The Unbroken Will of Niccolò Fortebraccio
Niccolò Fortebraccio (Niccolò della Stella, Niccolò Guerriero)
From Sant’Angelo in Vado. Count of Montone. Lord of Sansepolcro, Tivoli, Assisi, Vetralla, Montefiascone, Città di Castello, and Città della Pieve. Nephew of Braccio da Montone, son of his sister Stella and a gentleman or an apothecary from Sant’Angelo in Vado whose emblem was a star. Father of Braccio Vecchio da Montone, son-in-law of Micheletto Attendolo and Antonio da Pontedera.
Born: 1389
Death: 1435, August
| Year, month | State, Comp. ventura | Opponent | Conduct | Activity Area | Actions taken and other salient facts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1423 | |||||
| June | King of Aragon | Naples | Abruzzo | Serves under his uncle Braccio da Montone. He is wounded in the knee by a crossbow bolt during an assault on the walls of L’Aquila. | |
| July | Abruzzo | Noted for his role in the capture of Rocca di Cambio. | |||
| Aug. | Abruzzo | Located in the valley of Santanza; he organizes an ambush and arrives at the Porta di Barete of L’Aquila. The defenders exit to chase him and fall into a trap. | |||
| 1424 | |||||
| June | Abruzzo | Participates in the Battle of L’Aquila, commanding the third division. He supports his uncle when Braccio crosses the Aterno River. Together with Brandolino Brandolini and Gattamelata, he attacks the forces of Ludovico Colonna and Menicuccio dell’Aquila; he retreats when these captains are reinforced by Federico di Matelica. Captured by Luigi da San Severino and Troilo di San Valentino, he is imprisoned in Gagliano Aterno. Ransomed by Niccolò Piccinino for 11,000 florins, he takes refuge in Otricoli. | |||
| 1425 | |||||
| ………… | Florence | Fights against the Visconti, first under Niccolò Piccinino and then under Gattamelata. | |||
| ………… | Tuscany | Dismissed during a brief period of peace, he stays in Fucecchio. | |||
| 1426 | |||||
| Spring | Florence | Milan | Emilia | Supports Niccolò d’Este on the Panaro River. He is near Vignola when the ducal condottieri Angelo della Pergola and Guido Torelli cross the river without interference from the Florentines. | |
| Autumn | Venice | Milan | Liguria | Aids the Florentines engaged in Liguria against the Visconti. | |
| 1427 | |||||
| ………… | Florence | 210 cavalry | |||
| ………… | Umbria | Sent by the Perugians to the widow of Braccio da Montone, Nicolina da Varano, to try to convince her to cede Gualdo Cattaneo and Montone to the Papal States and to be content with only the lordship of Città di Castello. | |||
| ………… | Milan | Venice | |||
| 1428 | |||||
| Apr. | He is dismissed by the Duke of Milan, Filippo Maria Visconti, following the Peace of Ferrara. | ||||
| 1429 | |||||
| Oct. | Florence | Volterra | Tuscany | Stationed without pay in Fucecchio, he is reemployed by the Florentines to subdue Volterra, which has rebelled against the republic. He assists the commissioners Rinaldo degli Albizzi and Palla Strozzi. | |
| Nov. | Comp. ventura, Florence | Lucca | 300 cavalry, 300 infantry | Tuscany | In Volterra, Giusto Landini, who led the sedition, is killed (thrown from the windows). Within three days, the Florentines re-enter the city. Niccolò Fortebraccio‘s command is reduced to 10 lances. The condottiero prefers to be dismissed. He heads towards San Miniato; he is then urged by the same Florentines (Rinaldo degli Albizzi and Neri Capponi) to attack Paolo Guinigi, the Lord of Lucca, with 300 cavalry and 300 infantry, under the pretense of collecting the remaining 50,000 florins that the Lucchese had promised Braccio da Montone in 1418 to protect themselves from his raids. He occupies Ruoti (Ruota) and Compito, sowing destruction in the countryside and taking control of San Quirico, Lucchio, Castellare, Montefegatesi, Ghivizzano, Rocca del Borgo, Lugliano, and Cotrone. The Florentines finally come out into the open, officially hiring him and declaring war on the Lucchese. He is promised 13,000 florins until the end of March of the following year; in April, he would be granted a command of 700 cavalry and 200 infantry; with the conquest of Lucca, he would ultimately receive the fief of Rotaio (a district of Capezzano). |
| Dec. | Tuscany | He obtains Villa Basilica and halts below Collodi, which is defended by 250 infantrymen, many of whom are Spanish. His first attack is repelled, and he blames Bartolomeo da Gualdo and the erroneous information provided by this captain regarding the state of the town’s fortifications. He requests bombards and bombardiers to continue the operations. In the same month, he negotiates the surrender of Casoli; together with Rinaldo di Provenza, he seizes Borgo a Mozzano and Chifenti, capturing 150 men; he also negotiates the surrender of Ghivizzano. He captures Tereglio despite the defense by Guerriero da Gubbio; along with other condottieri, he attacks Gallicano in Garfagnana, which has fallen into the hands of the Este family. Rinaldo degli Albizzi promptly intervenes and persuades him to accept the accomplished fact to avoid further expanding the front against their adversaries. | |||
