Micheletto Attendolo: Captain General and Battle of Anghiari- Condottieri di ventura

The Decline of Micheletto Attendolo: From Venetian Service to Piedmont Oppression

Micheletto Attendolo (Micheletto da Cotignola, Michele Attendolo). From Cotignola. Lord of Acquapendente, Potenza, Alianello, Campagna, Castelfranco Veneto, and Pozzolo Formigaro. Son of Bartolo Attendolo; brother of Lorenzo Attendolo; father of Perino Attendolo, Raimondo Attendolo, and Pietro Antonio Attendolo; uncle of Olivo; father-in-law of Marco Attendolo; cousin of Muzio Attendolo Sforza and Francesco Sforza; son-in-law of Niccolò Fortebraccio and Giacomo di Vico. Lord of Castelfranco Veneto.

Born: 1370, circa
Death: 1463

Year, month	State, Comp. ventura	Opponent	Conduct	Activity Area	Actions taken and other salient facts
1388	Ferrara		15 lances	Emilia	He joined Bosio Attendolo to reach his relatives Muzio and Lorenzo, who were serving under Alberto d’Este at the head of a company of 15 lances.
1392	Naples	Anjou	15 lances	Kingdom of Naples	After four years, he left the service of the Este family with Muzio to follow Alberico da Barbiano to the Kingdom of Naples, where they fought in support of Charles of Durazzo.
1397	Milan	Florence		Tuscany, Romagna	He continued to serve with Alberico da Barbiano against the Florentines; at the end of the campaign, he returned to Romagna.
1398	Florence	Pisa
1401	Florence	Milan		Veneto	He is reported to be with other condottieri in Este and Montagnana, alongside Robert of Bavaria.
1402
June				Emilia	Defeated at Casalecchio di Reno, he returned to Florence with the men of his company disarmed and on foot.
1406
June	Florence	Pisa	20 lances	Tuscany	He supported Muzio Attendolo Sforza when the latter crossed the Arno River in a small boat to repel an enemy attack on the opposite bank.
1408
…………	Ferrara	Parma		Emilia	He opposed the militias of the Lord of Parma, Ottobono Terzi.
Nov.				Emilia	He conducted a raid in the Parma region; he fell into an ambush with his brother Lorenzo and Santo Parente. Captured along with these captains, he was taken to a prison in Parma, where he was continuously tortured. Chained, he was stripped and soaked with cold water every night.
1409
Jan.				Emilia	He managed to escape with his fellow soldiers from the prison by creating a breach in the wall adjacent to the salt warehouse. Through this opening, they all fled, nearly naked, passing over rooftops, scaling walls, crossing fields, and climbing the passes of the Apennines. They found refuge in Felino, where they were welcomed by Bishop Giacomo dei Rossi.
…………				Emilia	He was in Rubiera and Modena with his cousin Muzio.
May				Emilia	Together with Muzio and his brother Lorenzo, he dealt the final blow to Ottobono Terzi, smashing his head during a meeting near Rubiera, where the Lord of Parma had gone to open peace negotiations with Niccolò d’Este.
1410	Florence	Naples		Tuscany
1411					He was sent by his cousin Muzio with Bosio Attendolo (and 300 men) to aid the Sienese, from whom Ladislaus of Anjou had taken Talamone. He captured the town and secured its fortress.
Mar.				Tuscany	He was sent by his cousin Muzio with Bosio Attendolo (and 300 men) to aid the Sienese, from whom Ladislaus of Anjou had taken Talamone. He captured the town and secured its fortress.
1412
May	Naples	Antipope, Florence		Campania	He followed Muzio in his switch to the opposing side. He was handed over with Bettuccio Attendolo and Gherardo da Cotignola (along with 300 horsemen) as a hostage to the King of Naples. When rumors spread that his cousin had instead reaffirmed his loyalty to Antipope John XXIII, he was detained in Capua as a prisoner, and his men were robbed. The information proved to be unfounded; Attendolo was released, and their weapons and horses were returned.
1413
Feb.				Romagna	He fought in Romagna against the troops of Braccio di Montone. He tried to oppose Montone’s march on Bologna. He clashed with his rival between Imola and Castel Bolognese, leading a number of horsemen equal to those of his adversary but with many more infantrymen. After many hours, victory favored Montone. He was captured along with 400 horsemen.
1414
Jan.				Emilia, Romagna	He went to Budrio with Malatesta Malatesta, reached Riccardina, and plundered the Bolognese territory. He then moved to Romagna, bypassed the Bolognese blockade at Forzano, near Imola, and returned to Faenza with the prisoners. However, he had to abandon the looted livestock along the way.
June				Umbria	He stationed in Umbria and joined Paolo Orsini and Malatesta Malatesta at Montefalco. From Bevagna, he moved against Ugolino Trinci, the lord of Foligno. He besieged Trinci in Foligno, where Trinci had fortified himself with his brother Lorenzo.
Aug.	Naples	Antipope		Lazio	Upon the death of the King of Naples, he went to Rome to support his son Perino, the city’s viceroy, who was struggling against attacks from the Orsini.
Oct.				Lazio	Micheletto Attendolo confronts his adversaries in the Viterbo area. When Muzio Attendolo returns to Naples with 200 horsemen, he is left in command of the militia along with Foschino Attendolo and Santo Parente.
1415
Jan. – Mar.	Sforza	Naples		Campania	In December, he is imprisoned by Queen Joanna I of Naples (Giovanna d’Angiò) along with his cousin Muzio and Francesco Sforza. He escapes and joins his brother Lorenzo, as well as Foschino Attendolo and Santo Parente. They pillage the Neapolitan countryside until the release of their relative.
…………	Sforza	Antipope		Marche	He is tasked with guarding Jesi and Rocca Contrada (Arcevia) with 400 horsemen and 200 foot soldiers. He is attacked by Montone; defeated, he then enters his service.
Aug.					Muzio Attendolo Sforza is imprisoned in Benevento by James of Bourbon, the future husband of the Queen of Naples.
1416
June	Montone	Perugia		Umbria	He follows Montone and marches against Perugia. Along with Cherubino da Perugia and Berardo da Varano, commanding 400 horsemen and 200 foot soldiers, he occupies Passignano sul Trasimeno, Isola Maggiore, and Isola Polvese; these are followed by the capture of Montegualandro and Vernazzano.
July – Aug.	Montone	Rimini		Marche	He crosses the territory of Amandola. In August, he is left by Montone to guard Montalboddo (Ostra), which has just been conquered.
Sept. Oct.	Sforza	Naples		Tuscany, Basilicata, Campania	He first arrives in Pietrafitta and then in Tricarico. Along with his brother Lorenzo and Santo Parente, he ravages the territory up to Naples and the Terra di Lavoro. James of Bourbon sends Giulio Cesare and Fabrizio da Capua against him; Margherita Attendolo, Muzio’s sister, imprisons four Neapolitan ambassadors in Tricarico and threatens to kill them if the same fate befalls her brother. According to other sources, the act was carried out by Lorenzo and Micheletto.
Nov.	Naples				The conflict ends with the release of Muzio; Micheletto Attendolo returns to the service of the Queen of Naples.
1417
