From Italy to Hungary Giambattista Castaldo’s role in European wars
From Nocera dei Pagani or Cesinole, near Cava de’ Tirreni. Marquis of Cassano, Count of Piadena, and lord of Nagyszeben, Binasco, and Binanuova. Of humble origins.
Born: 1493
Death: 1563, January
| Year, Month | State, Comp. ventura | Opponent | Command | Area of Activity | Actions Undertaken and Other Salient Facts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1520 | Empire | Campania | Studies in Naples. In the city he escapes an ambush set by Brancello Brancaccio; finds protection with the Marquis of Pescara, Ferdinand d’Ávalos (Ferdinando d’Avalos). Serves under his orders. | ||
| 1521 | Empire | France | Emilia and Piedmont | Faces the French in the Parma area. He is sent with Ferrante Castriota to spy on René of Savoy (Renato di Savoia) and Jacques de La Palice (la Palisse), who from Lake Maggiore advance toward Milan at the head of many French and 18,000 Swiss. He surprises the Swiss at Carbonara Scrivia while they are marching in disorder; 200 enemies are killed in the skirmish. | |
| 1522 | |||||
| Apr. | Lombardy | Distinguishes himself in the Battle of Bicocca, where with his cavalry he confronts those of Giovanni de’ Medici. He goes to Lodi with Costantino Boccali and pursues Federico Gonzaga da Bozzolo, capturing four cavalry companies along with their banners. From there, he moves to Pizzighettone; forces the castellan to surrender. | |||
| May | Liguria | Follows Ferdinand d’Ávalos (Ferdinando d’Avalos) against Genoa. He breaks through the city defenses at Porta San Tomaso, entering the city ahead of the Marquis of Pescara. | |||
| 1523 | Empire | France | Piedmont | ||
| 1524 | |||||
| …………… | Lombardy | In the Milan area. | |||
| …………… | Emilia | At Guastalla with a contingent of light cavalry. He takes Carpi and makes Lionello Pio prisoner, the lord of that locality. | |||
| ……………. | Lombardy | When the soldiers of the garrison of Pavia mutiny against Antonio de Leyva over unpaid wages, Ferdinand d’Ávalos (Ferdinando d’Avalos) grants Castaldo full powers, gives him money, and sends him to the city to calm tempers. Approaching Pavia, he clashes with opponents who nearly defeat him; the Marquis of Pescara intervenes, drives off the French, and saves Castaldo from capture. Days later, Federico Gonzaga sends him again with infantry and light cavalry to help the besieged. Unable to breach enemy lines, he withdraws. Shortly afterward, near Binasco, he puts three banners of men-at-arms to flight, seizing the standards of Galeazzo da San Severino, Teodoro da Trivulzio, and the Frenchman Bonald. | |||
| 1525 | |||||
| Feb. | Lombardy | Near Pavia; takes part in the eponymous battle, fighting against the right wing led by Jacques de La Palice (la Palisse). Anne de Montmorency is wounded and captured by Herrera; La Palice surrenders to Castaldo. The Spaniard Buzarto also wants part of the French captain’s ransom: Castaldo refuses, so Buzarto levels a large harquebus at La Palice’s breastplate and kills him. For the victory, Castaldo is presented with King Francis I (Francesco I)’s gold crown, which he turns into a necklace. | |||
| Aug. | 50 light cavalry | Emilia | Operates between Carpi and Correggio. | ||
| Autumn | Spain | Dispatched by Ferdinand d’Ávalos (Ferdinando d’Avalos) with Guttieres to Emperor Charles V (Carlo V) to reveal details of the plot organized by Girolamo Morone, minister of Duke Francesco Sforza of Milan. The Marquis of Pescara may also be implicated through double-dealing, tempted by the promise of becoming King of Naples. | |||
| Nov. | 100 light cavalry | Lombardy | Returns to Milan bearing confirmation for Ferdinand d’Ávalos (Ferdinando d’Avalos) as lieutenant and captain general in Italy. Giambattista Castaldo is awarded a command of 100 light cavalry. In the city, he lodges at the homes of Giovan Francesco della Somaglia and Gianfermo da Trivulzio. | ||
| Dec. | Spain | In Spain. Reaches Toledo with the will of Ferdinand d’Ávalos (Ferdinando d’Avalos), who has died in his arms. | |||
| 1526 | |||||