| 1430 | |||||
| Jan. | General captain | Tuscany | He meets with Rinaldo degli Albizzi at Villa Basilica and returns to besiege Collodi. The Dieci di Balia complain about the behavior of one of his captains, Antonio di Cesi, who captured two Florentine merchants near Lucchio and demanded a ransom from them. Niccolò Fortebraccio is appointed captain general; Collodi surrenders to him. Meanwhile, he clashes with Rinaldo degli Albizzi and increasingly relies on the Florentine commissioner Neri Capponi. He besieges San Gennaro, whose defenders surrender under terms, deceived by a fake letter from Paolo Guinigi that advises them to do so; Porcari also surrenders to the Florentines. | ||
| Feb. | Tuscany | He stations himself beneath Lucca, setting up his camp first at Capannori with Bartolomeo da Gualdo, then at Treponti, awaiting the implementation of Filippo Brunelleschi‘s plan to flood Lucca by diverting the course of the Serchio River. | |||
| Apr. | Tuscany | The Florentines grant him an additional 24,908 florins for his services until June. | |||
| May | Tuscany | The bastion constructed near Lucca is suddenly attacked. Giovanni da Ferrara and Pietro Paolo da Terni, who are in charge of its defense, flee in the face of 1,500 Lucchese (including infantry and citizens) and 200 cavalry. Bernardino degli Ubaldini della Carda and Ranieri Vibi del Frogia, who are nearby, do not intervene. Fortebraccio faces the adversaries alone and repels them, losing a small bombard in the process. | |||
| July – Aug. | Tuscany | Francesco Sforza arrives in Val di Nievole; Niccolò Fortebraccio abandons the camp and takes refuge in Ripafratta with Ranieri Vibi del Frogia. Soon, he is joined in command by Bernardino degli Ubaldini della Carda. Severe conflicts arise between the two captains, prompting the Florentines, in August, to entrust the overall command of the troops to the Count of Urbino, Guidantonio da Montefeltro. | |||
| Sept. – Nov. | Tuscany | He continues to besiege Lucca and constructs a bastion at Capannori; his disputes with other Florentine condottieri persist. This time, it’s with Guidantonio da Montefeltro, who distrusts Niccolò Fortebraccio‘s actions. Niccolò Piccinino arrives to aid the Lucchese: Niccolò Fortebraccio advises, in vain, to send 2,000 infantry to Fidiena, to a bastion built by the inhabitants of Montemagno, with the aim of blocking the enemy’s path and cutting off their supply lines. He breaks a truce between the parties and surprises the Lucchese outside the city walls, grazing their livestock. | |||
| Dec. | Tuscany | At the beginning of the month, he takes part in the Battle of the Serchio under the command of Guidantonio da Montefeltro. He commands the second division, consisting of 500 cavalry; his banner features a rampant lion. The Lucchese capture 1,500 cavalry from the Florentines and seize artillery, munitions, and large quantities of weapons. Niccolò Fortebraccio is also captured by Niccolò Piccinino: he is later freed and has his lost possessions returned. Upon his release, he meets with the opposing captain at Montebicchieri; he then returns to Fucecchio, from where he moves with Bartolomeo Peruzzi to defend Castelfiorentino and other locations in the Val d’Elsa. | |||
| 1431 | |||||
| Jan. | Tuscany, Umbria | The Florentines assign Micheletto Attendolo to assist him in command, with a significantly larger contingent (600 lances and 200 infantry). At the same time, the losses suffered by his companies in the recent campaign are not compensated. Dissatisfied with this situation, he abandons the Arezzo region and, without asking for leave, heads towards Montone with 800 cavalry. | |||
| Feb. | Emilia | He is contacted, along with Rinaldo di Provenza (commanding 600 cavalry), by Bernardino dalle Correggie on behalf of the Bolognese, who are in conflict with the Papal forces. They are supposed to help seize the fortress of Imola through an agreement with three provisioned soldiers guarding it. The conspiracy is discovered, and the soldiers involved in the plot are hanged. | |||
| Mar. | Emilia | The negotiations with the Bolognese fail. Niccolò Fortebraccio rejects the offer of 3,000 ducats proposed to him by the commune’s ambassadors. | |||
