Guido II Rangoni’s Tactical Brilliance and Literary Influence in Renaissance Italy
Guido II Rangoni (Guido Piccolo Rangoni) of Modena. Count. Marquis of Longiano and Savignano. Lord of Cordignano, Beauregard, Belleville, La Tour du Pin, Santarcangelo di Romagna, and Vignola. Son of Niccolò Maria Rangoni; brother of Annibale Rangoni, Francesco Rangoni, and Ludovico Rangoni; father of Baldassarre Rangoni; cousin of Sigismondo Malatesta, Annibale Bentivoglio, Ermes Bentivoglio, Alessandro Bentivoglio, and Claudio Rangoni; brother-in-law of Luigi Gonzaga and Cesare Fregoso. Knight of the Order of Saint Michael. Patrician of Modena.
Born: 1485, July
Death: 1539, January
| Year/Month | State/Comp. ventura | Opponent | Conduct | Activity area | Actions taken and other salient facts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1500 | |||||
| … | Emilia | Receives a humanistic education with his brothers. Takes up arms at a very young age. Learns to handle bladed weapons at the “School of Bologna” under the guidance of master Guido Antonio de Luca. Giovanni dei Medici is also present at the lessons. | |||
| Nov. | Bologna | Emilia | Upon his father’s death, obtains his first conduct with the Bentivoglio. His lieutenant is Cesare Rangoni. Thus begins his long military career lasting almost forty years. | ||
| 1501 | |||||
| Jan. | Veneto | Invested by the Venetians, along with his brothers, with the fief of Cordignano. | |||
| Dec. | Lazio and Emilia | Accompanies Cardinal Ippolito d’Este to Rome; immediately returns to Ferrara and attends the wedding of Alfonso d’Este with Lucrezia Borgia. | |||
| 1506 | |||||
| Oct. | Bologna | Church | Emilia | ||
| Nov. | Emilia | Leaves Bologna with the Bentivoglio in the face of pressure from the pontificals. | |||
| 1507 | |||||
| Feb. – May | Bentivoglio | Church | Emilia | Supports the Bentivoglio against the troops of Pope Julius II. In February, begins recruiting troops in Sassuolo and Spilamberto. By April, has 6000 armed men; in early May, penetrates into the Bolognese territory. Stops at Bazzano, where he is confronted by the Pepoli. The Pope excommunicates Annibale and Ermes Bentivoglio. Guido Rangoni is summoned to Ferrara by Alfonso d’Este to justify his conduct; meanwhile, Cardinal Ippolito d’Este sends troops to take possession of Sassuolo and Spilamberto. | |
| 1508 | |||||
| Jan. | Bentivoglio | Church | Emilia | Bologna rebels against the pontificals at the instigation of Gaspare Scappi and 173 other conspirators. Guido Rangoni is contacted by Tommaso Beccaro to connect with the Bentivoglio; moves to support their attempt to re-enter Bologna. Stops outside Porta Saragozza. Enters the city with 12 horses; Gherardo Rangoni also bursts into the city on behalf of the Church state with 400 infantry and 100 horses provided by Cardinal d’Este. Due to the disparity of forces, Guido Rangoni is forced to leave Bologna: the innkeeper who hosted him is hanged. | |
| Nov. | Venice | Emilia and Veneto | Excommunicated by Pope Julius II. Leaves Ferrara to enter the service of the Venetians. | ||
| 1509 | |||||
| May – June | Venice | Church | 100 light cavalry | Romagna Veneto and Emilia | Opposes the pontificals with 100 mounted crossbowmen. With the surrender of Ravenna, leaves the city with 3000 Bolognese: all, against the agreements, are plundered in the countryside of Argenta. Takes refuge in Padua with the imperial governor Leonardo da Trissino who renews his investiture of Cordignano. Guido Rangoni returns to his possessions. |
| Aug. | Venice | France | Veneto | Is re-hired by the Serenissima. At the defense of Padua. | |
| Oct. | Veneto | With the end of the siege of Padua, harasses the retreating adversaries with the horses of his company. | |||
| 1510 | |||||
| Jan. – Apr. | Veneto | In January, he is reported in Lonigo for the review of his company. In April, he is in Bassano del Grappa. | |||
| May | Veneto | The Council of Sages recognizes part of his expenses for the loss of a valuable mount. | |||
| Aug. | Venice | France Empire Ferrara | 105 light cavalry | Emilia | Moves in the Modenese area with Giovanni Vitelli leading 100 lances, 250 infantry and 100 light cavalry to control the outcome of a treaty aimed at conquering the capital. |
| Sept. | Veneto | At the defense of Montagnana; defeats at San Zeno Bevilacqua 50 men-at-arms, 100 mounted archers and 400 infantry coming from Legnago: the adversaries are all killed or taken prisoner. In the clash, his mount is killed. Falls ill at Polesella; also due to the delay in the payments of his men, he refuses to support Fra Leonardo Prato in an action against some Este infantry who have crossed the Po. For this attitude (which is combined with his kinship with the Bentivoglio militating in the French camp) he is suspected of disloyalty: the general provider Andrea Gritti intervenes in his favor and has him transferred to the Veronese area to the camp of San Martino Buon Albergo. | |||
| Oct. | Emilia | Is summoned to Bologna by Julius II. | |||
| Nov. | Veneto | Positions himself at Albaredo d’Adige in order to seize the cargo of some boats that have left Verona. | |||
| 1511 | |||||
| May | Venice | France | Veneto | Leaves Cologna Veneta; with Girolamo Pompei captures 16 horses from the saccomanni; with his rides reaches up to the gates of Verona. | |
| June | 162 light cavalry | Veneto | Is given command of Enea da Cavriana‘s company. Informs the Venetians that he has been contacted by Annibale Bentivoglio from whom he has received an offer to captain the Bolognese troops: he prefers to remain in the pay of the Venetians. | ||
| Aug. | Veneto | Under the orders of Renzo di Ceri is attacked by the French at Villanova: is forced to retreat in the face of intense artillery fire. Makes a sortie at Montegaldella with some stradiots; then moves to Longare from where he hinders the work of diverting the waters of the Bacchiglione. | |||
| Sept. | Veneto | Joins with the provider Federico Contarini (300 lances, 1600 stradiots, 2000 infantry and 5000 peasants). Leaves Padua, enters the Vicentine area; with Domenico Busicchio between Villalonga and Sandrigo defeats 20/30 lances, 200 light cavalry and 700 Gascon infantry who, by order of La Palisse, march from Verona to Vicenza to join with other 300 French lances. In the clash, 400 French infantry die (also killed by peasants loyal to the Serenissima) and Mongirone and Luigi di Richebourg are captured. Rangoni gives the first assault; not promptly followed by his men, in the battle he is unseated and taken prisoner by a Spaniard; after an hour convinces the soldier to set him free and together they take the road to Padua. In recognition of his merits, he is given command of 75 men-at-arms who have served with Lucio Malvezzi. Is received in Venice in the College of the Pregadi. Leaves Padua again with Giano Fregoso and Federico Contarini at the head of 500 mounted crossbowmen and stradiots; touches Camposampiero and Castelfranco Veneto. Sets fire to the gate of the second center, captures the imperial lieutenant with 12 horses and 20 infantry, appropriates 10 carts of flour. Still with Federico Contarini arrives under Soave to try to capture Federico Gonzaga da Bozzolo there. Arrives at dawn in front of the city, positions himself in front of a gate with his light cavalry and 50 stradiots while the rest is placed near the other. Meanwhile Sebastiano del Manzino scales with his infantry the walls behind the fortress and overcomes the resistance of 15 defenders. The infantry shout the name of “San Marco”; the light cavalry set fire to both gates. The adversaries leave the locality for a sortie and are beaten by the Venetian light cavalry. The Count of Melzo and Sebastiano d’Este (captain of 50 light cavalry) are taken prisoner with 300 horses and 30 infantry. The stradiots also capture Count Fernando Persico. The Count of Melzo, plague-stricken, is taken to Padua in a cart: he will die during the journey. Sebastiano d’Este and Fernando Persico are imprisoned first in Padua and then in Venice in harsh imprisonment. | |||
| Oct. | Veneto | In Padua. Leaves the city with 400 light cavalry and 200 stradiots in order to monitor the French who are about to abandon the siege of Treviso. | |||
| Nov. | Veneto | Initially follows the provider Andrea Gritti and Giampaolo Baglioni in the reconquest of Vicenza. Soon returns to Padua. | |||
| Dec. | Veneto | Enters Belluno with 200 men-at-arms. | |||
| 1512 | |||||