| Apr. | Empire | France, Venice | Lombardy | Returns to Italy and arrives in Milan. Carries letters of exchange for 300,000 scudi. | |
| July | Lombardy | Takes part in the siege of Castello Sforzesco in Milan, where Duke Francesco Sforza is barricaded. | |||
| 1527 | |||||
| May | Lazio | Follows the Constable of Bourbon in the Sack of Rome. | |||
| Aug. | Lazio | Appointed governor of Velletri, replacing Ascanio Colonna. | |||
| 1528 | |||||
| Mar. | Apulia | Defeated by the Venetians near Troia. | |||
| May | Campania | Defends Naples. Has a skirmish with the troops of Lautrec at Monte di San Martino. | |||
| July | Participates in talks with Andrea Doria, leading to Doria’s shift from the French side to the imperial side. Sent by Alfonso d’Avalos, Marquis of Vasto (Alfonso d’Avalos) to Emperor Charles V (Carlo V) to secure approval of Doria’s conditions. | ||||
| 1529 | |||||
| July | Maestro di campo | Campania | In Naples. Falls out of favor; Alfonso d’Avalos, Marquis of Vasto persecutes him because of Marcantonio Galiziano’s mutiny, for which Castaldo is deemed responsible. He first serves under Piermaria dei Rossi, then under Antonio de Leyva. He is named maestro di campo by de Leyva. | ||
| Aug. | Germany | After the Peace of Cambrai, he is transferred to Germany. | |||
| 1530 | |||||
| Feb. | Emilia | In Bologna for the coronation of Emperor Charles V (Carlo V) by Pope Clement VII (Clemente VII) in the church of San Petronio. | |||
| 1532 | |||||
| Feb. | Empire | France | France | Operates in Provence. | |
| July | Empire | Ottoman Empire | 1,500 infantry | Receives command of 1,500 infantry to oppose the Turks in Hungary. | |
| Aug. | Veneto and Austria | Passes through Peschiera del Garda with Piermaria dei Rossi. Heads to defend Vienna from Sultan Suleiman (Solimano)’s forces. | |||
| Sept. | Austria | At Kremps with Marzio Colonna and Piermaria dei Rossi. Alfonso d’Avalos, Marquis of Vasto promises him the role of captain general of the Italian infantry; instead, Emperor Charles V (Carlo V) grants it to Fabrizio Maramaldo. The troops refuse to accept Maramaldo as commander and mutiny, also due to arrears in pay and shortage of food. Castaldo and the Marquis of Vasto try to stop 8,000 infantry from abandoning Vienna; he nearly loses his life to the mutineers. | |||
| Oct. | Austria, Slovenia, Friuli | To maintain order he executes his lieutenant Giovanni Battista Caracefolo; Alfonso d’Avalos accuses Castaldo of having fomented unrest against Maramaldo. Castaldo, in turn, blames Filippo Tornielli and Piermaria dei Rossi for gathering more men than their contracts allowed, making pay insufficient and fueling revolt. He returns to Italy via Graz, Ljubljana, Gorizia; passes through Sacile with Tornielli and Marzio Colonna. En route, the Venetians accuse him before Charles V (Carlo V) of killing a subject of Francesco Maria della Rovere to rob him of 600 scudi; the matter is soon hushed up to please the emperor. | |||
| Nov. | Veneto and Lombardy | At Albaredo d’Adige alongside Emperor Charles V (Carlo V) when the army crosses the river to return to Lombardy. | |||
| 1533 | Germany | Accompanies the emperor in Germany once the Turkish threat wanes. He is granted an annual income of 800 ducats from the San Severino holdings, plus a special subsidy for his expenses in Austria and for following the court on its travels. | |||
| 1535 | |||||
| Mar. | Lombardy | In Milan. | |||
| …………… | Piedmont | On guard in Vercelli. | |||
| Nov. | Lombardy | Appointed governor of Cremona; holds this office until February of the following year, when he is replaced by Pietro Antonio Gargano, nephew of Cardinal Marino Caracciolo. On learning of Duke Francesco Sforza’s death, he quickly leaves Lombardy to inform the emperor. | |||
| 1536 | |||||
| Jan. | Empire | France | Lombardy | Back in charge of Cremona’s castle, replacing Paolo Luzzasco, when Cagnino Gonzaga and Claudio Rangoni threaten the city. | |
| Feb. | Piedmont | In Piedmont, supporting Duke Charles of Savoy (Carlo di Savoia) with Filippo Tornielli and Gian Giacomo de’ Medici. | |||