May				Tuscany	He travels to Siena with Berardo da Varano to sell to the republic the territories held in the region by his cousin Muzio, which had already fallen into Sienese hands in October. He sells Chiusi, Piancastagnaio, Montegiovi, Montenero, and the castle of Ripa for 18,000 florins: part of the amount is offset by sums previously paid to the castellans of these locations and by credits owed to Cocco Salimbeni, Muzio’s father-in-law.
June				Lazio	Together with Muzio, he captures Jacopo Caldora in Casamala, near Frosinone, as Caldora was eager to join forces with Braccio da Montone.
July				Lazio	He enters Viterbo, overcoming the resistance of his adversaries.
Aug.				Lazio	He drives Montone out of Rome.
1418	Naples	Perugia	400 cavalry	Lazio	He is defeated and captured in Acquapendente by Montone. A ransom is imposed on him; on this occasion, he is helped by Niccolò Piccinino, who provides him with some jewels, on which Attendolo obtains a pledge of 400 ducats. With this money, he hires 400 horsemen and with them confronts Tartaglia. He defends Porano and Acquapendente.
1419
Spring				Campania	He is present at the coronation of Joanna I of Naples (Giovanna d’Angiò).
June	Church	Perugia		Lazio	He is besieged in Viterbo by Braccio da Montone and Tartaglia. Together with Francesco Sforza, he defeats the adversaries nearby and captures 562 of their horsemen. Among them is Niccolò Piccinino with 37 men from his company.
Autumn				Umbria	He recovers Spoleto and its fortress on behalf of the Papal forces.
1420
…………	Church	Naples	1000 cavalry	Campania	He opposes Braccio da Montone in the territory of Sessa Aurunca.
June				Campania	He joins his cousin Muzio in Acerra; they besiege and conquer the city.
1421
…………				Apulia	Micheletto Attendolo allies with Ardizzone da Carrara.
July				Campania	He is reported in Aversa, outside the village of San Lorenzo.
Aug.				Campania	He fights against Montone on the Sarno alongside his cousin Muzio, Tartaglia, and his brother Lorenzo.
Oct.				Campania, Apulia	Micheletto Attendolo, leading 400 cavalry, advances with Buzino da Siena to Nocera, strengthening its garrison. In Puglia, he is accompanied by Ardizzone da Carrara.
…………				Calabria	He assists Francesco Sforza when the Aragonese fleet lands in Calabria; along with Luigi da San Severino and his cousin, he helps defeat the opponents near Cosenza.
1422
July				Campania	Following an agreement between his relative Muzio and Il Montone, he takes command of the Sforza militias along with Foschino and Lorenzo Attendolo.
1423
Oct.	Church	King of Aragon		Abruzzo	He supports Muzio in his campaign in the Abruzzi, aimed at liberating L’Aquila from the siege imposed by Il Montone.
1424
Jan.				Abruzzo	He is present at the Pescara River, where he helplessly witnesses the drowning of his cousin Muzio.
Feb.				Calabria
March				Campania	He moves on to the siege of Naples; the city falls due to the betrayal of Jacopo Caldora and the actions of the Visconti fleet led by Guido Torelli.
Apr.				Campania	With his brother Lorenzo, he confronts Il Montone alongside Jacopo Caldora and Francesco Sforza.
June			1000 cavalry	Abruzzo	He participates in the Battle of L’Aquila, where he commands the vanguard (five companies) alongside Francesco Sforza. After the battle, he is accused of practicing “mala guerra” because he ordered his infantry to move under the bellies of the enemy horses to disembowel them. During the combat, he captures Antonello Ruffaldi.
July	Church	Perugia		Lazio	In Gallicano nel Lazio, he stands alongside Pope Martin V (Papa Martino V).
Aug.	Church	Orsini		Lazio	He is sent against Ulisse Orsini, who occupies Mugnano and Bomarzo; he captures Orsini and takes control not only of these locations but also of Cottanello.
Sept.	Church	Foligno		Umbria	He is contacted in vain by the Duke of Milan, Filippo Maria Visconti; along with Sforza, he forces the lord of Foligno to capitulate before the Papal forces.
Oct.				Umbria	He reaches Ponte San Giovanni, near Perugia, and moves to the winter encampments in Todi. He is approached by the Florentines, who offer him and his cousin Francesco a joint command of 400 lances and 200 infantry for a term of six to twelve months, with an extension option, and a payment of 50 to 60 florins per lance.
Nov.				Lazio	He moves to the borders with the Sienese during negotiations with Rinaldo degli Albizzi; he eventually receives money from the Papal forces, leading him to relocate his troops from Acquapendente to the Roman countryside.
1425
Mar.	Church	138 lances			He returns to the service of the Pope, commanding 422 cavalry for 138 lances.
Nov.				Umbria	He obtains from the Perugians the removal of the exile Isacco Beccuti from the list of rebels, appointing him to govern some of his lands in the Kingdom of Naples.
1426
June				Umbria	He moves into the Perugia area with 700 cavalry, who camp at Paciano and Panicarola.
1428
Jan.	Church	Città di Castello		Umbria	At the end of the month, he reaches Buccarelli and Ponte Pattoli before being sent to take possession of Città di Castello. He devastates the surrounding countryside with Ruggero Gaetani leading 400 cavalry. The inhabitants allow the Papal governor of Perugia, Piero Donato, to enter the town, which was under the lordship of the widow of Braccio di Montone. Nicolina da Varano is thus forced to abandon Città di Castello and seek refuge with her brothers in Camerino with her son Carlo. The exiled Perugians also leave the town.
Apr.	Church	Bologna		Umbria	At the end of the operations, he joins Gattamelata, who is tasked with recovering damages from Bologna, which had rebelled against the Papal States.
Aug.			800 cavalry	Romagna	He joins the Papal army in Imola, where, in addition to Gattamelata, other condottieri such as Niccolò da Tolentino, Jacopo Caldora, and Antongaleazzo Bentivoglio are present.
Sept.				Emilia	In the Bolognese region, the opposing captain Luigi da San Severino abandons the siege of Castel San Pietro Terme and positions himself on the Idice. Along with Antongaleazzo Bentivoglio and Niccolò da Tolentino, he seizes a bastion near the locality.
1429
Oct.				Romagna	His men assault and plunder 300 cavalry of Giovanni da Varano in the Ravenna area, who are traveling from Venice to Camerino.
…………					He offers his services in vain to both the Venetians and the Visconti.
1430
May					His similar negotiations with the Florentines also fail.
June	Church		480 cavalry		He renews his contract with the Papal forces.
1431
Feb.					His contacts with the Florentines resume.
Mar.	Church	Colonna	800 cavalry	Emilia, Lazio	Alongside Brandolino Brandolini and Gattamelata, he surprises a condottiero dismissed by the Florentines on the border between Bologna and Modena, who had stopped there with a safe-conduct from the Este family. Niccolò d’Este intervenes, releasing the captain and his men and returning part of the plundered goods. Micheletto Attendolo then moves to Lazio to counter the Colonna: he reaches the vicinity of Velletri and sets Lariano on fire.