| Jan. | 75 lances | Veneto | In Vicenza for the review of his men. | ||
| Feb. | Veneto | At Villafranca di Verona; with Baglioni is defeated by the French at the Torre del Magnano. The battle takes place at four in the morning on snow-covered fields. Guido Rangoni, captured due to the breaking of his mount’s reins, is locked up in the Torre del Magnano. | |||
| Mar. | 68 lances | Veneto | Released after paying a ransom of 600 ducats, asks the Venetians for financial help to be deducted from his future pay. At the camp of Vicenza. | ||
| Apr. | Lombardy and Veneto | Is reported in Ostiglia; subsequently goes to Venice in college with his brother Francesco who is given a conduct. Converses with the heads of the Council of Ten; is promised a conduct of 100 lances. | |||
| May | 70 lances | Veneto | At the Campo di Marte in Vicenza for the review of his company. | ||
| June | Veneto | With Vitello Vitelli joins the Swiss allies (20,000 men) at Villafranca di Verona; bursts into Lombardy at their side. | |||
| July | 66 lances | Piedmont Lombardy | At the camp of Novi Ligure. With the Venetian army crosses the Po and heads towards Casalmaggiore. | ||
| Aug. | Veneto and Leaves Lombardy | Leaves Albaredo d’Adige; passes through Castiglione delle Stiviere; escorts with his troops the artillery destined for the camp near Brescia; takes part in the siege of the city. With Vitello Vitelli and Baldassarre di Scipione has the command of a colonel. In mid-month manages to bring to the camp of San Zeno the artillery with 30 bombardiers. The pieces are pulled by 150 oxen. They are placed at San Floriano, Sant’Apollonio, Goletto, Costalunga, Grazie. They begin to beat the wall between the castle and Porta Pile, against the eastern walls or del Roverotto, against the tower of San Pietro Oliveto and the Pusterla. The fire is slow and ineffective, often interrupted due to lack of gunpowder. | |||
| Sept. | Veneto and Lombardy | Has the task with Babone Naldi to recover Peschiera del Garda: points out that the city is part of the jurisdiction of Verona, controlled by the imperials, and that there is currently a truce with them. | |||
| Oct. | Lombardy | Aubigny cedes Brescia to the Spanish. Guido Rangoni is at the camp, comes to blows with the general collateral Piero Antonio Battaglia and challenges him to a duel. Only the intervention of Baglioni and that of the general provider Paolo Capello, of whom he is a friend, manage to calm him down. | |||
| Nov. | 78 lances | Veneto and Lazio | The Council of Sages extends his conduct for another year. Is reported in Malcesine and at the camp of Roncà; goes to Rome. | ||
| Dec. | Veneto | In Venice. Reports in College the data he has collected in Rome on the alliance between Pope Julius II and Maximilian of Austria. In the same days Leonardo Emo accuses him before the doge of having entered into collusion with the vice collateral Domenico da Malo and other officials, as well as being conniving with Paolo Capello who, in his words, has embezzled 37,000 ducats from the state. |
| 1513 | |||||
| Jan. – Feb. | 86 lances | Veneto | Guido Rangoni asks to be interrogated so that his reasons can also be heard. Meets in Venice with members of the Council of Ten and returns to the camp of San Bonifacio: in practice does not move from Arzignano because his lances have not received their pay for some time. | ||
| Mar. | Veneto Emilia and Lazio | His behavior in the recent war is praised in College by Capello. Leaves Rovigo without permission and goes to Rome via Ferrara to pay homage to the new Pope Leo X. | |||
| Apr. | 88 lances | The Venetians ally with the French; Guido Rangoni is recalled to the service of the Serenissima. There is strong opposition in College to his use; however, the lances of his company are numerous and cannot be replaced in the short term. | |||
| May – June | Venice | Spain | Veneto | Returns to the camp of San Bonifacio. Bartolomeo d’Alviano‘s judgment of him is positive. Following the defeat of the French allies at Novara, takes refuge in Vicenza. | |
| July | Veneto | On reconnaissance in the Vicenza area; is in charge of the defense of Padua where he has the task of monitoring the city walls from Saracinesca to Porta San Giovanni. With Marcantonio della Motella, Giulio Manfrone and Giampaolo da Sant’Angelo repels an attack at Bassanello. Is again praised by Bartolomeo d’Alviano. Leaves the city with his brother Francesco and 70 men-at-arms; clashes at Albarè with a Spanish squadron. Repulsed, retreats to the Bassanello bridge where artillery comes into operation in his support. In the action, 20 horses are captured. | |||
| Sept. | Veneto | Operates towards Frassine with the provider Niccolò Vendramin; with 100 lances supports the incursion of the light cavalry of Galeazzo Rapetta and Marco di Calabria; returns again to Frassine with Bernardino d’Antignola; touches Albarè with his men-at-arms and 500 light cavalry. Confronted by adversaries, is put to flight. Among the Venetians, Antignola and Rapetta are captured. Clashes with the Spanish at Fusina: beaten once again, takes refuge in Mestre. | |||
| Oct. | 60 lances | Veneto and Lombardy | Leaves Padua framed in the vanguard: touches Limena and takes part in the battle of Creazzo. Is present at the first assault at the center of the formation and at the side of Bartolomeo d’Alviano, Ermes Bentivoglio and Mercurio Bua. His action is rejected by 4000 Spanish infantry. Wounded, manages to escape capture. Heads with 100 lances and 200 light cavalry towards Crema: during the march his men assault a convoy of Genoese and Milanese merchants in the Verona area who are robbed of their goods and partly killed. Upon returning to Padua, is tasked with controlling with his brother Francesco the stretch of walls from Saracinesca to the Impossible bastion. Alviano puts pressure for his company to be reinstated in the staff. | ||
| Nov. | Veneto | Attends in Padua in the Basilica of Sant’Antonio the funeral of the Spanish captain Alfonso di Carvajal and a solemn mass in the cathedral alongside Alviano and Baglioni. | |||
| Dec. | Veneto and Lazio | Leaves his company in Padua; has permission to go to Rome where he has been called by Cardinal Curzense on behalf of Pope Leo X. | |||
| 1514 | |||||
| Jan. | Church | Lieutenant 100 lances | Lazio Veneto and Emilia | Passes into the pay of the pontificals with the title of lieutenant. The Venetian ambassador Vittore Lippomano tries several times to contact him; Guido Rangoni cannot be found. From Rome arrives in Badia Polesine with 200 horses and from here moves to Modena. | |
| Feb. – Mar. | Emilia | Recruits infantry in Bologna. In March is insulted by Ugo Pepoli: the two captains challenge each other to a duel. The meeting will not take place in the following May, as planned in Milan, due to the opposition of the Pope. Three years of other reciprocal challenge sheets follow. | |||
| June | Emilia | In Piacenza. | |||
| Dec. | Pio | Church | Emilia | At the beginning of the month, makes it known that he wants to enter Modena in the name of the Church state. The local Ghibellines represented by the Tassoni and Gherardo Rangoni oppose him. Takes a decisive position in Cittanova, a few kilometers from the eastern gate of Modena, with 600 horses and 2500 infantry; Guido Rangoni, the big one, also supports him on the occasion. After a few days, enters decisively into the city and takes possession of the city fortress which is handed over to him by the imperial governor, Vitfurst. At dinner with his relative-adversary Gherardo Rangoni. Fabiano Lippi becomes governor of Modena on behalf of Pope Leo X. Not a month passes that Rangoni’s role as dynastic lord or party leader prevails over that of pontifical captain so much that he does not hesitate to lend aid to Alessandro Pio, enter Sassuolo at night and overcome the resistance of Nicodemo dalle Coltre who is guarding it. | |
| 1515 | |||||
| Jan. – Mar. | Rangoni | Rangoni | Lazio Emilia | In mid-January heads to Rome with Gherardo Rangoni and other notables from Modena. Swears allegiance to the pontiff. At the expiration of a truce with the rivals of the faction opposed to his, clashes with the supporters of Gherardo Rangoni; a new truce is stipulated; 300 of his partisans burst into Modena through Porta Baggiovara; they force the rivals to take refuge in the city castle. A mass in Santa Cecilia puts an end to the disputes. | |
| Apr. | Church | France | Emilia | In Modena with 200 lances. | |