| Mar. | Piedmont | Forced to leave Turin. | |||
| Apr. | Piedmont | Joins other captains and moves to Grugliasco to aid Bernardino Francesco Claramont, besieged in the castle of Momigliano in Savoy. The defenders surrender due to lack of supplies. Gian Giacomo de’ Medici hangs by one foot, on a walnut tree near Grugliasco, the sergeant who confirmed the surrender. Giambattista Castaldo positions 4,000–5,000 infantry and 400–500 cavalry on the Dora Baltea. He is hit hard by French and Landsknecht forces crossing the river; he withdraws with Medici to Vercelli, where they fortify. | |||
| …………… | Piedmont | Antonio de Leyva dies, and overall command passes to Alfonso d’Avalos, Marquis of Vasto. The role of maestro di campo goes to Fabrizio Maramaldo. | |||
| Aug. | Piedmont | Besieges Baldassarre della Masa in Chiari, compelling him to surrender. | |||
| …………… | Empire | Ottoman Empire | Hungary, Veneto, Lombardy | Opposes the Turks in Hungary. The military engineer Antonio Melloni of Cremona serves under him, using so-called explosive barrels in one engagement. By year’s end, he is noted in Mestre and then in Milan. | |
| 1537 | Florence | Tuscany | At the side of Duke Alessandro de’ Medici until the latter is murdered by Lorenzino de’ Medici. | ||
| 1541 | With his brother Giovan Matteo, obtains from Bishop Paolo Giovio the chapel of Santa Maria del Monte near Casolla di Nocera. | ||||
| 1543 | |||||
| …………… | Empire | France | Maestro di campo g.le | Germany | Under Ferrante Gonzaga. Named maestro di campo to replace Stefano Colonna. Confronts the forces of the Duke of Cleves. Granted a monthly allowance of 200 scudi. |
| Apr. | Germany and the Netherlands | Takes part in the siege of Düren. Present at the occupation of Jülich and Roermond. | |||
| …………… | France and Great Britain | Advances with the imperial army to the Sambre at Landrecies. Called to the war council, he proposes cutting off the French retreat; his advice is ignored due to Charles V (Carlo V)’s financial constraints and the late season. Moves on to besiege Le Cateau-Cambrésis; when the imperial troops withdraw to Cambrai, he follows Ferrante Gonzaga to Scotland to plan war on the French with King Henry VIII (Enrico VIII). The mission succeeds. He returns to France and clashes with the enemy near Cambrai. | |||
| 1544 | |||||
| …………… | Lombardy | Raises infantry in the Mantua area and enters the garrison of Cremona. | |||
| …………… | Luxembourg | Takes part in recapturing Luxembourg. | |||
| June–July | France | In the offensive along the Marne; assists Francesco d’Este and Gonzaga in besieging Saint-Dizier. Alongside d’Este, Maurice of Saxony (Maurizio di Sassonia), and the German infantry of Wilhelm von Fürstenberg (Guglielmo di Furstemberg), he faces 300 French cavalry, who flee. | |||
| Aug. | France | With Saint-Dizier’s surrender, he advances on Paris; with d’Este and Maurice of Nassau (Maurizio di Nassau) he attacks at night the camp of Brissac at Vitry-en-Artois. The French are routed. In the stampede, 300 infantry of different nationalities—Italian, French, and Corsican—take refuge in a church. Castaldo and d’Este urge them to surrender before the Germans bring artillery. The defenders stall, hoping for rescue. Fürstenberg is wounded by an arquebus shot to the neck. Artillery fire follows, and then an assault by the Landsknechts who—despite Castaldo’s objections—put the survivors to the sword. | |||
| 1545 | Lombardy | Invested by Emperor Charles V (Carlo V) with the county of Piadena. | |||
| 1546 | Empire | Protestants | Maestro di campo g.le | Germany | The Duke of Alba, Fernando Álvarez de Toledo (duca d’Alba) appoints him maestro di campo generale, assisted by Francesco da Landriano and Cesare da Napoli. Opposes Duke John Frederick of Saxony (duca di Sassonia Gian Federico) and Landgrave Philip of Hesse (Filippo d’Assia), supporters of Lutheranism. With Pirro Colonna, he occupies Neuburg an der Donau. Proceeds to Ulm with Alessandro Vitelli, Giulio Orsini, Pirro Colonna, Cesare da Napoli, and Paolo Vitelli. Leading 600 Italian and Spanish arquebusiers and 60 light cavalry, they scout enemy lines, picking a good spot for the imperial army. After the Battle of Nördlingen, he returns toward Ulm with 800 cavalry; forces 500 infantry out of the city to retreat. |