| May | Comp. ventura | Church, Florence | Umbria | ||
| June – July | Umbria | ||||
| Aug. | Umbria | ||||
| Sept. | Church, Naples | Captain General and Gonfaloniere of the Papal States, 400 lances and 250 infantry | He enters the service of Pope Eugene IV and Queen Joanna of Naples (Giovanna d’Angiò). Following the return of previously conquered cities, he is appointed Captain General and Gonfaloniere of the Papal States. He is granted a command of 400 lances, 200 infantry, and 50 crossbowmen, with a salary of 34,000 florins. He is also named Count of Montone and is invested by the Pope with the vicariate of this castle. He accepts the position not for himself but on behalf of Carlo di Montone, son of Braccio. He prepares to fight the prefect Giacomo di Vico in the Patrimony. | ||
| Oct. | Church | Vico, Siena | Umbria, Lazio | He leaves the county of Città di Castello and moves to the Perugia area, where he causes significant damage because the inhabitants refuse to supply him with provisions. He reaches Ponte Valleceppi, Ponte San Giovanni, and Pomonte. He then moves into the Patrimony with Patriarch Giovanni Vitelleschi. | |
| 1432 | |||||
| Feb. – Mar. | Tuscany, Lazio | He heads towards Valiano in Val di Chiana, attacks Montefollonico, and reaches Città della Pieve. He takes control of Casamala, Caprarola, Fabrica di Roma, Carbognano, Giulianello, and Vallerano. He besieges Vetralla, defended by Giovanni Malavolti, and captures it in a few days. Following this, he progressively captures Orchie, Respanpani, Bieda (Blera), Tolfa, Ancarano, Cencelle, and Trevinano. Lastly, he besieges Civitavecchia by land, while it is attacked by sea by the fleet of Piero Loredan. The Venetians approach; Niccolò Fortebraccio brings two barbottate boats (covered with double planking like a tortoise) into the small harbor beneath the fortress. The Bracceschi climb the ruins of the ancient porticoes and reach the caves that lead to the underground chambers where Catalan mercenaries serving Giacomo di Vico are gathered. The prefect surrenders after thirteen days in exchange for 4,000 florins and flees to Siena. During this time, Niccolò Fortebraccio is granted the lordship of Borgo San Sepolcro (Sansepolcro) for ten years by the Pope. | |||
| Apr. | Lazio | He goes to Rome for a war council with the Pope to assess the potential consequences of the arrival of Emperor Sigismund of Hungary in Italy. | |||
| May | Lazio, Umbria, Tuscany | He obtains permission from Eugene IV to recover the body of his uncle, Braccio da Montone, which lies buried in a pit near Rome. He transports the remains to Perugia, where they are re-consecrated and interred in the church of San Francesco al Prato. He quickly traverses the Papal States and positions himself at the borders of Tuscany, between Acquapendente and Radicofani, at the Ponte di Rignano, to monitor the movements of the emperor, who has stopped in Lucca. | |||
| June | Comp. ventura | Città di Castello | Lazio | He marches into Chiugi and the Tifernate region, camping near Città di Castello at the church of Santa Caterina. He begins to plunder the countryside of the Val di Pierla with the help of local exiles until the Pope recalls him to quell the revolt of Vetralla and other lands incited by Giacomo di Vico. The Perugians send 200 infantry under the command of Rinaldo dei Sassirossi to aid Città di Castello. | |
| July | Umbria | He continues to plunder the Val di Pierla, retreats to Orsaia, and brings all the looted wheat into Città della Pieve. He attacks a procession of the emperor’s ambassadors, kills one, and robs the others as they are returning to Siena. | |||
| Aug. – Sept. | Church | Vico, Siena | Lazio | He gathers 2,000 cavalry and 1,000 infantry at Fontana di Fonte, near Viterbo; he is joined there by Menicuccio dell’Aquila with 500 cavalry and 200 infantry. He proceeds to Vetralla, where Giacomo di Vico has fortified himself with 1,500 cavalry; he camps near Blera. An assault is repelled after four hours. He has trebuchets, catapults, and other war machines brought from Viterbo, continuing the siege with constant bombardments. Additionally, 11 bombards are set up, and a tunnel is dug beneath the walls. The inhabitants of Vetralla send emissaries to negotiate terms of surrender; they revolt and admit the papal commissioner, the Bishop of Camerino, and Niccolò Fortebraccio himself with 400 infantry. The condottiero occupies the fortress, has the houses of the main supporters of Vico looted, and imposes a levy of 10,000 ducats and 1,000 loads of wheat on the inhabitants. Three days later, all of the prefect’s castles (Giulianello, Carbognano, Caprarola, and Casamala) fall into his power. With this victory, the Pope once again recognizes his lordship over Borgo San Sepolcro (Sansepolcro) in exchange for an annual tribute of 500 ducats. Fortebraccio immediately installs Ruggero d’Antignola as his vicar in the city with 200 infantry. | |