| May | Rangoni | Rangoni | Emilia | A great brawl breaks out in Modena involving Gherardo Rangoni, aided by the Tassoni, on one side and his brother Alessandro supported by the Carandini and other noble families on the other. Guido Rangoni forcibly enters the city with his supporters, among whom Cato da Castagneto stands out; sacks Gherardo Rangoni‘s palace. The latter takes refuge with 300 men in one of his castles. Guido Rangoni gathers 5000 men and presents himself in front of the fortress with 2 pieces of artillery: besieges the rival who flees at night to Carpi. | |
| Aug. | Church | France | Emilia and Lombardy | Hosts Lorenzo dei Medici in his palace in Modena. Then moves to Parma with 150 lances; is then in Piacenza and Rubiera where Stanghella has entered on behalf of the pontifical lieutenant of Piacenza Goro Gheri. Guido Rangoni comes into conflict with this official both because he fails to control the indiscipline of his soldiers, and because he prevents him from returning to Modena. Occupies Rubiera: the captain general of the Church Lorenzo dei Medici convinces him to cede the locality in exchange for 2000 ducats. Still in the month is sent to Lodi with Rinieri della Sassetta, Ludovico Orsini, Niccolò Guerra da Bagno, Ludovico Euffreducci and Rinaldo Zatti to escort Cardinal of Sion, Matteo Scheiner, who has command of the Swiss militias. Since the viceroy of Naples Raimondo di Cardona does not connect, as planned, with the allies, soon returns to Piacenza with della Sassetta and Ludovico Euffreducci. | |
| Sept. – Oct. | Emilia | Reconciles with the former imperial governor of Modena Cesare Colombo. Stations at Motta towards Piacenza: again incurs the wrath of Goro Gheri because 100 horses of his company have sacked numerous houses of the nobles in the surroundings. | |||
| Dec. | Emilia | Hosts in Modena in his palace first Cardinal de’ Medici (the future Pope Clement VII) and, later, the King of France Francis I who is to meet Pope Leo X in Bologna. | |||
| 1516 | |||||
| Jan. | Tuscany | Is summoned by Leo X to Florence to Lorenzo de’ Medici for a general reconciliation of factions in Modena; the order will be repeated in April and May when an agreement between the parties will be reached. | |||
| Mar. | Emilia | In Bologna with 100 lances. | |||
| May | Church | Urbino | Romagna | In Rimini, ready to assault the Duke of Urbino Francesco Maria della Rovere. | |
| Dec. | Is threatened with dismissal by the Pope because he duels in Gazzuolo with Ugo Pepoli: the two face each other on foot, wound each other lightly, Guido Rangoni in the throat and the opponent in the face. |
| 1517 | |||||
| Jan. | Chiesa | Comp. ventura | Emilia e Romagna | Returns mid-month to Modena at the head of 400 cavalry and 1,500 infantry. Is put in charge of the defense along with Governor Francesco Guicciardini. Strengthens the city’s defenses to counter the threats of Francesco Maria della Rovere, who leads 6,200 Spanish infantry, 800 Italian infantry, 770 light cavalry, and 120 men-at-arms aiming to reconquer the Duchy of Urbino. Guido Rangoni moves to Imola. | |
| Feb. | Marche | Attempts to seize Secchiano and relieve San Leo; is defeated twice by Gurlotto Tombesi and Costantino Boccali. Succeeds on a third attempt, helped by the fog. | |||
| Mar. | 100 lances | Romagna | In Rimini. Conquers San Costanzo, which is sacked by the Gascon infantry alone, and Sassolungo. Moves to Pesaro with Jacopo Salviati, leading 60 men-at-arms, 60 light cavalry, and 300 infantry. Takes charge of governing the city; ensures provisioning of the troops and safety of the convoys from Romagna. After the battle of Mombaroccio, orders his cavalry out of the city and saves part of the carriages of Lorenzo dei Medici heading to Pesaro, laden with loot. Leaves the city again after receiving news that Zuchero has been defeated and plundered by the enemy. Proves to be the most active among the papal commanders. | ||
| Aug. | Emilia | Returns to defend Rimini due to threats from Francesco Maria della Rovere. | |||
| 1518 | |||||
| Sept. | Emilia | In Piacenza, meets with the new Duke of Urbino, Lorenzo dei Medici. | |||
| Dec. | Is granted the fief of Longiano; more than two years later, will also obtain Vignola, always in return for credits with the Papal States. | ||||
| 1520 | |||||
| Jan. | Chiesa | Ferrara | Emilia | In Bologna with the papal troops. The Bishop of Tortona, Uberto Gambara, has an agreement with Rodolfo Hell, who, for 2,000 ducats, offers to leave a gate of Castel Tedaldo in Ferrara open. Is ordered to move from Modena with Guicciardini to occupy and defend the position until reinforcements arrive. The German captain double-crosses them and reveals the entire plan to Duke Alfonso d’Este. | |
| Sept. | Marche | Assists the legate of the Marche, Niccolò Bonafede, in Montefortino and Montemonaco. Frees the territory of Monti Sibillini from the presence of bandits. |
| 1521 | |||||
| Jan. | Marche | Is given money to recruit 1,000 infantry. Moves to Fermano with them. | |||
| Mar. | Chiesa | France, Ferrara | 100 lances and 100 light cavalry | Lazio | With the departure for Rome, his soldiers cause near revolt in Fermo. Leaves Rome and goes to Rieti, where there are 300 Corsican infantry, and to Cittaducale, where many Spanish adventurer infantry have arrived; recruits them all in the name of the Papal States. His contract is increased. |
| June | Emilia | Moves to defend Reggio Emilia, towards which Lescun (Thomas de Foix), Federico Gonzaga da Bozzolo, and Buonavalle are advancing with 400 lances and 1,000 infantry. | |||
| July | Emilia | Guards Modena with 500 halberdiers due to threats from the Estensi. Invades Frignano and takes control of it almost without a fight. Supports Prospero Colonna in the siege of Parma. | |||
| Aug. | Lombardia and Emilia | Heads towards Mantua with Luigi Gonzaga and Guido Vaina (500 light cavalry). Has the task of escorting 6,000 German and Swiss infantry coming from Trento to Monte Baldo to join the rest of the imperial troops. Upon completion of the mission, is in Montecchio Emilia to hinder the flow of supplies to the French defending Parma. | |||
| Sept. | Capitano generale of Italian infantry | Emilia | Still at the siege of Parma; resumes with vigor the work on trenches and digging tunnels under the walls intended to be mined. The French must abandon Codiponte and retreat beyond the river: the advance of Lautrec to Taro and the Duke of Ferrara to Finale Emilia and San Felice sul Panaro persuades Prospero Colonna to send Guido Rangoni with Guido Vaina back to guard Modena with 200 light cavalry and 800 infantry. The commander strengthens the defensive works; builds some earthen bastions to place artillery; connects with Melchiorre Ramazzotto and sets out to the nearby mountain to drive out the Estensi. Reaches Campagnola Emilia, forces the opponents to retreat, and quickly conquers all of Finale. Returns to Modena; his men are quartered in the suburbs. At the end of the month, the Pope invests him with Vignola. | ||
| Oct. | Emilia | With Vitello Vitelli and Michele Ramazzotto, storms into Bondeno. The town is set on fire. | |||
| Nov. | Emilia | Enters Piacenza at the head of 7,000 infantry, 200 lances, and 150 light cavalry. | |||
| Dec. | Emilia | Upon the death of the Pope, he locks himself in Modena with Vitello Vitelli to defend against the Estensi. Does not assist Parma when the city is attacked by Buonavalle, Federico Gonzaga da Bozzolo, and Marcantonio Colonna. In Modena, he has the castle gate and Porta Baggiovara walled up; even on Christmas Day, prevents any public gatherings. | |||
| 1522 | |||||
| Jan. | Emilia | In Modena, quells a brawl between Spanish and Italian soldiers. Fortifies the city with new defensive works. | |||
| Feb. | Emilia | Is appointed governor of Modena; hosts Alberto Pio, who is destined to govern Reggio Emilia. To pay the soldiers of the garrison, borrows 2,500 staia of wheat from Pio and other citizens. | |||
| Mar. | Bentivoglio | Chiesa | Emilia | Leaves Modena with some men-at-arms and 1,000 Swiss infantry, who have been dismissed by the Medici in the same days because they were open enemies of the Papal States. Intends to help the Bentivoglio re-enter Bologna. Forced to return to Modena due to a popular uprising, works to find funds to pay the troops. | |