| 1547 | |||||
| Apr. | Germany | Defeats the Duke of Saxony at Mühlberg. | |||
| …………… | Germany | At Ingolstadt and Neuberg on the Danube’s right bank with Emperor Charles V (Carlo V). | |||
| 1550 | |||||
| …………… | Austria | Ottoman Empire | Captain General | Hungary | Fights the Turks in Hungary and stands out in the Transylvanian campaign. Occupies Timișoara (Temeswar); repels multiple attacks. |
| Oct. | Germany and Austria | From Augsburg he sends Duke Cosimo de’ Medici of Florence (Cosimo dei Medici) four greyhounds, two Irish and two English. Leaves Augsburg for Vienna, where Archduke Ferdinand of Austria (arciduca d’Austria Ferdinando) welcomes him with honors. | |||
| 1551 | |||||
| Apr. | Hungary | Receives the rank of lieutenant general and war counselor, with a monthly pay of 400 ducats. | |||
| Aug. | Hungary | At Torda. Upon the death of Giovambattista Savelli, he asks to join Florentine service as captain general. The Duke of Alba supports his request. | |||
| 1552 | |||||
| …………… | Austria and Hungary | Meets the archduke in Vienna, then returns to Hungary where Bishop George Martinuzzi (Giorgio Martinovich), guardian of King Stephen of Moldavia (Stefano di Moldavia), greets him. Moves on to Cluj (Colosvar), compelling the queen—who has Ottoman backing—to make peace with the archduke. The Turks invade Transylvania and besiege Timișoara; Castaldo receives reinforcements brought by Sforza Pallavicini. | |||
| Autumn | Hungary | Concludes an agreement with Martinuzzi—now a cardinal—to station German, Spanish, Hungarian, and Italian infantry (serving Ferdinand of Austria (Ferdinando d’Austria)) in separate, distant camps. The Turks abandon the siege of Timișoara. With 300 Hungarian light cavalry and 400 heavy cavalry, Giambattista Castaldo heads to Lipova (Lippa) and tricks the garrison of Gala into surrender. Pallavicini enters Lipova; Castaldo attacks the citadel from three sides while Pallavicini, with 1,000 infantry and 500 light cavalry, blocks the fourth. The Turks surrender unconditionally; Martinuzzi intervenes to let them depart. The prelate secretly negotiates with Sultan Suleiman (Solimano) to seize Transylvania; his plan is disclosed to Castaldo by the cardinal’s secretary. On orders from the archduke in Vienna, Castaldo reaches Castelnuovo, where Martinuzzi has gone with a small retinue; the cardinal halts in the castle of Bins. Castaldo instructs his secretary Antonio d’Alessandria and Pallavicini to approach the prelate under pretenses of delivering a letter and then kill him. They stab him repeatedly; Pallavicini beheads him with a scimitar. From the goods confiscated by Ferdinand of Austria (Ferdinando d’Austria), Castaldo receives 250 gold and silver vessels, 400 ducats, and several sable furs. Soldiers’ back pay is covered with part of the loot. | |||
| …………… | Hungary | The Turks soon attack him; he is beaten several times, as he has only 3,000 infantry and 1,000 cavalry. Frequent mutinies erupt over unpaid wages. Bernardo Aldana and the Hungarians disregard his orders and are defeated under Pest. Losanzio yields Timișoara (losing 150 defenders and killing 1,500 Turks in the last assault); Aldana abandons Lipova, setting its key buildings on fire. Castaldo pulls back to Torda. Fearing betrayal by King Stephen of Moldavia (Stefano di Moldavia), he bribes some Hungarians to kill the king in his tent at night. Mission accomplished. In reward, he is enfeoffed with Sibiu (Cebinio/Nagyszeben), and his annual pay is raised to 8,400 florins. He arrests Aldana for cowardice. Peace talks follow but fail initially; after receiving reinforcements, he ambushes Cassum Pasha (Cassum Pascià). A final peace sees Ferdinand of Austria (Ferdinando d’Austria) paying Sultan Suleiman (Solimano) a yearly 20,000-ducat tribute. | |||
| 1553 | |||||