| Oct. | Fortebraccio | Church, Urbino | Lazio | He demands payment of the overdue wages from the Pope: Eugene IV responds that the requested amount should be reduced by the portion of the loot he appropriated at Vetralla and that, as is customary, he must first conduct a review of his men. Fortebraccio does not comply, arguing that during the siege operations, he suffered significant losses in men and horses, which would result in a smaller amount being recognized. At the same time, he strengthens the garrisons of the newly acquired locations with his own infantry. He begins to plunder the Papal States, persecutes its supporters, and secretly allies with Stefano Colonna. | |
| 1433 | |||||
| Jan. | Umbria | Città di Castello rebels against Guidantonio da Montefeltro due to an incident where the city’s podestà attempted to seduce the wife of a notable citizen. The official is killed by the friends and relatives of the husband, causing unrest in the city. Fortebraccio seizes the opportunity and sends his lieutenant, Ruggero d’Antignola, to the town with some cavalry companies. The commune appoints Niccolò Fortebraccio as their lord, provoking the Pope’s indignation. The condottiero leaves the Tifernate region, occupies the castle of Celle, and demolishes Vallurbana, which had allied with Montefeltro. At the end of the month, he is contacted by Francesco da Bologna on behalf of the Duke of Milan: Filippo Maria Visconti desires that he reconcile with Francesco Sforza, who wishes to leave the Duke’s service to join the Pope, citing his enmity with Fortebraccio as a pretext. | |||
| Feb. | Umbria, Lazio | He returns to Città di Castello and then moves to Upper Lazio. | |||
| Mar. | Lazio | He is attacked in Vetralla by 3,000 papal cavalry. | |||
| Apr. – May | Lazio, Umbria | Leaving Vetralla, where Angelo di Roncone remains with 200 infantry, he moves with 700 cavalry to Caprarola and Castelnuovo; he sacks Monte della Guardia. Upon hearing of the killing of Stefano Colonna, he leaves il Camuso in Città di Castello with 200 cavalry and returns to Vetralla with the rest of his troops; from there, he heads to Monteleone d’Orvieto. | |||
| June | Umbria, Marche | The Council of Basel appoints him as their Captain General. He moves into the Orvieto region with more than 1,000 infantry and 1,000 cavalry, sacking Fichino and Carnaiola. With Fortebraccio are many adventurers and unpaid infantry, among whom 500 form the so-called “brigata della Strenga”. The Count of Poppi intervenes in the conflict between the condottiero and Montefeltro, persuading both to agree to a four-month truce. At the end of the month, he is reported near Recanati. | |||
| July | King of Aragon, Fortebraccio | Naples, Church | Umbria, Lazio, Abruzzo | He appoints Arrigo da Modigliana as his lieutenant in Città di Castello, then proceeds through Chiugi, reaching Città della Pieve, Vetralla, and Castelnuovo, where he strengthens the garrisons and recruits new condottieri, including Bartolomeo da Gualdo. He passes through San Gemini and Amelia, damaging the territories he crosses. Under pressure from the Perugians, he temporarily reconciles with the Pope and serves Alfonso of Aragon against the Angevins. In Abruzzi, he conducts a futile offensive characterized by arson and massacres in support of the Prince of Taranto, Giovanni Antonio Orsini del Balzo. His relations with Pope Eugene IV become tense again due to the instigation of the Duke of Milan, who delivers him 15,000 florins. Fortebraccio allies with Antonio da Pontedera and resumes his aggressive warfare. He commands 1,500 cavalry and 3,000 infantry, negotiating the surrender of Ficulle and all the castles of Giulio d’Orvieto, who actively supports him. He heads towards Montefiascone, halting in the plains of Viterbo and the Vico Valley. He attacks Sutri but is repelled, losing 27 infantrymen and suffering many injuries. He occupies Casamala and Lugnano in Teverina, which had rebelled against the papal forces. After setting Sutri’s village on fire, he passes through Fabrica di Roma and Soriano nel Cimino, crosses the Tiber, and targets Amelia, which he negotiates for. He occupies Foce and Capitone. Opposed by Micheletto Attendolo, he moves between Orte and Narni, closely following his movements. | |