| Apr. | Firenze | Comp. ventura | General governor, 100 lances, 100 light cavalry, and 2,000 infantry | Toscana | Appointed general governor by the Florentines, reaches Siena with 2,000 Swiss infantry, 500 Landsknechts, 1,000 Tuscan infantry, 500 lances, 400 light cavalry, and eight artillery pieces. Faces Renzo di Ceri; aims to prolong the conflict for the opponents so that the lack of funds and regular supplies acts as a disintegrating factor for the Ceri company, financed by the exiles of Siena. Sends 100 men-at-arms and 150 infantry to Torrita di Siena, who repel an attack from the adversaries; also precedes Ceri‘s arrival in Siena with 200 light cavalry, preventing any insurgent attempts. |
| May | Emilia | Is granted Santarcangelo di Romagna in fief by the papal authorities. Arrests a son of Ramazzotto in Bologna, who accompanied his father to Imola and helped kill Gentile da Sassatello. | |||
| June | Emilia | Hosts the new Viceroy of Naples, Carlo di Lannoy, in Modena, who arrives in the city with an entourage of 300 cavalry. The Spanish nobleman offers to be godfather to one of his sons. Sends 100 light cavalry to Campogalliano: livestock is raided and brought to Modena, in retaliation against Ercole d’Este, who refuses to accept a papal garrison in that location. | |||
| Aug. | Emilia | Experiences increasing financial difficulties: sells some of his assets to the cathedral of Modena to provide an advance payment to the soldiers; also sends 200 cavalry and 100 infantry to Rubiera to collect a provision granted to him by the papal authorities, to be paid by the inhabitants. The citizens refuse to comply with his demands and clash with the soldiers. Sends his men again to Rubiera: 199 head of cattle are seized to collect 105 ducats. | |||
| Nov. | Emilia | With the return of Francesco Guicciardini as governor of Modena, leaves the city with his brothers and returns to Spilamberto. |
| 1523 | |||||
| ………… | Emilia | Assists Domenico Morotti in action against Virgilio da Castagneto; sends a group of cavalry under the orders of a Spanish captain against the faction rival. | |||
| July | Emilia | Meets in Modena with Guicciardini because Girolamo Pio has seized Sassuolo from the son of Alessandro Pio. | |||
| Aug. | Impero | France, Ferrara | Emilia | Hired by the Imperials, is sent with 100 lances, 100 light cavalry, and 1,000 infantry to Carpi to retake it in favor of the Pio family. | |
| Sept. | Emilia | In Modena with 3,000 infantry. Upon the death of Pope Adrian VI, collaborates with Guicciardini, with whom he reconciled after some disagreements, to oppose the plans of Alfonso d’Este and Ceri (200 lances and over 2,000 infantry) to conquer Modena and Reggio Emilia. The entry of 1,000 Spanish infantry into the city persuades the Duke of Ferrara to stop at Reggio Emilia, but sending 500 infantry to Reggio Emilia under Vincenzo Maiato (who brings money to recruit more) does not have the same effect as Ceri takes the citadel with a few artillery shots. Rangoni receives Fernando Alarcon in his palace in Modena. Doubting the city’s defensive capabilities, he sends many of his belongings to Spilamberto. | |||
| Oct. | Emilia | The opponents take Rubiera. In Modena, Guido Rangoni has some houses in the Cittanova suburb set on fire and expels many supporters of the Estensi faction from the city. His light cavalry surprise some opponents on the Secchia. | |||
| Nov. | Emilia | In Nonantola with 100 lances, 100 light cavalry, and 400 infantry, including arquebusiers and pikemen; is preceded by 25 cavalry of saccomanni who provoke pursuit from the Estensi. They are caught in a pre-arranged ambush, capturing 40 horses with Briga Rangoni, Tommaso Ronchi, and Battista di Cambio. All are released through a prisoner exchange that includes the freedom of his brother Ludovico, previously captured by the Estensi during the occupation of Montecchio Emilia. Mid-month, Clement VII is elected to the papal throne, leading to unrest in the city. Guicciardini, presenting himself in the square with Guido Rangoni, is robbed of his mule by his halberdiers. The populace threatens to sack his palace. Rangoni gives his mount to the captain of his arquebusiers, Girolamo Falloppia, and places troops in front of his residence; also protects the homes of Jews that the populace wants to strip of their possessions. On the war front, high waters on the Panaro temporarily block him from attacking some companies of Teodoro da Trivulzio stationed on the Secchia. Moves to Sassuolo and has fifty houses belonging to the Mario, favorable to the Estensi cause, leveled; raids near Nonantola and seizes sixty wagons of hay, straw, and fodder. Meanwhile, peace negotiations with the Estensi begin, involving him directly as a condition is his marriage to a natural daughter of Cardinal Ippolito d’Este, with a dowry of 10,000 ducats. | |||
| Dec. | Emilia | At the end of the conflict, hosts Carlo di Lannoy again in Modena as he passes through the city with his troops. Prospero Colonna orders him to leave Modena and go to Milan to ensure that the city falls into the hands of the Duke of Ferrara in exchange for 50,000 ducats and a promise to change allegiances during the war. Guido Rangoni and Francesco Guicciardini refuse to obey and persuade the 1,000 Spanish infantry of the garrison not to move until they receive an explicit order from the Duke of Sessa, Luigi Fernandez de Cordoba, on whose orders they entered the city. The Pope orders him to leave Modena and move to Lombardia. During the year, he is granted the Marquisate of Savignano. | |||
| 1524 | |||||
| Jan. | Lazio | Goes to Rome with 9 cavalry; accompanies the Pope in a religious ceremony with his brother Ludovico. Clement VII grants him the pass of Sant’Ambrogio, a castle in the Roman countryside, and gives him money to pay his men. | |||
| Mar. | Emilia e Romagna | Returns to Modena with his brother Ludovico; accompanies Francesco Guicciardini, appointed president of Romagna. | |||
| Apr. | Emilia | In Modena Cathedral with three city delegates who have returned from Rome. | |||
| May | Emilia | Sends troops to stay in the Parma area. Hosts Vitello Vitelli in Modena. | |||
| July | Emilia | Arms Gaspare Ferrari as a knight in Modena. Organizes a palio (horse race) in the city. | |||
| Oct. | Lombardia | Spotted near Pavia with 60 lances. | |||
| Nov. | Rumors circulate about his possible contract of 100 lances with the French: negotiations fall through. By order of the Pope, returns Montecchio Emilia to the Estensi and receives in Modena, with Governor Filippo Nerli, Cardinal Giovanni Salviati. Spends more than 500 scudi for a single reception at his palace. | ||||
| 1525 | |||||
| Jan. | Emilia | Occupied in Modena with carnival festivities during which he organizes various jousts and races or hosts several personalities such as Ercole Gonzaga, brother of the Marquis of Mantua. | |||
| Feb. | Emilia | Celebrates the Imperial victory at Pavia with jousts in Piazza della Gatta (in front of his palace), dinners, and dances to keep the citizens’ spirits at bay; simultaneously tightens surveillance measures by reinforcing the guards and flooding the moats of the city walls. | |||
| Mar. | Emilia | Supports, in the shadows, a conspiracy against the Duke of Ferrara organized by Aldobrandino Piattesi from Bologna, Niccolò Tartagni from Imola, and Ercole Pasqualetto from Ferrara: the latter informs Alfonso d’Este of the plot and kills Piattesi with some assassins. Tartagni is captured and strangled in prison. Guido Rangoni moves to Parma when the Landsknechts, fresh from victory at Pavia, take lodgings in the Piacenza area, waiting for their pay. | |||
| May | Emilia | Opposes Fabrizio Maramaldo in the Modena area, whom he approached the previous month to make him defect to the Papal camp. Organizes new celebrations, inviting the governor and hundreds of citizens and gentlemen. | |||
| June | Emilia | Leaves Modena with his troops; moves towards Piacenza. Constructs a pontoon bridge, which is destroyed by the flooding of a river; many drown. | |||
| Aug. | Emilia | In Modena. Opposes the demands of Ferdinando d’Avalos and Fernando Alarcon, who ask him to prepare the camp for their men. | |||
| Oct. | 150 lances | Emilia | Commands 150 lances. | ||
| Dec. | Emilia | Arms 100 arquebusiers for the defense of Modena. Organizes his company. |
| 1526 | |||||
| Jan. | 108 lances | Emilia | Reviews his company’s men-at-arms in Modena at San Pietro square. | ||
| Feb. | Emilia | The Duke of Milan, Francesco Sforza, requests his services; however, he remains in the employ of the Papal States, and is given 2,000 ducats. Recruits 1,500 infantry; continues to oppose the Imperials’ requests to encamp in Papal territories; attempts to urge Maramaldo to take action in the Reggio area against the Estensi. | |||