Apr.				Emilia	Meanwhile, in Medicina, talks continue between his representatives and Averardo de’ Medici. Micheletto Attendolo requests a command of 600 lances and 400 infantry, compared to the 200 lances he currently commands, and a payment of 65 florins per lance.
May	Florence	Lucca, Siena, Milan	General captain, 600 lances, 200 infantrymen		He is granted a command of 600 lances (1621 cavalry) and 200 infantry. In his company, in addition to the men-at-arms, there are saddle makers, muleteers, farriers, stable boys, couriers, butchers, bakers, cooks, and players of trumpets and fifes.
June				Romagna, Tuscany	He leaves Imola, where his quarters are located, and passes through the Forlì area, which he does not hesitate to damage. In Arezzo, Rinaldo degli Albizzi hands him the baton of Captain General. He demands a similar ceremony in Florence on the day indicated by the astrologers; he is received in the Palazzo della Signoria. He then moves to Camporbiano.
July				Tuscany	He recaptures Montignoso and bombards Santa Maria a Trebbio, where Antonio da Pontedera is defending. He attacks the ducal forces at Ponsacco and captures 300 cavalry from Pontedera and Antonio della Pergola. By the end of the month, the defenders of Santa Maria a Trebbio are forced to surrender under negotiated terms.
…………				Tuscany	He conquers Verrucola, which is destroyed along with the fortress of Santa Maria a Trebbio. Initially, he withdraws from the Pisan territory when Ludovico Colonna joins the Lucchesi with 200 lances. Later, he successfully confronts Colonna.
Oct.				Tuscany	He goes to Florence with 150 cavalry and is received in the Palazzo della Signoria. He then goes to Ripoli and recaptures Caposelvi. Back in Florence, he is presented with a helmet, a horse, a surcoat, and a banner bearing the insignia of the city.
1432
Mar.				Tuscany	He leaves the winter quarters in Pisa in the village of San Marco and moves to Ripafratta. Due to his delay, a night attempt by Baldaccio d’Anghiari and Giacomo Bello to scale the walls of Lucca fails. Defeated at Marti by Antonello Ruffaldi and Antonio da Pontedera, resulting in the capture of 400 men, he negotiates a truce with his adversaries.
May			1590 cavalry	Tuscany	At the end of his term, he stays at Santa Maria a Trebbio. Due to the recent events, the Florentines appoint Niccolò da Tolentino as their Captain General. He moves to Pisa.
June				Tuscany	He penetrates into Valdarno and joins forces with Niccolò da Tolentino at San Romano to confront Bernardino degli Ubaldini and Francesco Piccinino. He enters the battle when the Florentines are losing; the Sienese are routed, with the capture of 600 cavalry. He pursues the fugitives towards Marti. He is accused by his adversaries of not honoring the agreements made in the previous truce. A total of 160 prisoners of notable rank are taken and brought to Empoli, where Micheletto Attendolo also goes. The Florentines commemorate the victory with a procession in honor of San Rossore, whose head is preserved in the Church of Ognissanti in a bust created about ten years earlier by Donatello.
July				Tuscany	He camps at Capannoli with Niccolò da Tolentino; he enters Lucca‘s territory and damages the countryside. He attacks the main city, partly due to ongoing disputes with the Captain General. Under the walls of Lucca, he kills a Hungarian captain who attempted to treacherously kill him with a sword under the pretext of an exchange of ideas. According to other sources, Micheletto Attendolo kills the enemy captain during an attack on his camp at Calci. Eventually, he is forced to retreat towards Ripafratta; he stops at Bettolle and demands the payment of his overdue wages (30,000 florins).
Nov.			General Governor	Tuscany	In mid-month, he signs a contract with Florence for a duration of nine months and nineteen days, with retroactive commencement staggered in two phases: July 1 for the majority of the company, and August 1 for an additional contingent of armed men. The Florentines elect him as Governor General, granting him a monthly stipend of 1,000 ducats and a command of 650 lances and 400 infantry, of which half are crossbowmen, 100 are armed with long lances, and another 100 are pavisiers. The term is set at nine months with a two-year extension option. Micheletto Attendolo returns to the winter camp in Pisa and is assigned a house nearby.
1433
Apr.	Church	Fortebraccio	General captain, 1258 cavalry	Tuscany, Lazio	In Pisa, the two-year extension is not confirmed for him. He enters the service of the Papal forces to counter Niccolò Fortebraccio and commands 1,258 cavalry. He crosses the Sienese territory and arrives in the Viterbo area. He calls on Ranuccio Farnese and Menicuccio dell’Aquila, stationed in Tuscanella (Tuscania), to jointly attack the rival captain at Vetralla. He begins the siege of the city; when Fortebraccio retreats to Caprarola, he pursues him. He sacks Montelaguardia and surrounds Castelnuovo di Porto, which belongs to Stefano Colonna.
May				Lazio	He moves to Rome; at Prati, he gathers 500 lances to welcome Emperor Sigismund of Hungary on the occasion of his coronation. During the event, he is knighted in Saint Peter’s by the emperor himself, along with Gentile Orsini.
June – July				Lazio, Umbria	He besieges Montagnola, occupies Casamala, and also besieges Caprarola and Vetralla. He sets out to confront Niccolò Fortebraccio, who is returning to the Viterbo area with 1,500 cavalry and 3,000 infantry. He reaches Borgo a Sesto while his rival halts on the plain of Viterbo towards Montefiascone. Upon hearing this, he returns to Viterbo, where he is joined by Giovanni Gatti, Carapella, and Paolo da Roma. The governor of Castro, Giacomo di Capranica, and Everso dell’Anguillara prevent his men from entering Ronciglione and Capranica out of fear of looting. Micheletto Attendolo leaves Viterbo, passing through Orte and Narni to pursue Fortebraccio, who has meanwhile seized Amelia, Foce, and Capitone.
Aug.				Lazio	He is defeated at Genazzano; he leaves Orte and returns to Viterbo because Fortebraccio is besieging Castiglione in Teverina. He raids Vetralla and sends Giovanni Gatti, Olivo, and Menicuccio dell’Aquila to assist Orvieto. Near Subiaco, he recaptures two castles, which are then sacked.
Sept.				Lazio	He besieges Niccolò Fortebraccio in Genazzano.
Dec.				Lazio	He is summoned to Rome by Pope Eugene IV (Papa Eugenio IV).
1434
Feb.	Church	Sforza		Umbria	He opposes Sforza‘s advance in Umbria without much conviction.
Mar.	Church	Fortebraccio		Lazio	With the agreement between Sforza and the Pope, he is appointed Grand Constable of the Kingdom by Queen Joanna of Naples (Giovanna d’Angiò). He confronts Fortebraccio alongside Sforza and Niccolò da Tolentino. They are joined by 450 lances led by his brother Lorenzo and Leone Sforza.
Apr.				Lazio	He besieges Monterotondo in vain. During the same month, he renews his contract with the Papal forces for another six months.