| Aug. | Umbria, Lazio | He sets fire to the castle of Viano and negotiates the surrender of Poggio. He returns to Viano when he learns that Giacomo di Vico has left Siena with 300 cavalry to join him in his raids. With these reinforcements, he crosses the Tiber, besieges Castiglione in Teverina, which belongs to Pietro Paolo Monaldeschi, and has tunnels dug under the walls, securing the town through negotiations. He unsuccessfully assaults Toscanella (Tuscania); after the surrender of Porzano, he advances towards Orvieto but is repelled. He attempts to take Attigliano, occupies San Lorenzo near Civita Castellana, and heads towards Rome. He captures many men up to the Porta Flaminia (Porta del Popolo) of the city and seizes 5,000 head of livestock. In the name of the Council of Basel, he takes control of the bridges on the Salaria and Nomentana roads and defeats the troops of Cardinal Vitelleschi at Genazzano, who had hurriedly moved from the Marche. He also defeats Francesco Piccinino when the papal legate has to return to Romagna, which is in revolt. With the spoils and 400 prisoners, mostly young men caught working in the surrounding vineyards, he moves to Tivoli where there is an agreement in his favor. He is repelled by Rinaldo Orsini; he returns the two standards he had received as Gonfaloniere of the Papal States and besieges the city with the help of the Colonna family, who supply him with provisions from Palestrina and Zagarolo. He sells the livestock captured in Rome for 600 florins; he attacks the abbey of Subiaco, whose abbot recognizes a ransom of 400 florins. He takes control of the village of Subiaco and eight castles, while Micheletto Attendolo approaches menacingly against him. | |||
| Sept. | Lazio | He is besieged in Genazzano by Micheletto Attendolo: in a clash, he loses 18 men-at-arms and captures 16. | |||
| Oct. | Lazio | He occupies Tivoli with the help of local Ghibellines and expels the Count of Tagliacozzo, Gian Antonio Orsini; he harasses the urban district and nearly besieges Rome. | |||
| Nov. | Umbria | He takes control of Assisi with the help of his supporters Francesco, Simone, and Antonio da Monteverde, who enter the city with some infantry provided by Arrigo da Modigliana. | |||
| Dec. | The Romans capture 17 men from his companies in Sabina; these men are hanged in Rome at the Capitoline Hill. In response, Niccolò Fortebraccio clashes with Antonio da Pontedera, who abandons him due to his disappointment in not achieving his ambition of becoming the lord of Rome. | ||||
| 1434 | |||||
| Jan. | Lazio | He unsuccessfully assaults Rieti, defended by Protonotary Pietro Ramponi; facing strong resistance, he moves to the Viterbo area and takes control of Montefiascone. In Tivoli, he clashes with Antonio da Pontedera, who wounds him with a lance. After the skirmish, he requests a doctor from the Pope for treatment. Eugene IV, magnanimously, sends him two Jewish doctors. | |||
| Mar. | Lazio | He concludes a truce with the papal forces. Francesco Sforza agrees to campaign against Niccolò Fortebraccio. At the end of the month, Francesco Sforza, Micheletto Attendolo, Lorenzo Attendolo, and Niccolò da Tolentino move against the Umbrian condottiero. | |||
| Apr. | Lazio | He is attacked in Monterotondo. | |||
| May | Lazio | He is defeated at Mentana and besieged in Tivoli; Montefiascone is attacked by Gentile della Sala. He leaves Tivoli with the infantry and 1,200 cavalry to gather forage for the cavalry but is defeated by the papal forces, who capture 200 cavalrymen. He is wounded in the throat and chased back to the city walls. Filippo Maria Visconti intervenes on his behalf, sending Niccolò and Francesco Piccinino to aid him. They overcome Francesco Sforza‘s resistance at Orvieto. Meanwhile, agents of the Duke of Milan organize a popular uprising in Rome. Eugene IV is forced to flee the city at night, disguised as a Benedictine monk. He escapes via the Tiber to Ostia and boards a cargo ship that takes him to Pisa; his final destination is Florence. Upon hearing of the revolt, Fortebraccio leaves Tivoli with 600 cavalry and 400 infantry, reaching Monterotondo. He crosses the Tiber at Castelnuovo di Porto and arrives in Vetralla. The Romans send Fortebraccio the city’s banner and appoint him their Captain General. | |||
| June | Lazio | He leaves Vetralla and meets with Niccolò Piccinino at Bussette. Together, they enter Rome and assume control of the city. Fortebraccio is presented with the city’s banner. | |||
| July | Umbria | He is with Piccinino in San Gemini; under pressure from Visconti’s ambassador, Urbano da Ortona, he negotiates a truce with his adversaries. The night before the truce comes into effect, Fortebraccio attacks Francesco Sforza‘s camp and surprises Pietro Brunoro. Sforza complains about this incident to Piccinino, who ensures that all the spoils are returned. Upon its expiration, the truce is renewed for five months. | |||