| Apr. | Emilia | Hosts Pietro Navarro in Modena, who has just been released by the Imperials in Naples. During the same days, the Tassoni kill Matteo dal Forno in the city. To prevent the resurgence of factional conflict, quickly finds the culprits and has them executed by Filippo Nerli. A thanksgiving mass serves as the final seal to the averted danger. | |||
| May | Chiesa | Impero | 125 lances and 240 light cavalry | Emilia | The Papal States also hire 120 infantry to serve as his personal guard. He is given 40,000 ducats. |
| June | General governor | Emilia and Lombardia | Leaves Modena with 6,000 infantry, 200 lances, and 200 light cavalry; passes through Marzaglia, reinforces some garrisons, and heads to Parma and Piacenza, where he joins forces with Vitelli and Giovanni dei Medici. In Piacenza, he has at his disposal 5,000 infantry (1,800 of whom are arquebusiers), 400 lances, and 200 light cavalry; the artillery is minimal, amounting to only four falconets. He is tasked with gathering an additional 2,000 infantry; at first, due to a lack of orders, he is forced to remain inactive on the Po, provoking the reaction of the Venetians led by della Rovere. Finally, receives orders from the Pope to align his actions with those of the allies. Sends Roberto Boschetti to the Venetian camp to initiate joint operations. In Lodi with della Rovere; moves to the siege of Milan with 10,000 Papal infantry. | ||
| July | Lombardia | Attacks Milan to provide relief to the Duke of Milan, besieged in Castello Sforzesco. Supports della Rovere when the Venetian captain decides to retreat to Melegnano at night following an unsuccessful assault at Porta Comacina with his men. Moves again to aid the besieged; places his camp between the abbey of Casoretto and Lambrate. The besieged in Castello Sforzesco, at the brink of exhaustion, expel more than 300 people, including wounded infantry, women, and children, from the fortress. Even the men of Francesco Sforza surrender under certain conditions. During subsequent operations, 1,800 infantry desert from the Papal camp, leaving Guido Rangoni with 9,832 infantry, 487 lances, and 850 light cavalry. | |||
| Aug. | Lombardia | Argues with Giovanni dei Medici at the camp; complains about the conduct of this commander to the Pope until mediation by della Rovere and Clement VII smooths things over. Moves to the Lambrate camp when della Rovere replaces Malatesta Baglioni in the siege operations at Cremona. His actions are praised by Venetian procurator Alvise Pisani. | |||
| Sept. | Lombardia and Emilia | Attempts to bribe a captain of Fabrizio Maramaldo who, in exchange for a command of 1,000 infantry, promises to teach the Papal forces a good way to penetrate Milan. At the camp, he is joined by Niccolò Fregoso, who is sent by Andrea Doria with a request for 4,000 infantry to attack Genoa. A war council is held, attended by Guicciardini (in his capacity as commissioner), Luigi Gonzaga, Medici, and Vitelli. The opinion of della Rovere is awaited. A few days later, the Pope signs an armistice with the Imperials without consulting the allies: Guido Rangoni returns to guard Parma and Piacenza. Before leaving, has a meeting with Marquis Michelantonio di Saluzzo, who has arrived at the camp with 4,000 infantry and 400 lances. | |||
| Oct. | Emilia | Leaves Piacenza with 500 infantry and 22 men-at-arms and returns to Modena. In the city, protects the Pacchioni, who have troubled Estensi territories with their depredations; they are besieged by Alberto Pio in the Marano fortress. Guido Rangoni sends Girolamo Falloppia with 400 arquebusiers and his light cavalry to their support. Alberto Pio is forced to abandon his efforts. Captures and beheads those responsible for a local brawl. | |||
| Nov. | Emilia | Upon hearing that Giorgio Frundsberg‘s Landsknechts are approaching Modena, gathers 3,000 infantry for the defense of the city; also arranges for the city’s provisioning and the cavalry’s forage. | |||
| Dec. | Emilia | Francesco Guicciardini sends him to defend Piacenza; the Venetians send Babone Naldi to the city with 1,000 infantry, which soon decreases to 400 due to delayed payments. Guido Rangoni is reported to be in Borgo San Donnino (Fidenza). | |||
| 1527 | |||||
| Jan. | Emilia | For the defense of Piacenza, commands 6,000 infantry; repeatedly urges the light cavalry of Claudio Rangoni and Paolo Luzzasco to harass the enemy. | |||
| Feb. | Emilia | Repels an attack on Piacenza with Babone Naldi. Meets Alfonso d’Avalos with Paolo Luzzasco because the Venetian captain has taken two horses belonging to the Marquis of Vasto in a raid. The Landsknechts move away from Piacenza, and Rangoni returns to Modena with five infantry banners and 400 cavalry. | |||
| Mar. | Emilia | Leaves Modena, where he has demolished all the houses in the Cittanova suburb to prevent the enemy from camping there; reaches Bologna with 1,500 infantry, 100 lances, and 200 light cavalry. Skirmishes with Giovanni Naldi against the Imperials on the Reno bridge: his men are defeated, and forty arquebusiers and some horses fall into enemy hands. In Bologna, arrests Manfredo da Correggio, sent by the Constable of Bourbon to della Rovere: the Duke of Urbino’s anger is inevitable. | |||
| Apr. | Emilia, Romagna, Toscana, Umbria | Leaves Bologna with Ugo Pepoli, heads towards Castel San Pietro Terme, Imola, and Faenza, where the inhabitants refuse to let in 1,500 Papal infantry: even he is struck by a stone thrown at him from the top of the walls. Holds a war council in Imola with Guicciardini, Michelantonio di Saluzzo, and Federico Gonzaga da Bozzolo; moves to the Casentino to closely pursue the Landsknechts, who seem to be heading towards Florence. Reaches Arezzo; with Roberto da San Severino (500 cavalry and 5,000/8,000 infantry), is tasked with supporting Ceri in Rome, who requests his intervention with 600/800 arquebusiers. Loses time in San Casciano in Val di Pesa; his march to Rome is increasingly slower compared to that of the Landsknechts. Passes through San Giovanni Valdarno, Cortona, Castiglione del Lago, and Orvieto. | |||
| May | Lazio | At the head of 800 arquebusiers and 800 cavalry, reaches Rome at Ponte Salario the day after the city’s conquest by the Landsknechts; the flooded Tiber blocks his advance. Thus loses the opportunity to attack the disorderly and scattered enemy, who are still busy looting the city. Retreats to Otricoli and Isola Farnese, where he joins Duke of Urbino Francesco Maria della Rovere. The general captain supports his caution and is skeptical about the possibility of freeing the Pope, besieged in Castel Sant’Angelo. | |||
| June | Rasponi | Venezia | Lazio and Romagna | The Papal camp is destroyed. Leaves Vetralla camp with Roberto da San Severino, Guido Vaina, and Papal legate Bernardino della Barba to return to Romagna in Savignano. Moves to the Ravenna area with 400 cavalry and 1,000 infantry; with the help of the Rasponi, assaults the capital; when repelled, heads to Cesenatico; requests a small galley from the Venetians to travel to Venice. | |
| July | France | Impero | Veneto | Reaches Venice, stays in his house in San Patrignano at Cà Contarini; has a meeting in the Collegio dei Pregadi with Doge Andrea Gritti. He is asked to join the Venetians; requests the position of general governor. The parties do not reach an agreement, so he prefers to enter French service. | |
| Aug. | Lombardia | Participates in the siege of Pavia; alongside Roberto da San Severino, supports the troops of the Serenissima under the walls of Porta Chiossa and Santo Stefano. | |||
| Oct. | France | Is honored in France by Rodibaude with the Order of Saint Michael. | |||
| Dec. | 50 lances | The French grant him a command of 60 lances and 120 mounted archers. The Pope (according to some sources) grants him Fano in fief; the Estensi, due to his choice of allegiance, reinstate him in his fiefs. | |||
| 1528 | |||||
| Jan. Feb. | Romagna and Umbria | Lautrec tasks him with delivering Rimini to the Papal States; convinces his cousin Sigismondo Malatesta to cede the city in exchange for Meldola, Sarsina, and Bertinoro: he must return Rimini to his cousin when it becomes clear that the Pope cannot fulfill the commitments made. At the end of the month, travels to Orvieto with Paolo Camillo da Trivulzio to persuade Clement VII to openly support the league; the mission ends in failure, then joins Lautrec in Recanati and follows him on his campaign in the Kingdom of Naples. | |||