May				Lazio	He defeats Fortebraccio between Mentana and Monterotondo, capturing 200 cavalry and sustaining a thigh wound in the battle. He then besieges the enemy captain in Tivoli. Around the same time, Rome revolts against the Pope; Micheletto Attendolo camps near the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls and requests to move to Trastevere. The Romans, before agreeing, demand Leone Sforza as a hostage; he refuses and instead raids a large quantity of livestock, which he drives to Ostia. He builds a bridge over the Tiber and crosses the river; the Romans reappear, demanding the return of the livestock and the surrender of Marco Attendolo as a hostage. He bypasses Rome, reaches Vallemarina, and joins Francesco Sforza at Rocca Respampani. He follows Sforza to San Martino al Cimino, where negotiations with the adversaries begin through ducal ambassadors.
June				Lazio, Umbria	He is near Vetralla and Petrignano; he besieges Montefiascone and unsuccessfully confronts Niccolò Fortebraccio and Niccolò Piccinino. He crosses the Amelia countryside with his companies.
July				Lazio	He signs a five-month truce with the adversaries alongside Sforza in Magliano Sabina.
Aug.				Lazio	Francesco Sforza falls ill; Micheletto Attendolo enters his service at half pay and assumes command of the army. While awaiting his relative’s recovery, he adopts a very cautious strategy.
Sept.				Lazio	He breaks the truce in Rome and supports the pro-papal Orsini faction. In mid-month, he reaches the borders of Tuscany.
Oct. – Dec.				Umbria	He harasses Fortebraccio‘s supporters in San Gemini; to occupy the locality, he requests 150 infantry reinforcements from the inhabitants of Amelia. He positions a bombard against the Capitone castle.
1435
Jan. – Feb.				Umbria, Marche	He raids numerous territories controlled by Piccinino‘s vicars. He secures the Capitone castle and, in February, takes possession of Penna castle through negotiations. He winters with his men in the Marche of Ancona.
Apr.				Umbria	He besieges Gualtieri Zanfoneri in the Lugnano in Val Tiberina castle.
May	Naples	King of Aragon	897 cavalry	Abruzzo	He enters the Kingdom of Naples in the service of Renato of Anjou (Renato d’Angiò) with 897 cavalry. He will serve under his command for 45 consecutive months.
…………				Apulia	He opposes the troops of the Prince of Taranto, Giovanni Antonio Orsini del Balzo, in Puglia.
Sept.				Campania	He besieges Capua with Jacopo Caldora and Antonio da Pontedera; he constructs a bridge over the Volturno and positions himself on one side of the city while Caldora sets up his camp on the opposite side.
Oct.				Campania	Capua is on the verge of falling, but a conflict arises between Antonio da Pontedera, who wants to seize the city in the name of Renato of Anjou, and Jacopo Caldora, who wants to make himself lord of the city. Pontedera is bribed by the adversaries with 3,000 ducats and returns to the Roman countryside; Micheletto Attendolo fears an attack from the garrison of Giovanni Ventimiglia and joins forces with Caldora.
…………				Campania	He is still engaged in the siege of Capua.
1436
…………				Calabria	He operates around Cosenza. Together with Marquis Giovanni di Pont, he brings the entire region under Angevin control.
Apr.				Basilicata	He seizes Potenza and Viggiano with Marco Attendolo.
June				Campania	He sets fire to Marigliano and Rotondi di San Martino (Rotondi); he takes Panderano and Tramonti, and persuades the entire Amalfi Coast to obey Isabella of Anjou (Isabella d’Angiò).
…………				Calabria	He moves against Infante Don Pietro of Aragon and is appointed Viceroy of Calabria; he subdues Trebisacce and Albidona, and occupies Terranova, Tarsia, Roggiano Gravina, Morano Calabro, Torano Castello, and Lattarico; he also relieves the besieged Reggio Calabria.
1438
…………				Calabria	He captures Dolce dell’Anguillara.
Apr.				Calabria	He leaves Tropea upon hearing the news that Renato of Anjou (Renato d’Angiò) has been freed after a long captivity by the Duke of Burgundy.
May				Calabria	In Naples with 1,000 cavalry, he welcomes Renato of Anjou (Renato d’Angiò) into the city along with Jacopo Caldora. One of his captains, Cola da Castellaneta, enters Campagna. Micheletto Attendolo takes possession of it on behalf of his wife, Polissena da San Severino.
Aug.				Campania, Abruzzo	He reaches Boiano and joins Jacopo Caldora near Sulmona; he unsuccessfully attacks the locality, and his assaults on Popoli also prove futile.
Sept.				Abruzzo	He joins forces with the troops of Renato of Anjou (Renato d’Angiò). The contender for the Kingdom of Naples sends a herald to issue a challenge to Alfonso of Aragon. The Aragonese king promptly accepts, but uses the opportunity to avoid a battle, aware of the numerical inferiority of his army.
1439
Apr.				Abruzzo, Apulia	He lifts the siege of Sulmona and heads towards Puglia with Renato of Anjou (Renato d’Angiò); they stay for several days in Lucera before advancing towards Naples.
May	Sforza	King of Aragon	1334 cavalry		He returns to the service of Francesco Sforza with a nine-month contract, commanding 1,334 cavalry.
June					He assists Nicola and Spinetta Campofregoso in Naples; he captures the San Vincenzo tower and besieges Arnaldo Sans in Castelnuovo.
Aug.	Venice	Milan	1000 cavalry	Campania	He is summoned by Francesco Sforza to the Marche of Ancona. He moves to the Abruzzi to counter Giosia Acquaviva, seizing Penne, Sant’Andrea, Pignano, Montegaldiero, Bisenti, and other castles. He advances towards Lucera. During the same period, Antonio da San Severino captures Terranova and San Marco from him in Calabria. Micheletto Attendolo then enters the service of the Venetians and is called to support Sforza in the Veneto at the head of 400 lances and 300 infantry.
Sept.	Sforza	Naples	General governor	Marche, Abruzzo	He returns to the Marche of Ancona as Governor General under Sforza, commanding 2,000 cavalry and 500 infantry. He camps along the Chienti and, by mid-month, is near Macerata. He then moves to the Abruzzi to monitor the movements of the Aragonese forces.
Oct.				Abruzzo, Marche	He confronts Giosia Acquaviva, reclaiming many castles and villages that the captain had previously taken from Sforza’s control. He besieges Montesecco (Montefino).
Nov.				Marche	He sets up his winter quarters in the Marche of Ancona, imposing levies on various localities for the sustenance of his troops.
Dec.				Marche	He leaves Alessandro Sforza in charge as lieutenant and governor of the Marche.
1440
…………				Abruzzo	He continues to confront Giosia Acquaviva.
Apr. – May	Florence	Milan		Marche, Tuscany	He leads 400 lances and 300 infantry from the Marche (8 florins per lance and 2 per infantry). His company consists of 44 condottieri, 21 of whom command fewer than 10 horses each. In fact, he directly commands only 267 cavalry. He moves from Tolentino towards Tuscany, passing through Assisi, Bettona, Todi, Cortona, and Arezzo. There are fierce disputes between his men and those of Pietro Giampaolo Orsini. Both his men and Orsini’s act savagely towards the local population, engaging in livestock raids and killing peasants who attempt to resist their looting. Among other acts, they seize and plunder the Trappola castle, owned by the Ricasoli family.