| Aug. | Lazio | The papal forces are defeated at Castel Bolognese by Niccolò Piccinino. Fortebraccio receives 30,000 ducats from the Duke of Milan. He leaves Fara Sabina, violates the ongoing truce, and approaches Rome up to Trastevere. He besieges Castel Sant’Angelo and lodges in the Pope’s palace next to the abandoned church of San Pietro. Sarpellione forces him to retreat. | |||
| Sept. | Lazio, Umbria | He concludes a new truce, and the Romans hand him 3,000 ducats. In the middle of the month, he enters the Perugia region, crosses Ponte della Pietra, exits at San Martino della Fiera, and stays overnight at Ponte San Giovanni with 300 cavalry. The Perugians gift him wax, confections, and other items. He allies with the Lord of Foligno, Niccolò Trinci, and harasses Francesco Sforza‘s territories in Umbria and the Marche. He then moves to Montefiascone and Acquapendente. | |||
| Oct. | Umbria | The forces of Sforza also break the truce; Micheletto Attendolo and Leone Sforza support the pro-papal Orsini faction in Rome. Niccolò Fortebraccio raids the territories controlled by Francesco Sforza for several days until, at the end of the month, he returns to Città di Castello to marry Ludovica di Battifolle, daughter of Count Francesco of Poppi. Many celebrations are held; rich gifts come from Perugia, including drapes and silverware valued at 500 ducats. A joust organized for the occasion is won by one of his soldiers, Varagino dei Michelotti. | |||
| Nov. | Umbria | In Assisi, he conducts new raids in the counties of Gualdo Tadino and Todi, capturing many people. He gathers his spoils and amasses them in Collemancio. Among the captives at Case del Piano is a chancellor of Francesco Sforza who is traveling from Florence to Perugia. He also plunders a wedding procession near Marsciano, resulting in the abduction of the wife of Gattamelata. | |||
| Dec. | Umbria | At the hospital of Parete in Assisi, he has three people hanged for being accused of planning to hand over the city to Francesco Sforza; he has Bartolomeo da Gualdo beheaded in Castelnuovo, suspecting him of abandoning his service to join the Florentine payroll. | |||
| 1435 | |||||
| Jan. | Umbria | He loses Riparbella and San Vito, and Giacomo di Vico also abandons him. Fortebraccio no longer controls Vetralla. He signs a new thirty-day truce with Francesco Sforza in Perugia. | |||
| Feb. | Umbria | He defects to the enemy camp at Montecchio, a town near Assisi. Niccolò Fortebraccio immediately moves beneath the castle, forcefully breaks in, and captures the infantry sent there on behalf of Francesco Sforza. He brings them to Assisi and has them tortured by those who handed over the town to the enemy. In the end, all of them are quartered. | |||
| Mar. | Lazio | Together with Lorenzo Colonna and Jacopo Orsini, he devastates the counties of Monterotondo, Tivoli, and Castelnuovo di Porto. | |||
| May | Umbria | He infests the territory of Gualdo Tadino and sacks Agello; he repels Leone Sforza from Assisi, recaptures Galgata, and has 7 men hanged there. The Perugians invite him to leave their territory along with Francesco Piccinino. Niccolò Fortebraccio moves to Ponte Pattoli, Resena, Pianello, and Bettona, destroying crops everywhere. | |||
| June | Umbria, Tuscany | He positions himself beneath Montefalco, occupies the villages, and takes 150 prisoners. He returns to Sansepolcro, which has rebelled in favor of Francesco Sforza, and punishes the partisans of his adversary. In Assisi, he leaves the city after a few days with 600 cavalry and moves to aid Foligno, where the Trinci are besieged by Leone Sforza and Cardinal Vitelleschi. He does not accept the frontal confrontation requested by Francesco Sforza and heads to Città di Castello. He is informed that Leone Sforza is camped at Montefalco with little precaution. | |||
| July | Umbria | With the collaboration of Corrado Trinci and Francesco Piccinino (700 cavalry), he swiftly covers 60 miles and unexpectedly attacks Leone Sforza at Montefalco. He captures Leone Sforza and all his troops (300 cavalry and 200 infantry) while Leone Sforza is playing chess. | |||
