la quale la sua virtù sarebbe potuta rilucere.” GIOVIO
-“Honorate, o guerrieri illustri e forti,/ Voi, cui Marte ministra ardore e gloria,/ Il cener sacro, e l’honorato busto,/ Et questo huom tolto innanzi tempo al mondo/ Con lodi rare, e lagrime suprema.” P. Giovito il Giovane. Da un sonetto raccolto dal GIOVIO
-“Soldato di molta isperienza.” MISSAGLIA
.-“Valentissimo condottiere..Valorosissimo soldato.” “Il signor Pirro la sua gente mosse/ dall’altra banda, valorosa e fiera/ sperando di mostrar l’alte sue posse/ senza spiegare al vento la bandiera/ & dentro con grande impeto percosse non mettendo battaglia, ordine o schiera/ quivi per l’aria fischi in palle, e foco/ cridi, e rumor crescendo a poco a poco./…/ Amato era costui perché cercava/ sempre i sodati haver valenti e boni/ e lo stipendio merito a lor dava/ e fu nemico sempre de poltroni/ li caposoldi non se impursternava (impadroniva)/ ma facea pagamenti larghi, e doni/ anteponendo a l’or sempre l’honore/ dando a quei con parole & fatti, core.” ROSEO
-“…che vol sempre honore.” Da “La rotta di Filippo Strozzi a Montemurlo” in GUERRE IN OTTAVA RIMA
-“Huomo valoroso.” ADRIANI
-“Un condottiero di ventura enigmatico e duro, di poche parole e di lunghi silenzi.” CANTAGALLI
-“Soldato di molta reputazione.” CINI
-“E’ un personaggio contraddittorio, dotato di un forte carattere, che spesso lo porta ad essere irascibile e violento. E’ uomo d’azione, di “poche parole e di lunghi silenzi”, determinato a raggiungere gli obiettivi con ogni mezzo e senza il minimo scrupolo, ma nello stesso tempo è fragile, sensibile, molto religioso, fedele e attaccato alla famiglia, colto e con spiccate capacità organizzative.” MANCINI
-“Altero e stizzoso.” BOTTA
Specific Biographies
C. Mancini. Pirro Baglioni da Sipicciano.