June				Umbria, Tuscany	He hires Borso d’Este with 240 lances and heads towards the Perugia area. He frees Città di Castello from the siege laid by the adversaries. At the end of the month, Piccinino moves from Borgo San Sepolcro (Sansepolcro) and heads towards his camp at Anghiari. Around noon, Micheletto Attendolo notices the dust raised by the Visconti forces as they march towards the Papal camp; he sounds the alarm, leaves a squad at the camp, and heads to a small river. His companies march behind a large banner depicting blue and white waves, accompanied by quince fruits symbolizing his hometown. Upon reaching the river, he occupies a bridge and blocks its accesses with part of his men; he positions the others, both men-at-arms and infantry, along the riverbanks to prevent the enemy infantry from crossing. Initially, he manages to withstand the assault led by Francesco Piccinino and Astorre Manfredi, but the numerically superior adversaries force him to retreat to the foot of the Anghiari hill. At this point, the Papal troops of Simonetto da Castel San Pietro arrive to support him, preventing the collapse of his weak defensive line and forcing the Visconti troops to retreat beyond the bridge. Piccinino increases the pressure with cavalry and infantry; Attendolo again finds himself in difficulty until the intervention of Simoncino d’Anghiari and Pietro Giampaolo Orsini turns the tide of the battle. With the victory, his soldiers start looting, preventing him from pursuing Piccinino, who flees towards Sansepolcro. During the combat, he captures Ludovico da Parma.
July				Lombardy	He camps at Sansepolcro with Pietro Giampaolo Orsini, commanding 6,000 cavalry, 7,000 infantry, and numerous select troops. Piccinino takes refuge in Pistoia. At the end of the month, Attendolo is reported to be in Asola.
Aug.				Romagna	He heads to Forlimpopoli with Pietro Giampaolo Orsini; joined by Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta, he sets up camp at Selbagnone. He lays a tight siege to Forlì. Within a few days, he captures the fortress of Bagnacavallo without Francesco Piccinino and Guidantonio Manfredi daring to come to its aid.
Sept.				Romagna	He returns to the Forlì area, vainly besieges the main city, and lodges in San Varano; he captures Rocca San Casciano from Manfredi.
Oct.				Romagna, Marche	He follows Francesco Sforza in his attack on Forlì; then moves to the Rimini area with Bosio Sforza, Troilo da Rossano, Orso Orsini, and Niccolò da Pisa (commanding 6,000 cavalry) to winter with the troops in the Fano countryside, between San Cesareo and Rosciano. He devastates the countryside.
…………					He joins Francesco Sforza in Lombardy.
1441
Jan.	Sforza	Naples		Abruzzo	He opposes the Aragonese forces.
Feb.	Venice	Milan	561 lances	Romagna	He goes to Romagna to persuade Ostasio da Polenta to remain loyal to the Serenissima (Venice); he attacks Francesco Piccinino in Forlì.
Mar.			General captain		Micheletto Attendolo signs an initial contract with the Venetians (one year, plus an additional year under reserve). He is appointed captain general in place of Gattamelata. He is granted a monthly stipend of 600 ducats and a condotta comprising 561 cavalry and 400 infantry. This condotta will be renewed by the Most Serene Republic seven times. His company is divided into 87 units, some of which consist of fewer than five lance. When it comes time for battle, squads of around 25 lance are formed, each commanded by veteran condottieri.
Apr.				Veneto	In the Padua area.
May				Romagna, Veneto	He embarks at Rimini with Orso Orsini and Niccolò da Pisa. He arrives at Chioggia, where the Signoria sends four nobles to escort him to Padua, where, in mid-month, he is given the insignia of command in the city cathedral. Joined by Troilo da Rossano and other captains, he moves to Porcile (Belfiore) in the Verona area.
June				Veneto, Lombardy	He reaches Verona and Sommacampagna. In mid-month, he joins forces with Francesco Sforza; he carries two banners, his own and that of Florence. Together with his relative, at the head of 10,000 cavalry and 6,000 infantry, he enters the Brescia area and proceeds towards Montichiari. He captures Carpenedolo and confronts Piccinino, who has entrenched himself in Cignano. He attacks the enemy camp with Pietro Brunoro and Troilo da Rossano but is forced to retreat due to the counterattack by Piccinino and Sarpellione.
1442
Apr.	Venice	Milan	1590 cavalry		His contract is renewed by the Venetians. He commands 1,590 cavalry.
1443
Jan.				Veneto	He is in Padua for the funeral of Gattamelata.
Mar.					His contract is confirmed for two years, plus one year of reserve.
1444
Feb.				Lombardy	He is in Brescia for the baptism of a son.
1445			1509 cavalry		During his service with the Venetians, Micheletto Attendolo‘s company was divided into 10 squads. Mario del Treppo conducted an interesting analysis of it. A sample of 450 captains was taken. Of these, only 26 were foreigners, 10 of whom were Slavs, Albanians, and Greeks residing in southern Italy. The rest were Germans, French, Provençals, and Hungarians. 161 were from various regions of the Papal States (Umbria, Lazio, Marche, Romagna, Emilia); 131 were from the Kingdom of Naples; 142 were born in Tuscany and regions of northern Italy. The regions with the most captains were Lombardy (64), Romagna (51), Campania (51), Tuscany (43), Emilia (38), and Umbria (36). The squad leaders were often related to him by family ties or were of Romagnol origin (such as Olivo, Bettuccio Attendolo, and Marco Attendolo); others belonged to minor feudal families like Sicuranza di Vico, Corrado d’Alviano, and Francesco d’Alviano; still others, such as Pier Giovanni da Perugia, Tartaglia d’Arezzo, Colella da Napoli, Giacomo Rosso, and Michelangelo da Cortona, had unknown origins.
1446
Mar.	Venice	Milan		Lombardy	Micheletto Attendolo settled in Quinzanello when Cremona, which belonged to the Sforza family, was attacked by the Visconti. When Francesco Piccinino and Luigi dal Verme intensified their assault on the city, Micheletto Attendolo began his maneuvers. Blocked at the Oglio River, he awaited reinforcements brought by Guglielmo di Monferrato. In the first half of the year, his companies saw the addition of two new squad leaders: Giovanni Battista da Cotignola and Giorgio da Cotignola.
May				Lombardy	He intervened in the defense of Cremona and advanced with his troops to Quinzano d’Oglio. The ducal forces lifted the siege and moved towards Soncino. He sent 100 men with substantial quantities of ammunition to the castle of Cremona.
Aug.				Lombardy	He received orders to camp with his troops on the Oglio River. Tiberto Brandolini was to cross the river at the vanguard; Cristoforo da Tolentino, on the other hand, was to head towards the Brescia area.
