Niccolò Piccinino | |
|---|---|
 15th century portrait byPisanello | |
| Born | 1386 Perugia,Papal States |
| Died | October 15, 1444 (aged 57-58) Milan,Duchy of Milan |
| Allegiance | Republic of Florence Duchy of Milan |
| Years of service | 1406-1444 |
| Battles / wars | |
Niccolò Piccinino (1386 – 15 October 1444) was an Italiancondottiero. He began his career in the mercenary company ofBraccio da Montone, reaching the rank of commander of the company after Braccios death in 1424. He spent most of his career as a soldier of fortune in the service of TheDuchy of Milan, fighting on their behalf in theWars in Lombardy.
He was born inPerugia, the son of a butcher. Piccinino was introduced in the guild of Perugia's butchers. He was later scornfully called "son of a butcher" byPope Pius II. However, Piccinino's family actually owned a house with a nearby butchery, and were part of the landed middle class, and, according to tradition, one of his uncles had beenpodestà ofMilan.[1]
He began his military career in the service of Braccio da Montone, who at that time was waging war against Perugia on his own account, and at the death of his chief, shortly followed by that of the latter's son Oddo, Piccinino became leader of Braccio'scondotta. After serving for a short period under the Florentine Republic, he went over toFilippo Maria Visconti, duke of Milan (1425), in whose service together withNiccolò Fortebraccio he fought in theWars in Lombardy against the league ofPope Eugene IV,Venice andFlorence.[2]
After an outstanding victory over the Venetians at thebattle of Delebio (19 November 1432), he defeated the papal forces at Castel Bolognese (1434). When another papal army underFrancesco Sforza defeated and killed Fortebraccio at Fiordimonte, Piccinino was left in sole command of the Visconti army, and in a series of campaigns against Sforza, he seized a number of cities inRomagna by treachery.
In 1438, during thewar between Venice and Milan, Piccinino, fighting for Milan,tried to take the city of Brescia, butScaramuccia da Forlì, fighting forVenice, intervened successfully to raise the siege. In 1439 Piccinino again fought inLombardy with varying success against Sforza, who had now entered the Venetian service.[2]
Piccinino then induced the duke of Milan to send him toUmbria, where he hoped, like so many othercondottieri, to carve out a dominion for himself. He was defeated by Sforza at theBattle of Anghiari (1440), but although a number of his men were taken prisoner, they were liberated at once, as was usually done in wars waged by soldiers of fortune. Again the war shifted to Lombardy, and Piccinino, having defeated and surrounded Sforza at Martinengo, demanded of the Visconti the lordship of Piacenza as the price of Sforza's capture.[2]
The duke by way of reply concluded a truce with Sforza; but the latter, who, while professing to defend thePapal States, had established his own power in theMarche, aroused the fears of the pope and the king ofNaples, as well as of the Visconti, who gave the command of their joint forces to Piccinino. Sforza was driven from the Marche but defeated Piccinino at Montelauro, and while the latter was preparing for a desperate effort against Sforza he was suddenly recalled to Milan, his army was beaten in his absence, and he died of grief and of his wounds in 1444.[2]
Short of stature, lame and in weak health, he was brave to the point of foolhardiness, resourceful, and rarely overwhelmed by defeat. He was cruel and treacherous and had no aim beyond his own aggrandizement. Piccinino left two sons,Jacopo andFrancesco, both condottieri.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Piccinino, Niccolò".Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
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