| Aug. | Umbria, Marche | He besieges the fortress of Montefalco; the defenders surrender under terms. Despite promises, he has Francuzzo da San Severino, who had taken refuge there, beheaded. According to other sources, Fortebraccio grants the enemy condottiero a safe conduct only to ambush and kill him near the agreed location. He then camps by the Chienti River at Beldiletto and moves against Camerino, controlled by Sforza. He captures the castle of Prefoglio (sacking it) and the castle of Appennino after a brief bombardment. He moves to Serravalle di Chienti with 1,000 cavalry and 500 infantry to secure the spoils and proceeds to besiege Fiordimonte in the valley of Sant’Angelo di Camerino. At the end of the month, he is confronted by Taliano Furlano, Taddeo d’Este, Cristoforo da Tolentino, Guidantonio Manfredi, Manno Barile, Gattamelata, Brandolino Brandolini, and Alessandro Sforza. His troops flee after a brief skirmish. Niccolò Fortebraccio falls from his horse while trying to leap over a ditch, with his leg pinned under the mount. The enemies close in. He pretends to surrender, buying time to draw his sword; Cristoforo da Forlì strikes him between the nose and cheek, pinning the captain to the ground. Fortebraccio remains still, refusing help from anyone. He dies after two to three hours, filled with rage and without uttering a word, much like Braccio da Montone. It is said that his body was torn to pieces by Perugian exiles and placed in a sack. He is buried in Assisi. He is remembered by Lorenzo Spirito in “Lamento di Perugia soggiogata” and depicted by Bramantino. He marries Luisa di Battifolle, daughter of Count Francesco of Poppi. |
Sources
-“Lasciò di sé opinione di uomo valoroso intrepido nella sventura, ma irreligioso superbo crudele, anzi bestiale.” EROLI
-“Anche nella morte volle imitare suo zio, il grande Braccio, il suo idolo per tutta la breve esistenza di trent’anni o poco più. E in effetti la sua fine è una di quelle rimaste leggendarie nella storia dei capitani di ventura, perché significativa del vinto che non vuol dare minima soddisfazione al vincitore con la sua sofferenza che, silenziosa, finisce per appartenere solo a lui, un rantolo mortale soffocato nello sdegno del nemico.” RENDINA
-“Nicolò Fortebracci, onor di mia/ Gloria, con gli altri un nuovo Marte a tondo/ Mostrò quanto dell’arme il colmo sia.” Lorenzo Spirito riportato da FABRETTI
-“Meno fortunato che prode nelle battaglie, nella brevità della militare carriera gli valse il nome per avere onorevole condotta appo i potenti di quell’età. Formatosi alla scuola di Braccio, agevolmente raccolse e compose un esercito di bellicosi uomini, o manco indipendente prese a guerreggiar per altri.” FABRETTI
-“Nicolò aspramente, menava la guerra: io non credo che mai più fusse niuno che sì nimichivolmente guerra facesse..Costui di ferro e di fuoco persone e ville faceva perire: ognora le sue genti crescevano; conciossia cosa che chi non aveva soldo, a piè come a cavallo, traevano a lui.. Egli amava più la fatica per il male, che il riposo per il bene: oggi correva in un paese, e domani in un altro. Le sue brigate sempre andavano e venivano, siccome tu vedi le formiche andare, ed altre con la preda tornare..In questo perverso uomo non si trovò mai, non che pietà, un alcuno minimo rispitto (respiro) di quiete.” CAVALCANTI
-“Era piuttosto piccolo che grande, magrantino, superbo, pericoloso, e crudele a fare ogni fatto e cupido voler roba per ogni maniera..Era stato detto Nicolò grand’omicidiale, e aveva fatti guastare molti omini, e quante terre li venivano alle mani tutte le lassava disfatte.” DELLA TUCCIA
-“Egli è uno gazino (piccola gazza, un furbastro) colla coda pelata, pieno di trappole e d’inganni.” ALBIZZI
-“Era huomo pronto di mano e di consiglio.” PELLINI
-“Eccellente Capitano.” SABELLICO
-“Capitano eccellente di quell’età.” SANSOVINO
-Alla battaglia di L’Aquila “Quel Nicolò Guerrery, campione,/ Cavally e homini d’arme messe a terra,/ Unde alla fine remase prescione/ Del conte san Valentino, el dir non erra.” VALENTINI
-Alla battaglia di L’Aquila “Che pensate de Nicolo Guerrieri?/ Ben se portava più che paladino,/ Nome fè in vattalia tanto Olivieri,/ Homini, e caval manda sul terrino.” CIMINELLO
-“Insigne condottiero del secolo XV.” BOSI
-“Egregio tum copiarum Duce.” PLATINA
-“Illustre condottiero del secolo XV.” UGOLINI
-“O quanto po di fortuna dolersi/ Niccolò Fortebracci che sarebbe/ Primo frulor ma li fu i cieli adversi/ In breve spatio si sua fama crebbe/ Che prese Roma et fe cose profonde/ Tanto che in fine il cielo invidia nebbe.” Cambino Aretino riportato da FABRETTI
-“Nicolò Fortebraccio io son quel degno/Di tanta fama che mortal non doma;/E fu di tal virtù l’inclito ingegno/Che ‘l V.. di Dio cacciai di Roma:/Io son colui che giunsi quasi al segno/Di somma gloria.. misi la soma/Sempre con colpi a chi mi fu contrario/Dando ai miei nemici stato amaro.” da un epitaffio del Matarazzo, riportato da FABRETTI, sotto il suo ritratto un tempo collocato a Perugia nel palazzo di Braccio Baglioni.