| Mar. Apr. | 50 lances | Puglia | Reaches Lucera. When the Imperials retreat towards Naples with Vaudemont and Valerio Orsini, advises Lautrec to pursue the enemy rearguard as they flee towards Naples. Pietro Navarro opposes, urging instead an attack on Giovanni Caracciolo in Molfetta. Lautrec follows this advice, and the war is lost. | ||
| May | Campania | Moves to the siege of Naples; with Michelantonio di Saluzzo, positions himself in front of Porta Nolana. Falls ill with plague in Capua during the same month; recovers and returns to the siege of the capital. | |||
| Aug. Sept. | 50 lances | Campania, Lazio | Stationed in Somma Vesuviana, his company is surprised at night by Ferrante Gonzaga‘s men (seventeen men-at-arms are captured and plundered). Keeps the news of Lautrec‘s death hidden for a few days; with the new French general captain, Marquis of Saluzzo, Navarro, and Paolo Camillo da Trivulzio, decides to retreat, taking advantage of heavy rain. Leads the troops; the Imperials notice the maneuver and pursue him. Falls ill, takes refuge in Aversa with only 3,000 infantry; repels an initial assault by the enemy, but soon Prince of Orange and Ferrante Gonzaga arrive and direct artillery against the French. Marquis of Saluzzo is wounded in the knee by a cannonball fragment; the French general captain decides to surrender at discretion, despite Rangoni‘s objections. He is sent to negotiate the terms of surrender with Prince of Orange. After the agreement, he voluntarily surrenders to Ferrante Gonzaga, with whom he is related. Gonzaga does not hand him over to Prince of Orange, and Guido Rangoni is soon released. According to a contemporary historian, imprisoned in Naples, he is released by Alfonso d’Avalos, who accompanies him to Ischia; here, the Marquis of Vasto allegedly puts him on a ship bound for a port near Rome; others claim that Rangoni refuses to ratify the surrender terms agreed upon and protests to avoid being bound by it. Aversa is sacked, and the French prisoners are confined in the stables of Maddaloni, where almost all die from wounds and plague. According to his estimates, of the 70,000 troops who entered the Kingdom of Naples under Lautrec, only 16,000 survived. Many of these survivors, especially Italians, would later enter Imperial service to fight the Florentines. In Rome, Rangoni meets with the Pope. | ||
| Oct. | Lazio | In Viterbo. | |||
| Nov. | Veneto and Emilia | In Venice, at his palace in San Patrignano, and in Modena, now controlled by the Estensi. Duke Ercole d’Este visits the city. Guido Rangoni presents him with gifts, including white wax, wheels of cheese, pheasants, peacocks, partridges, capons, calves, oxen, wine, and spelt, worth 200 scudi. | |||
| Dec. | Veneto | Stays for some time in Venice with his wife, Argentina Pallavicini, and an entourage of 50 people. |
| 1529 | |||||
| Jan. | France | Impero | Piemonte | ||
| Feb. | Veneto, Lombardia | Received in the Collegio dei Pregadi in Venice by Doge Andrea Gritti, along with the French ambassador. Moves to Pizzighettone. | |||
| Mar. | Piemonte | Supports Saint-Pol (Francesco di Borbone) in Alessandria. | |||
| Apr. | Lombardia | Tasked with capturing Mortara; sets up the artillery without the usual protection of trenches and similar works. Attacked at dawn by the defenders who surprise his gunners and spike two pieces of artillery. | |||
| May | Lombardia | Contacts Gian Giacomo dei Medici to make him defect in favor of the French; then participates in a war council in Belgioioso with della Rovere and Saint-Pol, where a common strategy to attack Milan is devised. | |||
| June | Lombardia | Another meeting at Binasco; then to Vicocomune; crosses the Lambro and heads with the vanguard and supply wagons towards Genoa. Antonio di Leyva surprises the allies at Landriano. The center of the French line is attacked by 600 Spanish cavalry; they withdraw, luring their pursuers into a forest where 1,000 arquebusiers are stationed. The German pikemen in French service are routed by the gunfire; the French and Italian soldiers display similar cowardly behavior. Guido Rangoni retreats with 2,000 infantry to Pavia while Saint-Pol, Stefano Colonna, Claudio Rangoni, Carbone, and Lignac are captured. The French blame him for the defeat, claiming it was caused by the excessive speed of his march compared to that of the other forces. The gap between contingents caused by the pace of his men led to the rout. He defends himself, saying he only obeyed orders. There is a verbal dispute, resolved diplomatically by della Rovere, who concludes that both actions (those of Rangoni and Saint-Pol) were consistent with military logic. In Lodi. | |||
| July | Veneto | In Venice, representing the French, with Teodoro da Trivulzio and de Vaulx. | |||
| Oct. | France | In Paris. Remains there in the following months as peace between the belligerents is signed. | |||
| 1530 | |||||
| Mar. – Jul. | Veneto | Stays in Venice from March to early June. In July, moves to Bologna. | |||
| Aug. | Veneto | In Padova, attends a joust. | |||
| Oct. | Dismissed by the French due to complaints about the reduction of his pension. | ||||
| 1531 | |||||
| Feb. – Oct. | Veneto | In February, in Venice. Again reported in the same city during July-October. The French pressure him to return to their service. | |||
| 1532 | |||||
| Jan. – May | Veneto, Emilia | Returns the Order of Saint Michael collar to the French. Stays in Venice for some time. Meets with Marquis of Vasto Alfonso d’Avalos in Roccabianca. | |||
| Jun. – Jul. | Impero | Ottoman Empire | Reaches an agreement with the Imperials through Alfonso d’Avalos. Promised command of the infantry and an annual salary of 700 ducats; instead receives command of a colonel with 3,000 infantry, to defend Vienna against Sultan Suleiman’s Turks. Fabrizio Maramaldo is given the position promised to him instead; Guido Rangoni clashes with d’Avalos, refuses the offers made to him, and is content to be part of the retinue of 50 gentlemen accompanying Charles V in the theater of operations. | ||
| Aug. | Veneto, Trentino | Reaches Verona; proceeds to Peschiera del Garda following a mutiny of Spanish infantry; moves through Valpolicella towards Trento. The Emperor, seeking to appease him, grants him an income of 2,000 scudi and invites him to remain part of his court. | |||
| Oct. | Veneto, Friuli | With the withdrawal of the Turks from Vienna, travels to Venice with the Imperial ambassador. He is unwell, suffering from the syphilis that has afflicted him. Meets with the Doge and informs him of the upcoming passage of Imperial troops through Venetian territory. Moves to Venzone to precede the arrival of 6,000 Italian infantry who, having abandoned the Imperial banners, are plundering the counties along their path. | |||
| Nov. | Veneto, Lombardia | At Albaredo d’Adige, alongside Emperor Charles V. The Imperial army crosses the river and re-enters the Duchy of Milan. | |||
| Dec. | Emilia | In Modena, for a meeting between the Emperor and the Duke of Ferrara, with whom an agreement is reached. Holds several meetings with his cousin Claudio, Alfonso d’Avalos, and Federico Gonzaga. Hosts Gonzaga in his palace. |
| 1533 | |||||
| Feb. | Veneto, Emilia | From Venice, challenges Piermaria dei Rossi to a duel, who, with the help of his brother Bernardo, attempted to kill Ludovico, Guido’s brother, in Bologna. The challenge is also signed by Marzio Colonna and Fabrizio Maramaldo. The rival is forced to leave the city hastily. Around the same time, Rangoni helps Amelio Belencini escape Estensi justice for the assassination of Alberto Tassoni. Has Belencini taken by 50 Spanish mounted arquebusiers from Scandiano, where he took refuge in Boiardi’s castle, and brought to Roccabianca near his brother Ludovico. | |||
| Mar. | Charles V takes over Guido Rangoni‘s challenge to Piermaria dei Rossi. The outcome remains unknown. | ||||
| 1536 | |||||
| Jan. – Apr. | Chiesa | Emilia | In January, accepts the pay from the Papal States. In April, is in Piacenza. Does not intervene with Sforza Monaldeschi and Niccolò da Tolentino when the French infantry of Giovanni di Torino and Piero Corso sack the territory of Gossolengo. Opposes the initiatives of the locals to strike the raiders but without success. | ||