Sept.				Lombardy	He moved with 6,000 cavalry and 4,000 infantry. He crossed the Oglio River at Pontevico and recaptured several castles in the Cremona area, including Piadena and San Lorenzo de’ Picenardi. He resupplied Cremona with provisions, approached Pescarolo, and conquered San Giovanni in Croce (defended by Antonio da Landriano with 200 cavalry and 300 infantry). Francesco Piccinino decided to abandon Casalmaggiore and entrench himself on the island of Mezzano on the Po River, a mile from this location. At the end of the month, Micheletto Attendolo feigned a frontal attack on a bridge connecting the island to the Lombard bank of the river. Some of his light cavalry found a ford at an undefended point where the river’s water level reached only up to the saddle of their mounts. The Venetian cavalry ventured there, each carrying an infantryman on the back of their animal. The Milanese soldiers rushed to defend this position, but soon their ranks became disordered. The Visconti commanders destroyed the two bridges connecting their camp to the mainland, trapping most of their troops, who were then taken prisoner. Four thousand horses were captured; of the loot, 400 were recognized as Attendolo‘s personal prize. Despite the victory, Casalmaggiore did not surrender, so the captain turned towards Romanengo.
Oct.				Lombardy	He conquered Romanengo, imposing a levy of 4,000 ducats on the inhabitants. He took control of Castelleone, defeated the Visconti forces again, capturing 200 cavalry and 2,000 infantry, and besieged Soncino, which he stormed after six days of intense artillery fire. He also captured Mozzanica (which was sacked), Pandino, Vailate, Treviglio, Brignano Gera d’Adda, and Rivolta d’Adda. He then advanced to Caravaggio and had two pontoon bridges constructed at Bergamo and Brescia.
Nov.				Lombardy	He placed a bridge at Rivolta d’Adda to create the impression that he intended to cross the river there; another bridge was actually placed at Spino d’Adda. Gentile da Leonessa and Tiberto Brandolini crossed the Adda quickly with 700 cavalry and 1,300 infantry, fortifying their position to allow the construction of the bridge to be completed. The next morning, the bridge was used by the rest of the army; Taddeo d’Este remained to guard it. The ducal forces only attempted to oppose them late in the evening. During the night, a fierce battle ensued on the right bank of the Adda, ending after two hours with the Visconti forces (led by Luigi dal Verme, Luigi da San Severino, and the company of Bartolomeo Colleoni) fleeing. Six hundred cavalry, including Campanella, and many recruits were captured. Following this, Micheletto Attendolo used bombards to conquer the fortress of Cassano d’Adda, which he then reinforced; a stable wooden bridge was now built over the Adda. At the camp, Pietro Avogadro and Antonio da Martinengo were knighted. In Venice, the Collegio dei Pregadi granted him the fief of Castelfranco Veneto in return for an annual tribute of 10 pounds of white wax for the Church of San Marco.
Dec.				Lombardy	He left Gentile da Leonessa at Cassano d’Adda (where he was officially invested with Castelfranco Veneto) with 800 cavalry and 2,000 infantry, and returned to Caravaggio with 800 cavalry. He raided the area under the walls of Milan, setting fire to the mills on the Lambro River. During one incursion, 60 prisoners were taken, and numerous livestock were seized. He then headed towards Melzo and Monza. On his return to Cassano d’Adda in mid-month, Vimercate was sacked.
1447
Winter				Lombardy	He set up camp at Caravaggio.
Mar. – Apr.	Venice	Sforza		Lombardy	The Venetians suspected Sforza and ordered him to occupy Cremona, where Gerardo Dandolo and the local Guelphs supported him. In April, he approached the city with 4,000 cavalry and many infantry towards the Ognissanti Gate. Giacomo da Salerno and Foschino Attendolo thwarted the maneuver and forced him to retreat to Ghiaradadda. Later that month, he met Ludovico Gonzaga in Chiari.
May	Venice	Milan		Lombardy	He began the offensive, left Gallignano, and obtained Soncino through negotiations after a five-day siege; he conquered Romanengo in twelve days.
June – July				Lombardy	He recrossed the Adda River at the bridge of Cassano, sacked Albignano and Pozzuolo Martesana, and advanced to the Lambro River, devastating the countryside and destroying mills up to Monza. He appeared before Milan at Porta Orientale, with banners displayed, in vain waiting for some uprising from the Guelph faction. He captured some prisoners in the boroughs of Porta Orientale and Porta Renza. He camped at Lambrate and knighted Tiberto Brandolini, Giberto da Correggio, Diotisalvi Lupi, Ludovico Malvezzi, and the Venetian provveditore Antonio Marcello. After three days, he left the vicinity of Milan, turned towards Albignano and Truccazzano, stormed the castle of Trezzo sull’Adda with bombards, reached Brivio, and moved into Brianza. From the San Martino valley, he reached the shores of Lake Como; his troops were joined by the locals under the leadership of Daniele Malacrida, lord of the castle of Musso. He seized the bridge at Lecco on the Adda, bringing desolation and terror everywhere (raiding livestock and capturing inhabitants for ransom). He was attacked by 8,000 men, both cavalry and infantry, under the command of Francesco Piccinino, Carlo Gonzaga, and Luigi dal Verme, and he defeated them at Monte di Brianza. He moved to Pieve d’Inzino and Oggiono, and laid siege to Lecco for forty days without success. He even transported a flotilla of 14 large boats from Lake Iseo, 2 from Lake Garda, and 10 from Lake Como, obtained from the lord of Musso. All efforts proved futile. The Visconti set up their own lake fleet led by Battista Riccio. While besieging Lecco, Micheletto Attendolo positioned his bombards on the lake’s shores to counter the enemy fleet. A night artillery battle ensued; the Visconti garrison exited Lecco and took the Venetians by surprise. Attendolo was defeated in this first clash in early July and again in a second engagement at the end of the same month, resulting in over 800 Venetian soldiers dead. He also failed to prevent Lecco from being relieved by three Genoese ships.
Aug.				Lombardy	He moved away from Lecco due to a lack of provisions and fodder for the horses. He captured the fortifications of Monte Barro, advanced along the shores of Lake Como, and occupied Varenna and Bellano; however, he was blocked beneath Como. He retreated to Treviglio and Ghiaradadda near Soresina in search of good pastures for the horses, which were in poor condition due to the recent campaign’s operations. Lodi surrendered to him, and he entered Casalpusterlengo and San Colombano al Lambro, driving out the supporters of the Ghibelline faction.