-“Homo de grandissime soliçitudini ne la guera..Era Nicholò valentissimo aventurado.” G. DI M. PEDRINO
-“Fece strepitose azioni militari.” G. MUZZI
-“Fu gran Capitano di Braccio.” CRISPOLTI
-“Erat Fortebraccius eorum hominum, qui illius saeculi more, latrociniis vivere assueti, nihil magis quam pacem inimicum habent.” BEVERINI
-“Soldato di gran fama.” P. BONOLI
-“Magnanimo e virile..Il quale se la fortuna non l’avesse levato dal mondo grandissime exaltatione avaria conseguito per la sua grande animositade e solicitudine, capitano senza paura.” BROGLIO
-“Magnifico e potente et magnanimo.” BRUTO
-“Magnifico e potente et magnanimo.” PACIARONI
-“Valoroso avventuriero.” BARTOLAZZI
-Cattura di Leone Sforza “Era el signor leon posto a bevagna/ E per l’hoste lontan senza le scolte/ Attendea pur a dir piglia e guadagna/ Non passo in questo stil giornate molte/ Nicolo fortebraccio, che l’intese,/ El fe pentir de l’opinion stolte.” CORNAZZANO
-“La letteratura che lo riguarda è abbastanza vasta, essendo egli venuto in contatto, per la sua professione e e per una certa fama acquisita durante il suo tempo, con molti comuni dell’Umbria, Firenze, Roma e altri grossi centri. Lo storico perugino Ariodante Fabretti scrisse la sua biografia nel 1843 e vari studiosi di cose umbre hanno notato la sua significativa presenza nel panorama politico-militare del tempi.” C. REGNI (Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani)
-“Uno dei più celebri capitani d’Italia…Come nipote di Braccio, , si studiò d’imitarne sempre le azioni, ed ebbe pure in molte cose la fortuna simile a quelle dello stesso Braccio. Imperocché intrepidi e valorosissimi e questi e quegli, ascesero l’uno e l’altro a grande altezza di stato, e nemici entrambi dei Papi, presero ambedue Roma, benché non ne potessero conservare il possesso per non avere potuto espugnar mai il Castello, e morirono ambedue infelicemente senza che nessun di loro potesse trasmettere i fatti acquisti e lo stato agli eredi.” COLESCHI
-“Questa sinistra figura di condottiero e di assassino superò di gran lunga in crudeltà e ferocia tutti i venturieri del suo tempo riuniti insieme.. Costui di ferro e di fuoco persone e ville faceva perire. E ognora le sue genti crescevano, perché chi non aveva soldo, a piedi come a cavallo, traeva a lui. Poco stipendio dava, ma molta larghezza concedeva ai suoi uomini. Mai stava ozioso. Egli amava più la fatica nel male che il riposo nel bene. Oggi correva in un paese e domaani in un altro. Le sue brigate sempre andavano e venivano, siccome tu vedi le formiche andare ed altre con la preda tornare. Così gli uomini di Niccolò Fortebraccio.” FORTINI
-“Niccolò Fortebracci io son, qyel degno/di tanta fama che mortal non doma;/e fui di tal virtù ingegno/ch’el Vicario di Dio cacciau da Roma”. Da un epitaffio del Matarazzo riportato da ASCANI, sotto il suo ritratto un tempo collocato a Perugia nel palazzo di Braccio Baglioni.
Featured image: Umbria Turismo