| May – Jun. | France | Impero | General Lieutenant | Emilia, Veneto | With Sforza Monaldeschi, Niccolò da Tolentino, and Alessandro da Terni, sent by the Governor of Piacenza, the Bishop of Ivrea, to Roccabianca, occupied by his brother. The prelate rejects the agreement he concluded with Ludovico; as a response, in mid-June, switches to French service. Francis I entrusts him with the command of the troops in Italy. Goes to Venice seeking an alliance with Serenissima for the upcoming war with the Imperials: is dismissed with a refusal. |
| Jul. | Emilia | In Mirandola, where there are 10,000 Italian infantry and 600 cavalry: 2,000 are recruited directly by Rangoni, another 2,000 by Cagnino Gonzaga and Cesare Fregoso (the latter also has 200 light cavalry), 1,000 each by Bernabò Visconti, Piero Strozzi, and Baldassarre della Massa; 500 each by Berlingieri Caldora and Giovanni di Torino; Paolo Averoldi and the Tuscan Bandino collect 400 infantry and 200 light cavalry. | |||
| Aug. | Emilia, Lombardia, Piemonte, Liguria | Marches between Parma and Reggio Emilia; reaches Castelguelfo and Cadè: receives payment for straw and hay for the cavalry from Piacenza. Passes Broni, crosses the Trebbia, and approaches Tortona, where he faces issues caused by water scarcity; finds the road to Turin blocked by many Burgundian infantry and cavalry; hastily breaks camp and heads to Serravalle Scrivia. Crosses Val Polcevera and heads towards Genoa: the city is put on alert following the statements of a Lucchese deserter who served under him. Upon reaching Rivarolo Ligure, demands Genoa’s surrender in the name of the King of France; with a negative response, camps between two hills, Fazzuolo and Granarolo, a mile from the city. Genoa is attacked from two sides: by Bernabò Visconti and Cesare Fregoso at the gate towards the Bisagno after these commanders infiltrate the surroundings through mountain paths; by Guido Rangoni at the Porta di San Tommaso, after ascending with his troops the hills of Rivarolo Ligure. Fighting is fierce on both sides at the Torre dello Sperone, located above the gate, as they try to breach the wall and enter the city. During his assault, a standard-bearer’s courage is admired: he climbs the walls using a ladder and plants the French flag until he is thrown into the ditch by Battistino Corso. The attackers are repelled, losing 100 men; Rangoni orders a retreat, withdrawing to Val Polcevera as no uprising in favor of Fregoso occurs in the city. Pursued by four infantry units, they fall back when Rangoni gives the signal to attack. Takes the road to Ovada, where he is joined by Bernabò Visconti and Cesare Fregoso. His soldiers roam the Apennines in search of supplies. They find only a little wheat for the horses and some chestnuts for their own sustenance: all the inhabitants have fled to the mountains, taking their belongings and food supplies with them. Several villages are burned, and castles are plundered, but the loot is also meager. Crosses the Tanaro and reaches Ceresole Alba. | |||
| Sept. | Piemonte | Marquis Francesco di Saluzzo abandons the French cause for the Imperial side. Guido Rangoni is sent into the Marquisate with Giovanni Ludovico, Francesco’s brother. Carmagnola, Chieri, Cherasco, Chivasso, Pinerolo surrender under agreed terms; Cesare Fregoso, for his part, captures Racconigi. | |||
| Oct. | Piemonte | Deploys artillery pieces supplied by Annebault and takes Carignano, defended by 60 Neapolitan infantry; the defenders surrender to Cagnino Gonzaga, who, unbeknownst to Guido Rangoni, appropriates the horses found in the fortress. Enraged, Rangoni, with the cooperation of his brother-in-law Cesare Fregoso, persecutes Gonzaga: the King of France is forced to send Langey on an inspection mission to ascertain the facts and reconcile the opposing parties for the army’s unity. Three thousand sacks of flour found in Carignano castle are partly sent to Turin to meet the inhabitants’ needs. The capital is relieved from the siege, and the Imperials are forced to withdraw to Asti. Rangoni moves towards Pinerolo and Rivoli. At the end of the month, Emperor Charles V confiscates the fief of Spilamberto in favor of Francesco d’Este. | |||
| Nov. | Piemonte, France | In Savoy. Defeats the enemy in battle (4,000 dead among the Imperials and 2,000 among the Italians and French). | |||
| Dec. | Piemonte | Leaves France and returns to Turin. With the money he brings, two pay periods are provided to all soldiers in cash and one in cloth and leather so they can clothe themselves and have real shoes. Executes a French treasurer found embezzling money meant for soldiers’ pay. | |||
| 1537 | |||||
| Jan. | Piemonte | In Pinerolo, leading 12,000 Italian infantry, 8,000 Gascons, and 6,000 Landsknechts. Hastily strengthens the city’s fortifications. | |||
| Feb. | Piemonte | Moves against Barge, defended by Annibale Brancaccio on behalf of Duke Carlo di Savoia. He is supported by Lelio Filomarino (who is killed during an assault), Vincenzo Strozzi, Battista Riccatorti, and Galeotto Malatesta. Brancaccio is captured, and the town is sacked. With the victory, Rangoni moves to Savigliano. | |||
| Mar. | Piemonte | Alfonso d’Avalos hangs a captured Frenchman; Guido Rangoni sends a trumpeter to inquire about the reason for the execution: the trumpeter is also killed. In response, Rangoni captures several men escorting a convoy of 70 wine wagons and has them all killed after stripping them of their weapons. The reaction causes dismay in Marquis of Vasto and the Spaniards under his command. Rangoni returns to Pinerolo; the Governor of Turin, Burie, informs him that he, with Cristoforo Guasco (1,200 Italian infantry) and other commanders, is about to attack Casale Monferrato, where a Neapolitan captain, Damiano Curvale, has promised to leave a gate open. Arriving late for the meeting, the city is retaken by d’Avalos. The operation ends with Burie’s capture and Cristoforo Guasco’s death. Rangoni is immediately blamed for the failed outcome due to poor coordination of his forces with those of the Governor of Turin. | |||
| May | Piemonte, Lombardia, Veneto | Takes control of two castles; all defenders are executed. The Marquis of Vasto behaves similarly. Travels to Crema and Venice with three Florentine cardinals to gain permission from Serenissima for 15,000 Swiss to pass through its territory to Mirandola, the assembly center for the militias fighting for the French, and to persuade the Republic to side with the exiles against Cosimo de’ Medici. The Tour du Pin in Dauphiné is granted to him in the same month. | |||
| Jun. | Piemonte, France | A new dispute arises with a commander serving under him: the issue stems from the previous six months when Tolosano di San Dalmazzo, originally from Cuneo, captures Chieri with his troops. Guido Rangoni sends Baldassarre dalla Massa to defend the town with two infantry units and 500 men from the Birago bands. Dalla Massa repels two enemy attacks; this success leads him to behave arrogantly towards his general. Rangoni retaliates, arguing that any credit for the capture of Chieri should go to Tolosano di San Dalmazzo rather than Baldassarre dalla Massa. Langey writes a new report, and Francis I replaces Rangoni as General Lieutenant with l’Humières. He goes to Villeneuve, near Nice, for a meeting between the King and Pope Paul III, which will lead to a peace treaty. | |||
| Jul. | Emilia, Romagna, Veneto | Ends the campaign with a return to Mirandola. Moves to Longiano, from where he aids the Florentine exiles Filippo Strozzi, Bartolomeo, and Filippo Valori against Cosimo de’ Medici. Reaches Venice. | |||
| 1538 | |||||
| Apr. | France | The French grant him the fief of Belleville in Beaujolais and the County of Beauregard. | |||
| May | France | In Lyon, where he is granted French citizenship without any fees. | |||
| ………… | Veneto | Moves to Venice: his financial situation has completely changed from two years earlier, going from a debt of 30,000 scudi to 60,000 scudi in capital invested in Venetian banks. | |||
| Nov. | Emilia | Leaves Venice to gather troops in Mirandola to confront Papal and Imperial forces. | |||
| 1539 | |||||