| Apr. | Hungary | The Turks invade Hungary again. Castaldo, with Spanish infantry mutinying over two months of back pay, cannot hold them off. He is moved to Belgium. | |||
| July | Austria | In Vienna. Sends Duke Cosimo de’ Medici a precious stone found in a Transylvanian river, plus three gold medals and one silver medal unearthed while digging a fortress moat. | |||
| …………… | Spain | France | Belgium | Serves with Duke Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy (Emanuele Filiberto di Savoia) in Flanders. Functions as counselor alongside Antonio Doria. Camps near Dinant with 2,000 cavalry, 2,000 infantry, two German regiments, and 500 Spanish arquebusiers. Later, present at the defense of Renty. The French withdraw. | |
| 1554 | |||||
| Aug. | France and Austria | Opposes the French in Artois. Returns to Vienna to protect the city besieged by the Turks. | |||
| 1555 | |||||
| …………… | Duke Cosimo de’ Medici of Tuscany calls him to fight the French in the War of Siena. | ||||
| Apr.–May | Giambattista Castaldo hesitates; instead, he accepts the Spanish offer to combat the French in Piedmont. Promised a monthly salary of 300 scudi and an annual allowance of 6,000 scudi. In May he also secures a perpetual 1,500-scudi annuity drawn from certain taxes in the Kingdom of Naples. | ||||
| June | Piedmont | In Piedmont under the Duke of Alba (duca d’Alba), often at odds with him. | |||
| Aug. | Piedmont | At the siege of Santhià. | |||
| Nov. | Piedmont | Lays an ambush near Incisa Scapaccino with Ferdinando d’Avalos, Marquis of Pescara, and Cesare da Napoli; the French, drawn in by Vecchialanza, fall into the trap and suffer many losses. | |||
| 1556 | |||||
| …………… | Lombardy | Governs Milan with Cardinal Cristoforo Madruzzo and the young Marquis of Pescara. | |||
| Sept. | Emilia | Along with Girolamo da Correggio, he is ordered by King Philip II (Filippo II) of Spain to hand Piacenza over to Duke Ottavio Farnese. | |||
| Oct. | Emilia | Falls ill and is replaced by Paolo Vitelli. After his recovery, he continues to oppose the French. | |||
| 1562 | |||||
| …………… | Spain | Huguenots | Captain General | France | After the conflict between Spain and France ends, Philip II (Filippo II) sends him to France to assist Duke Francesco di Guisa against the Huguenots. He assumes overall command of the troops, confronting Coligny and Condé. |
| Dec. | France | Operations end with the victory at Dreux. | |||
| 1563 | |||||
| Jan. | Lombardy | Dies in Milan at the beginning of the month. Buried at night in the church of San Vittore (chapel of San Gregorio) without ceremony, as he wished. Later, his remains are taken to Nocera Inferiore to be placed in the Olivetan monastery of Santa Maria del Monte—founded by Castaldo and still under construction. The marble bust depicting him is by Leone Leoni. The funerary monument is subsequently moved with the entire convent to Piedimonte di Nocera, in the convent of San Bartolomeo. His portraits by Tiziano and by the Flemish painter Anthonis Mor (Antonio Moro). Mentioned in a few letters by Bartolomeo Zucchi. Author of poems in the second book Poesie di alcuni rimatori napoletani. Remigio Fiorentino dedicates his Orazioni militari to him. Praised by Lodovico Dolce and Pietro Aretino, with whom he corresponded. Paolo Giovio, Bishop of Nocera, dedicates to him his biography on Ferdinand d’Ávalos (Ferdinando d’Avalos). Marries Mattea (or Maria) Stampa. |
Sources
-“E’ reputato uomo molto pratico e di buon giudizio; Nè può essere altrimenti, avendo un buon ingegno, ed essendosi trovato in guerre con molti capitani famosi, e massimamente con il signor marchese di Pescara, l’immagine del quale porta sempre nel petto. Parla delle cose ch’egli ha vedute (le quali sono molte..) molto bene, e con molta grazia. E’ poi forse libero troppo nel dire ciò che ha in animo; per il che avendo fatto molti servizi all’imperatore, non è stato guiderdonato come gli pareva di meritare, e veramente se gli doveva…(Ed ancora) Il Castaldo è in gran stima di prudenza e di giudizio, e per lunga esperienza vale sopra tutti in questi tempi in alloggiare ed ordinare un esercito, che sono quelle due cose che danno la sicurtà e la vittoria; ma si trova malcontento del re (Filippo II) e de’ spagnoli, perché non è conosciuto né adoprato, se non in tempo di bisogno.” Da una relazione di Bernardo Navagero riportata dall’ALBERI