Sept.				Lombardy	Sforza, hired by the Repubblica Ambrosiana, moved against him. Micheletto Attendolo strengthened his position in Lodi; he was challenged to battle at Cavacurta by Jacopo and Francesco Piccinino and Carlo Gonzaga. At the end of the month, he left Cavenago and attempted to take Crema through negotiations. He then moved to Casalpusterlengo.
Oct.				Emilia	He attempted to provide aid in Piacenza to Taddeo d’Este, who was besieged there by Sforza. His adversaries provoked him to battle again; he found the Sforza army in front of him while the Po River route was blocked behind him by the Milanese fleet commanded by Filippo and Bernardo degli Eustachi. Attendolo stopped at Cerreto Landi and initiated some diversionary actions to draw Sforza away from the siege of Piacenza. He devastated the countryside of Milan and Pavia and besieged San Colombano al Lambro. The rival captain built a pontoon bridge over the Po to surprise him, but Attendolo withdrew in good order. He approached Pizzighettone, reached Paterno, and negotiated the surrender of Melzo, where Giovanni Ventimiglia remained as the guard.
Nov.			2000 cavalry	Lombardy	He stationed himself in the Bergamo area, passing through Treviglio and Caravaggio; he moved between Martinengo, Telgate, and the Trescore Balneario valley. He then moved to the Brescia area to winter.
1448				Lombardy
Apr.				Lombardy	He camped with Cristoforo da Tolentino and Cesare da Martinengo between Orzivecchi, Roccafranca, Castelcovati, Pontoglio, and Calino. His men lived at the expense of the local inhabitants.
May				Lombardy	He received some money, crossed the Oglio River, and stationed himself at Calci.
June				Lombardy	He stormed Mozzanica in three days, sacking the town; he then moved between Romanengo and Offanengo while Francesco Sforza positioned himself near Crema. He proceeded to Genivolta and Robecco d’Oglio.
July					The Venetian admiral Andrea Querini, stationed at Mezzano, requested his assistance to withstand the attack from Sforza and the Milanese fleet led by Biagio Assereto. Micheletto Attendolo hurriedly crossed the Adda, taking the route through Pontevico, Gambara, and Piadena; by evening, he arrived seven miles from the Venetian fleet. However, he did not dare to attack Sforza, knowing his prowess; instead, he sent a messenger to Querini, urging him to hold out. The Venetian admiral decided to take refuge on the island of Mezzano, while Attendolo remained stationed at San Giovanni in Croce. Upon hearing of the defeat of the Venetian fleet, he abandoned the location and headed to Robecco d’Oglio. That night, his encampments and those of Cesare da Martinengo caught fire, causing damages worth 14,000 ducats due to the loss of horses, armor, and other goods.
Aug.					He stationed himself at Morengo to respond to Sforza‘s movements, who had camped under Caravaggio. He sent Guido Rangoni ahead, who clashed with Jacopo Piccinino at the Fosso Bergamasco, a canal between the Adda and Oglio rivers, 35 kilometers long. The rival captain found himself in trouble due to a miscalculation by Dolce dell’Anguillara and the inaction of his brother Francesco. Overall, Attendolo‘s actions were slow and inconclusive. He attempted to free Caravaggio from the enemy siege. He reinforced his camp with many bombards and received reinforcements, including a large number of cavalry, Dalmatian crossbowmen, and German arquebusiers.
Sept.					He was reluctant to seek a confrontation with Sforza; however, he was encouraged by the so-called “marcheschi” condottieri like Bartolomeo Colleoni and Tiberto Brandolini. These two personally inspected the enemy camp and discovered a side, protected by a swampy woodland, which they deemed suitable for a cavalry charge. The soldiers of the Serenissima, supported by Colleoni‘s artillery, launched their attack at the predicted point on the Milanese camp. The central squads were unable to support the vanguard due to the nature of the terrain, where the heavy cavalry sank because of the weight of their armor. Sforza quickly responded, reorganized the wavering wing of the Milanese army, and sent numerous cavalry to the flanks of the Venetians to encircle them. Attendolo‘s troops were defeated: out of 3,000 infantry and 12,500 cavalry, only 1,500 cavalry avoided capture. He escaped with Ludovico Gonzaga. He initially took refuge in Mozzanica with many soldiers, resisting the Sforza forces. He eventually fled to Peschiera del Garda, where he was joined by the new provveditori Giacomo Antonio Marcello and Pasquale Malipiero. He decided to aid Brescia, but the provveditori of the Serenissima had other plans.
…………				Veneto	He was removed from command and confined to Conegliano with a provision of 1,000 ducats, not so much for losing the battle, but because his men, during the retreat, escaped his control and looted Peschiera del Garda and other territories in the Veronese.
1452	Florence	Venice		Tuscany	He was enlisted by the Florentines along with his sons, Raimondo and Pietro Antonio. Venice faced a serious problem; it was not a matter of contract violation but rather that it was considered unacceptable for an enemy captain to also be a feudal lord of the Serenissima. This situation caused significant embarrassment since his properties were managed by his son-in-law, Bartolomeo Pisani, one of the most prominent Venetian patricians. Initially, the revenues from his fief of Castelfranco Veneto were frozen; in April of the same year, these were also confiscated. Things did not go well for him in Florence either. As he was very old and his recent military endeavors had not been very successful, he was not esteemed and was treated rather stingily. From March until the end of 1454, he pestered Sforza, now Duke of Milan, with various requests; meanwhile, the Florentines continued to withhold honors and money from him.
1454				Lombardy, Piedmont	He accepted Sforza‘s offers and moved to Lombardy. His sons entered the service of the Duke. Sforza offered Attendolo the fief of Pozzolo Formigaro, which had previously been granted to Antonello da Siena, then to his son Onofrio Rufaldo, and finally to Petrino da Incia. Attendolo settled there with his wife Isabella, his sons Raimondo and Pietro Antonio, and his daughter Francesca, who was married to Marco Attendolo. He complained to Sforza about the fief that had been assigned to him. In Pozzolo Formigaro, he became known for various acts of overreach and demonstrations of independence through the use of his armed men in small private wars, as well as for maintaining ties with the world of condottieri and the lordships of Romagna. His men ultimately controlled much of the local smuggling, which was fueled by the grain trade to Novi Ligure and other borderlands with Genoa, a situation to which the authorities turned a blind eye.
1463
Feb.				Piedmont	Forgotten, he died in mid-month at Pozzolo Formigaro. He is depicted by Paolo Uccello in one of the three paintings that celebrate the Battle of San Romano (Paris, Louvre). His image also appeared in a famous cartoon by Leonardo da Vinci concerning the Battle of Anghiari, which has since been lost.