| Jan. | Veneto | Dies mid-month in Venice, not without suspicion of poisoning. Buried in the city’s Church of Saints John and Paul; the casket is carried by his captains Battistino da Rimini, Rego di Maffeo, Chiaro da Brescia, Ludovico Ronchi, Cornelio Marsili, Stefano Moreno, and Geminiano dalle Selle. Medal by Antonio Vicentino depicting him with a female figure riding a bull, housed at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. Completed his early studies with humanist Antonio Maria Visdomini; was also taught by Demetrio Anascopulo, Giglio Giraldi, and Guido Postumo. His secretary was Bernardo Tasso, father of Torquato; Matteo Bandello dedicated several novellas to him; Giraldi one of his dialogues on the history of poets; Tommaso Giannotti of Ravenna wrote the pamphlet “De optima hominum felicitate” and “De morbo Gallico”; Agostino Niso the “De auguriis” and Fausto da Longiano a commentary on Francesco Petrarca; other authors, such as Francesco Marcolini, Antonio Brucioli, and Francesca Beffa, also addressed their works to Guido Rangoni. Achille Marozzo dedicated “Opera Nova called Duel, or the true flower of offensive and defensive arm combat” to him. Corresponded with Pietro Aretino. His portrait is in the chapel of the Confraternity of San Geminiano in Modena. Married Argentina Pallavicini. |
Sources
-“Personaggio di grado e di molta reputazione nelle cose della guerra.” SANTORO
-“Degno, zentil e animoso condutier.” SANUDO
-“Tenuto per uno de’ primi spadacini e capitani del tempo.” SORBELLI
-“Ebbe..rinomanza di uno de’ più valorosi capitani d’Italia.” CAMPORI
-“Homme de grande réputation parmy les gens de guerre.” DU BELLAY
-“…quel valente/ signor Guido Rangon, esperto ne l’armi.” MANGO
-“L’un de plus célèbres condottieri du XVI siècle.” PICOT
-“Il quale era tenuto Capitan molto pratico..Il quale d’esperienza di guerra, e di prontezza d’ingegno era il migliore di gran lunga de’ capitani Francesi. GIOVIO
-“Fu questo valoroso Capitano non isperto solamente nell’armi, ma etiamdio litterato, eloquente, liberale, e dei virtuosi ottimo padrone.” ALBERTI
-“Capitano in arme laudato.” BUGATI
-“Riputato comunemente degno tra Capitan..Fu di statura giusta e di volto bianco; gli occhi, la barba e i capelli hebbe neri.” ROSCIO
-“Il quale per gloria di fatti e per grandezza d’animo, vinse senz’alcun dubbio, non pure i primogeniti suoi, ma anco quasi tutti i capitani de suoi tempi; conciosiacosa che nessuno si paragonò a lui, o di gagliardia e destra essercitatione e ferma (fermezza) di corpo, o di indomito vigor d’animo militare, o desiderio di gran lode, percioché egli per concessione d’ogniuno: fra i valorissimi Capitani di guerra quasi unico: era fra i magnanimi il primo e con invitta mano sapeva vincere in battaglia il nemico che gli veniva innanzi, e in disciplina d’accamparsi, e di mettere in ordinanza le schiere superava gli altri, e fra tutti gli huomini valorosi di guerra, sapeva acquistarsi fama di vero honore: e lode di perpetua e smisurata liberalità non tenne talmente vita reale, che il suo nome fu celebre per tutta Europa..Fu questo valoroso capitano non isperto solamente nell’ arme, ma etiandio letterato, eloquente, liberale e de i virtuosi ottimo padrone.” SANSOVINO
-“Fra tutti gli uomini illustri, che questa nobil famiglia ebbe nel secolo XVI, niuno giunse ad eguagliare la gloria del conte Guido, che come tra’ Condottieri d’esercito ebbe pochi pari a suo’ tempi, così tra’ fautori e protettori delle lettere meritò i più magnifici elogi de’ dotti.” TIRABOSCHI
-“Uomo rinomatissimo nelle armi..Oltre di essere uno de’ condottieri d’eserciti, ch’ebbe pochi pari a’ suoi tempi, fu uomo di grande dottrina.” LITTA
-“Essempio de la milizia e paragon del valore.” P. ARETINO
-“Sorpassò in fama tutti i suoi antenati e gli storici contemporanei lo annoverano fra i più valorosi e celebri capitani.” SPRETI
-“Virum acrem.” VERI
-“Magni nominis virum.” CAPELLA
-“Uomo riputatissimo nelle armi.” BOSI
-“Notissimo nella storia d’Italia.” ALBINI
-“Capitano generoso.” RAINIERI
-“Fortificando Pinerolo, nel far cavar e’ fossi, volse che si lasciasse fra ‘l muro e ‘l fosso una panca di terreno larga di otto braccia in circa. Poi la fece tagliare dal cominciar della muraglia fino al fondo del fosso, si che si venne a fare scarpa. Per la qual cosa il fosso più largo divenne, e la muraglia non rimase scalzata.” MAGGI
-“Questo sig.r conte Guido è lo più grande e honorato sig.r e zentil homo che sia nasuto de Modena asai tempo fa; è benemerito, perché sua ill.ma sig.a è sempre stato liberalissimo e splendido più che niuno de casa Rangona.” DE’ BIANCHI
-“Esperto in l’arme.” CELEBRINO
-“Famosissimo Capitano de’ suoi tempi.” BONIFACIO
-Alla difesa di Brescia “Alhor si fece inanzi il conte Guido,/ mosso dal rumor e longo strido./ Animoso era questo e di gran cose,/ né mai in la sua vita fé falanza (errore),/ ben che alcun non li facesse honore;/ con la sua forte e ben membruta lanza/ al primo che ritrova passa il core,/ l’altri seguin lui a simil danza;/ francesi cavaler ristrecti insieme/ adosso a lui a ella sua gente preme.” Da “La rotta e presa fatta a Bresa per li Francesi” riportata dal FRATI
-“La carriera di Guido Rangoni rappresenta quella a cui Pallavicini e Rossi avrebbero potuto aspirare; infatti la svolta decisiva nella sua carriera di medio condottiere veneziano.. era stata compiuta col pontificato di Leone X e il passaggio di Modena alla Chiesa, che per lui e i suoi avevano significato concessioni di feudi e governi nelle altre province dello Stato, condotte e comandi nell’esercito..Aveva cumulato feudi e posizioni militari nel parmense, contro lo ius loci, aveva rivaleggiato con successo con Giovanni dalle Bande Nere, spingendolo ad abbandonare l’esercito pontificio e a cercare miglior fortuna, e, dopo la sua morte, aveva perfino preteso il comando delle riluttanti Bande, di cui erede avrebbe dovuto essere Pietro Maria (Piermaria dei Rossi)..Il contrasto tra Rossi e Rangoni, che diventa particolarmente violento a partire dal 1532, viene espresso in termini di onore militare, attraverso cartelli di sfida che più che al duello mirano a stabilirne l’impossibilità per indegnità dell’avversario, quasi ad eliminare uno dei concorrenti ai sempre meno numerosi impieghi disponibili, nel quadro di smobilitazione che segue la pace di Bologna.” ARCANGELI
-Con Claudio Rangoni “I quali veramente per le isperentie loro, potevano chiamarsi mastri di guerra.” CONTILE
-“Riputato communemente assai degno tra i Capitani..Fu di statura giusta: e di volto bianco: gli occhi, barba, e i capelli hebbe neri.” CAPRIOLO
-“I coniugi intrattennero sempre stretti rapporti con alcuni fra i letterati più illustri del tempo: di Argentina, che fu dedicataria della commedia “Il marescalco” di Pietro Aretino stampata a venezia nel 1533, si conservano due lettere a Pietro Bembo, mentre Guido – che compose alcuni epigrammi e nel castello di Longiano raccolse una vasta biblioteca di testi latini e greci – tenne a lungo presso di sé, come segretario Bernardo Tasso. Inoltre, fu dedicatario di varie opere come il “De auguriis” di Agostino Niso, il “Comento a Petrarca” di Fausto da Longiano, il “De optima hominum felicitate” e il “De morbo Gallico” di Tommaso Giannotti e l’”opera nova” di Achille Marozzo, il testo più influente della scuola bolognese di scherma.” BAJA GUARIENTI (Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani)
-“Il conte Guido Rangone vi si atrova:/ Che ha fatte fin ad hor più di una prova.” CORDO
-“Eravi quel Rangone Generale/ De tutti i Colonnelli, et Capitani/ Quivi la fama appriva aperte l’ale/ Et giva a volo per quei monti e piani.” ALBICANTE
-“La storia..che qui si intende narrare..è quella di un uomo che visse a cavallo tra due epoche: il Medilevo e quello Moderno. Visse una vita allora sufficientemente lunga (53 anni e mezzzo), forse troncata anzitempo..e fu famoso. Un capitano di ventura, si potrebbe definirlo con molta approssimazione. Fu certo un uomo d’armi, cresciuto in fretta e con grandi doti personali. Ebbe, da natali nobili, la fortuna di avere beni e istruzione. Molto osò, molto fece e certo è un personaggio fra i più emblematici del suo tempo. Che fu quello della calata in Italia dei Francesi (1494), della lega di Cambrai (1508), della calata dei Lanzichenecchi e del Sacco di Roma (1527)…Famoso e celebrato per prudenza e sapienza tattica più che per condotta guerriera.” MONTANARI
-“Della sua formazione come soldato, sappiamo che imparò il maneggio delle armi bianche presso uno dei maestri della “Scuola Bolognese” di scherma, Guido Antonio de Luca, alle cui lezioni assistevano nei medesimi anni anche Giovanni delle Bande Nere e il maestro e trattatista di scherma Achille Marozzo chhe avrebbe poi (1536) dedicato proprio a Guido la sua “Opera Nova Chiamata Duello”.” WIKIPEDIA
SPECIFIC BIOGRAPHIES
G. C. Montanari. Guido Rangoni un condottiero fra Evo Medio e Moderno