-“Huomo vecchio in guerra e capitano saputo nel mestier dell’armi.” BUGATI
-“Unì talmente il valor grande, che egli haveva, con una eletta militar disciplina, acquistata da lui per lunga esperienza delle guerre, le quali con somma gloria ridusse a fine, che per tutto il suo nome era celebratissimo. Havea il Castaldo persona grande, volto bianco, occhi azzurri, barba e capelli rossi.” ROSCIO
-“Per la sua gran fama in quella guerra (di Transilvania, 1550), meritava una medaglia, la quale io ebbi per avventura a rinvenire. Evvi sul dritto il ritratto dell’illustre guerriero con lunga barba e folti capelli, nell’età piuttosto giovanile, ed all’intorno leggesi: Ioan. bapt. Castaldus dux belli max. Vedesi sul rovescio la sua persona ritta, la mazza nella mancina e con la destra che solleva una donna coperta di cimiero caduta fra mucchi di armi principalmente romane; scolpitevi all’intorno queste parole: Subactae Daciae restitutori optimo.” D’AYALA
-“Capitano di gran prudenza e valore..Che a suoi dì fu illustre e molto valoroso.” ULLOA
-“(Di) molto valore e esperienza, che haveva di tante guerre in che si era fin dalla sua pueritia trovato..Huomo valoroso nell’armi.” ROSEO
-“A partire dal 1557 il Castaldo cominciò a dettare al segretario Ascanio Centorio le sue osservazioni sulla tecnica militare del tempo, confortate da una così lunga e significativa esperienza. L’opera fu data alle stampe sotto il nome del Centorio e con il titolo di “Discorsi di guerra.” Ebbe una buona fortuna editoriale, poiché fu più volte ristampata dopo l’edizione iniziale di una prima parte avvenuta in Venezia nel 1558; non aggiunge molto, tuttavia, agli altri numerosi trattati di arte militare che videro la luce in quei medesimi anni, sulla base delle rinnovatrici esperienze belliche della prima metà del secolo.” DE CARO
-“Il quale a’ nostri tempi fu maestro di campo et consigliere di guerra di Carlo V..et tenuto per grande huomo nelle cose di guerra.” Da un manoscritto di J. Soldati riportato dal PROMIS
-“Uno dei più valenti capitani di Carlo V.” COGLIOLA
-“Di eterna memoria, che professando origine di Perugia, rendette chiara la città di Napoli.” CIATTI
-“Aveva fama d’ottimo soldato.” SEGRE
-“Unì talmente il valor grande: ch’egli havea, con una eletta militar disciplina, acquistata da lui per lunga esperientia delle guerre, le quali con somma gloria ridusse a fine, che, per tutto, il suo nome era celebratissimo..Havea il Castaldo persona grande: volto bianco: occhi azurri: barba, e capelli rossi. Honorò assai..la virtù di quest’illustre Capitano, l’Imperatore Carlo V e gli diede il Marchesato di Cassano in Lombardia, con altri luoghi di molto conto.” CAPRIOLO
-“Il quale era il più esperimentato Capitano de suoi tempi; perché fin dalla sua fanciullezza si era essercitato nelle guerre, e ritrovatosi nei principali fatti d’arme d’Italia; essendo stato sempre con il Marchese di Pescara il ritratto del quale portava sempre al collo, scolpito in oro.” LAZARI
-“Et del Castaldo ch’io non dissi prima/ Che del gran Leva (Antonio di Leyva) stava ‘l primo a banco/ non vo (voglio) lassar di dirne in questa rima./ Come di suo valor non fu mai stanco.” ALBICANTE
-“Si può affermare..non esservi stata guerra, fino alla morte di Carlo V, alla quale egli non avesse preso parte.” ARGEGNI
-Epigrafe inscritta a suo tempo nella tomba di Milano ” Io. Baptista Castaldio march. Cass. comiti Plat. et calvat./ dominus Binas et Burgi Lavezzar., divorum Caesarorum/ Augustorum Ferdinandi I, Maxim. II, Io,II et Hysabella I/ Hungariae regum in Transilvania contra Turcos imp. max./ Mathea Stampa Castald. uxori Francisco Ferdinando/ filio Baptistae France. Ferdi. et nepos executores testamenti/ posuerunt MDLXXVI. D.O.M.
Specific Biographies
-M. D’Ayala. Vita di Giambattista Castaldo famosissimo guerriero del secolo XVI.