Sources

-“La compagnia di Micheletto Attendolo ebbe esistenza continuata almeno dal 1425 al 1448 e in questo arco di tempo furono ben 512 i condottieri che firmarono un contratto con lui. Quando nel 1441 egli si pose al servizio di Venezia, aveva una compagnia di 561 lance e 167 condottieri, alcuni dei quali avevano apportato in proprio alla compagnia anche cinquanta uomini d’arme, mentre alcuni ne avevano portato uno solo…Condottiere collaudato e sperimentato.” MALLETT

-“Peritissimo nell’arte militare…Per sua egregia virtù ascese a grandissima fama.” CORIO

-“Rei militaris scientissimus.” SIMONETTA

-“Vir illustris et bellicis artibus expertissimus.” DECEMBRIO

-“Huomo esperimentatissimo nella militia.” P. GIUSTINIAN

-“Uno de’ più famosi Guerrieri del suo tempo.” LOSCHI

-“Pratico anch’egli nel mestier delle armi.” PELLINI

-“Uomo valoroso”. SABELLICO

-“Praestantem in armis ductorem..Viri fortissimi.” CRIVELLI

-Con Muzio Attendolo Sforza “Che erano de’ primi capitani, che in in que’ tempi avesse l’Italia.” BONOLI

-“Praerat in Gallico bello.. caeterum non possum non prius illud adscribere, fuisse scilicet ea tempestate viros in primis illustres militari gloria non paucos, quorum nomina nunc repetere non indignum duxerim.” EGNAZIO

-“Capitano d’inveterata esperienza nell’armi.” SPINO

-“Nostro capitaneo generale qui in hanc usque aetatem semper omnibus summa fide, commendabili literque servivit.” OSIO

-“Avait en quelque flair militaire.” PERRENS

-“Veteranus et prudens ductor.” SANT’ANTONINO

-Con Niccolò da Tolentino “Quorum nobile erat nomen, et laus rei militaris maxima.” FABRONIO

-Con Niccolò da Tolentino, il Carmagnola, Francesco Sforza e Niccolò Piccinino “Quisti ànno la Italia sì como abe san Piero le chiave, e per çiò se po’ dire: guai a Italia!. E questi grandi capitanie anno altri adarenti soliçitti a destrucione de çitadi e populi, como richede la loro arte.” G. DI M.PEDRINO

-“Generale dell’armi Venete per il suo valore posto fra i capitani più segnalati ed illustri che fossero in quella grand’armata.” COLUCCI

-“Illustrissimo capitano.. che mai al suo tempo contrafé la sua fede.” BROGLIO

-“Per il suo valore posto fra i Capitani più segnalati e illustri.” A. ROSSI

-“Soldato esperto e prudente, per quasi tre decenni fu uno dei condottieri di maggior vaglia nel panorama militare italiano.” N. CAPPONI

-“Nel XV secolo la compagnia di Micheletto degli Attendoli, in venticinque anni di onorata attività sui campi di battaglia, impiega cinquecentododici condottieri. Di essi ne muoiono venticinque, il che significa una media di un condottiero all’anno e, per di più dieci di essi muoiono di morte naturale.” BALESTRACCI

-“Praecipuis Michael ductoribus advolat agmen/ Funeris insigne Jubis, ferroque relucens/ Fit via, fulmineo globas undique rumpitur ense.” GRIFIO

-Con Lorenzo Attendolo, Muzio Attendolo Sforza, Jacopo Caldora, Pieretto de Andreis, Fabrizio da Capua “Capitani e condottieri di esserciti in quei tempi molto famosi.” CIRILLO

-“Micheletto Attendolo was an extremely prickly and superstitions individual.” BICHENO

-Con Muzio Attendolo Sforza ed il Tartaglia “Bravissimi ufiziali.” MAGRI

-“Assai pratico nel mestiere delle armi.” BASSETTI

-“Entro un contesto di stabilità che rendeva le relazioni fra i membri della compagnia “vischiose, tenaci, fondate sulla conoscenza reciproca”(Del Treppo), le tecniche addestrative, le consuetudini militari e le modalità d’azione venivano così trasmesse da maestro ad allievo. E’ notevole, in proposito, che insieme con i registri contabili l’archivio della compagnia di Micheletto degli Attendoli conservasse anche un “libro delle ricordanze” nel quale venivano annotati i più diversi elementi, compresi “fatti politici e descrizioni di battaglie”. (id.) ” SETTIA

-Il doppio ruolo di Micheletto Attendolo nella sua compagnia: condottiero ed imprenditore “Di fatto, anche gli scambi interni alla compagnia erano interamente organizzati e gestiti da Mochelettto Attendolo. Il capitano premiava i migliori combattenti con esemplari (cavalcature) di pregio, controllava ed approvava i passaggi di proprietà, ridistribuiva gli animali tornati nella sua disponibilità. Con l’interesse del corpo militare e dell’abile imprenditore, inoltre, egli sovvenzionava gli acquisti di nuovi esemplari, non solo per rifornire le truppe ma anche per lucrare sopra i prestiti.. Attorno alle forniture di un bene nevralgico per l’impresa mercenaria ruotavano dunque interessi di non poco conto, considerato quanto “armi et cavagly” rappresentassero una porzione consistente della “roba de lo signor Michele”, un patrimonio personale da accrescere anche a scapito dei capi delle “condotte” più piccole e più povere, impossibilitate a provvedersi in autonomia alle rimonte per “compangni” e sottoposti sempre più bosognosi de denari.” ANSANI

-Con il Gattamelata “Egregi Capitani.” CAPRIOLO

-“Fu uno dei condottieri più seguiti ed ammirati del suo tempo.” SPADA

-“Chiaro anch’egli nelle armi.” FABRETTI

-“Vedi quello Sforzesco sì paragone/Degli spirti celesti in questa lista/Signor Michel, pien di ragione.” Cambino Aretino riportato da FABRETTI

-Alla battaglia di Anghiari ” (I fiorentini) Tolson per condottier quel Micheletto/Consorto a Sforza; e pensa quanto oprò/Con l’arme in mandi far qualche bel getto;/E per cimiero un marzocco avere co./../Signor Michele pareva un garzone,/Né mai dalla battaglia volle uscire;/Primo assaltare e scoprire il nimico,/Così l’ultimo stà farlo mendico./Ed era pur d’età di sessant’anni,/E che tanto soporti per gran fatto:/E’ non curava caldo senz’affanni/Animoso e gagliardo in ciascun atto.” Dalla citazione di un codice della Magliabecchiana riportata da FABRETTI

-“In venticinque anni di servizio (nella sua compagnia) pochi furono i morti e non molti i traditori. La compagnia, per sua natura, non poteva permetterselo. Ciò tuttavia non significò che essa partecipò a sole “battaglie incruente”. La guerra quattrocentesca basata sulla manovra e il guasto limitava le perdite, ma non le eleminava come, sulle scie delle considerazioni negative dei cronisti del tempo, si è a lungo voluto credere.” BELSANTI